ML524/624:
Focused Lives (4 units, intensive format)
J. Robert Clinton, Professor of Leadership
Summer 2008
DESCRIPTION:
This
course comparatively studies a number of Christian leaders. These leaders, both
men and women, were effective leaders who led focused lives. Out of these
studies has emerged the concept of a focused life comprised of 4 components:
(1) life purpose; (2) major role; (3) effective methodologies; (4) ultimate
contribution set. Students will study a number of historical case studies and
Biblical case studies, which illustrate focused lives concepts. Each student
will then produce a case study of his/her own life from a focused life
standpoint. As part of their personal case study, students will learn how to
construct their own Personal Life Mandate - a major decision making tool for
ministry and life. Students will find that they will be using these concepts in
their ministries the rest of their lives.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: A student will have:
1. constructed
a Personal Life Mandate, a 3-5 page major decision making tool, which includes
paragraphs describing life purpose, major role, effective methodologies, and
ultimate contributions,
2. proven familiarity with focused lives
concepts including the integration of the four focal elements-- life purpose,
major role, effective methodologies, and ultimate contributions—along their
personal time-line,
3.
the ability to use Venn diagrams to display various focused lives
concepts (including giftedness set; ultimate contributions).
4. have demonstrated familiarity with
numerous focused lives concepts as measured by the case study and daily
exercises.
5. a life-line perspective on strategic
formation which will prove useful in the development of self and other leaders.
COURSE FORMAT:
This is a two-week intensive. Classes meet for 4.5
hours daily M-F for two weeks. Students should seek to read as much of the
required reading as they can before the class sessions begin. Contact
Dr. Clinton to obtain reading material if you want to do pre-class work.
REQUIRED
1. ML524 Class Syllabus (available on CD and
electronically via pipeline;
2. ML524 Focused Lives Reader (available
on CD and electronically via pipeline; bookstore can print out if needed)
Reader available on CD to students who
have registered for the course. Obtain from Dr. Clinton.
3. Clinton, J. Robert. Focused Lives-Comparative Studies of
Effective Leaders Who Finished Well.
4. Clinton, J. Robert. Strategic Concepts--That Clarify a Focused Life.
Choose one from
the following three:
1. Plumb, Sue. Irene Webster-Smith: An Irish Woman Who Impacted
OR
2. Herppich, Birgit. Desmond
Mpilo Tutu (1931 - ) A Life For God’s Dream. PDF only version,
OR
3. Durben,
Becky. Mother Shirley: No Cost Too Great in Following Jesus. PDF only version,
ASSIGNMENTS:
1.
2. Daily exercises dealing with application of focused lives concepts
introduced via reading, lecture, exercises or small group activities.
3. A case study on the student's own life using focused lives concepts to
prompt analysis. This case study will be completed by the end of summer
quarter. This is a major paper. You will do sections of this paper during the
ten days of class and get feedback on these sections so as to improve them. The
final case is turned in at the end of summer quarter.
4. Th.M. Students: Appropriate additional reading will be negotiated
individually with each Th.M. student. These readings will involve case studies
from the student's own ethnic background.
PREREQUISITES:
There
are no pre-requisites. However, Students who have taken ML 530 Life Long
Development and ML 521 Developing Giftedness will have a jump start on this
course. Students not familiar with leadership emergence theory are advised to
do the pre-requisite readings before class. This is an intensive course
requiring a high degree of focus during the two weeks.
Note: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course
design, but is subject to modification.
Last Date Edited: 1April 2008; Valid Only for Summer 2008