Leadership, Religious

Marian Sams-Crane

This project suggested a new approach to address the challenge of developing a church vision. Drawing upon Wesleyan ecclesiology, the author suggested sharing a basic overview for understanding the eschatological aspect of the Eucharist and applying the experience of the Eucharist at the start of meetings to inspire the development of a church vision in the ensuing meetings. Data from initial surveys, questionnaires, focus groups, and observations evidenced some positive effects on the amount of visioning that church leaders experienced. While further study is needed to be conclusive, the author affirmed the potential for this new approach to church visioning.

[Note about entry: Abstract submitted to the Atla RIM database on behalf of the author. The text appears in its entirety as it does in the original abstract page of the author’s project paper. Neither words nor content have been edited.]

Kellie V. Hayes

Revive Us Again: A Holistic Leadership Development Module for Lay Leaders in Transition examines the efficacy of implementing holistic leadership development curricula empowering and energizing lay leaders experiencing crisis and transition. It presents research conducted through 1. Questionnaire ascertaining current assessment of leadership development. 2. Focus Group to determine preset culture 3. Direct Observation of leader’s behavioral patterns during gatherings and discharging responsibilities. 4. Feedback following intervention for impact, and 5. Narrative research documenting experience and changes. The feedback showed marked improvement in morale, comprehension and cohesiveness. Holistic leadership development modules can produce self-aware and spirit-led lay leaders who are resilient in transition.

[Note about entry: Abstract submitted to the Atla RIM database on behalf of the author. The text appears in its entirety as it does in the original abstract page of the author’s project paper. Neither words nor content have been edited.]

Sung Hoon Bea

In the dissertation, I propose what to do for the renewal of the Nepalese Church in the Ramechap area in Nepal. In emphasizing that the Nepalese Church should be a missional church modeled on the mission of God (Missio Dei) in order to be a healthy church, I suggest . . . a specialized training program for Aguwas, who are lay leaders in the Nepalese Church. Through the Bible-based education program, Aguwas will be leading figures that can lead the Nepalese Church to transform, and by their leadership the Nepalese Church will be a missional church that is self-reliant, self-sufficient, and autonomous.

[Note about entry: Abstract submitted to the Atla RIM database on behalf of the author. The text appears in its entirety as it does in the original abstract page of the author’s project paper. Neither words nor content have been edited.]

Robert J Schobert

The purpose of this project was to equip selected men of First Southern Baptist Church, Del City, Oklahoma, with servant leadership skills utilizing the Equipping Program Model.

The project director's first goal was to research the field of servant leadership in order to identify servant leadership skills. He then developed curriculum to meet his second goal of equipping selected men of the church with selected servant leadership skill. The curriculum consisted of six lessons with associated lesson plans, student handouts, and computer presentation slides. The professional goals were to increase the project director's knowledge of servant leadership to increase the project director's skill in curriculum development.

The project director equipped selected men with servant leadership skills through the instruction of the developed curriculum. He titled the curriculum "Created to Lead, Called to Serve: Foundations in Servant Leadership" and provided curriculum delivery to twelve participants as a discipleship training course in accordance with the church training calendar.

James Rodney (J.R.) Briggs

The purpose of this research project is to create, implement, and test an inquiry-based curriculum within churches in The Ecclesia Network in order to evaluate and equip leaders in churches across the United States. The researcher selected six groups in different regions of the United States to conduct surveys, interviews, and small group meetings to evaluate the effectiveness, fruitfulness, and clarity of the inquiry-based curriculum Asking Better Questions. This paper presents the process and the results of this evaluative study. The results offer recommendations for improvement and refinement of the Asking Better Questions curriculum. Kingdom communities who ask wise, compassionate, courageous questions will be the ones leading us into the future to the glory of God.

Janis Lynn Ryder D.Min.

