Assumptions  

The candidate must earn at least 24 credits in the program, twelve of which must be in the Pastoral Leadership courses. Two of those credits are earned from the core courses. Two must consist of experience outside of the classroom (via either an offered course or an experiential guided research project). Each credit is earned by 45 hours of active learning.

Introduction to the Pastoral Leadership Focus Area STM Degree

The STM degree with a focus in Pastoral Leadership is intended to build on the student’s MDiv exposure to the pastoral leadership course and discussions about spiritual leadership in the student’s seminary career. This focus will also take advantage of the student’s own experience in the field. Courses in this focus offer a mix of theory and practice.

Goals (Knowledge, Skills, Attitude) 

By the end of this program, the student will have done the following:

• Identified his own unique style of leadership that time, experience, and God have inculcated within him.
• Acquainted himself with the history of leadership paradigms and how these paradigms are still represented in the leadership literature and market today.
• Assessed the Transformational Model of Leadership