This thesis explored performance management in a private, Christian, Canadian, higher education institution. A Model for Effective Performance Management was developed which served as a framework for a participatory action research project that piloted a staff performance review process and tool aimed at improving employee performance and organizational commitment of university staff employees. Seven university departments were part of the pilot project which included participating in supervisor training, testing a new performance review process and tool, and providing post-pilot feedback.
Post-pilot online survey results and interviews with leaders demonstrated a higher rate of completed performance reviews, increased competency and comfort level of supervisors/appraisers to lead performance review conversations, and increased employee commitment and performance resulting from the performance review experience.
There are opportunities for HR professionals, churches, and para-church organizations to use and benefit from this research and the Model for Effective Performance Management.

Samuel Lapsley Pendergrast D.Min.

In Utica Presbytery we have eleven Commissioned Ruling Elders (CREs) serving twelve congregations out of thirty in the presbytery. I interviewed twelve CREs who are currently serving or who have served as pastors to learn about their experience and how they evaluate their work, training, and relationship with colleagues in the presbytery. The interview results were categorized, then the group of CREs discussed the results. We developed recommendations for the presbytery in a variety of areas. In the report I interpret the results in light of pastoral theology and the history of ordination. Questions for further study emerge concerning the difference between seminary-trained pastors and commissioned elders, presbytery mission strategy for using CREs, and contextual theological education.

Joseph Nehemiah D.Min.

With the growth of the church in North Africa comes the need to train pastors and leaders. This project defines a biblically-rooted, contextually- and culturally-appropriate framework for training believers from Muslim background (BMB) leaders in an Arab context. The framework uses adult education (andragogy) principles from Bloom, Knowles, and Kolb that contribute to deep learning. Principles are evaluated using Hofstede's Arabic cluster cultural dimensions (Power Distance Index, Uncertainty Avoidance Index, Collectivism) and GLOBE leadership traits. This project defines cultural and contextual educational principles that put the design and implementation of developing and training leaders into the hands of BMB leaders.

The author believes it is important to hear from local leaders. The coalescence of cultural educational principles with the practical experience of local leaders allows for a practical educational framework. North African leaders were interviewed to discover how God developed them as leaders. The results reveal the importance of character, teaching, practical experience, and community with a mentor playing a significant role. The author suggests cultural and contextual principles and models to deliver training in non-traditional and non-formal ways.

Linda Marie Jones

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord-who is the Spirit-makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. (2 Corinth, 3:17-18, NLT )

The process of spiritual formation can be seen throughout all of scripture; men and women, growing in faith, learning to truly love God, themselves and God's people. There is something so special to be on this journey of faith with a loving, laughing, growing group of Christians as we learn to be mature, committed, faith-filled people of God. This project endeavored to take the leaders of Via Faith Community through a five week spiritual formation process, hoping to create a higher functioning, more spiritually mature leadership team. Utilizing prayer, Lectio Divina, sermons, Bible studies, and assessments of personality, spiritual gifts, leadership and conflict style in a weekly workshop session and worship service, the hearts and minds of the leadership team were awakened, as they discovered and integrated the biblical and theological principles of humanity, created in God's image and given unique personalities, abilities, experiences, and spiritual gifts through the work of the Holy Spirit, in order to effectively join God in the work of the Kingdom of God.

Jack DeVere Olsen D.Min.

The purpose of this project is to make existing leaders equipping leaders of emerging leaders in the men’s ministry of Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Casper, Wyoming. The first goal toward fulfilling that purpose is to be transformed from a trained servant or service-providing clergyman to an equipping leader or a training pastor. The second goal is to create and implement a plan for developing leaders. The third goal is to introduce and encourage leadership development by mentoring in our men’s ministry.

The first goal was approached through writing a revised job description, and keeping a diary of time spent in leadership development. The second goal involved developing a leadership development curriculum focusing on leadership concepts, character and competency. Nehemiah was chosen for study as the Biblical example of a godly leader. Leading a small group was selected as the ministry for developing competency. Mentoring was the method for implementing the curriculum. Three mentors each selected one mentoree to train and develop. The third goal involved developing a series of teaching lessons on leadership development through mentoring. These lessons were presented at our monthly men’s breakfasts.

The proposed mentoring process revealed that the equipping leaders need precise instructions and accountability for carrying out the mentoring of the emerging leaders. One of the greatest challenges in mentoring is getting men together and establishing the mentoring relationships.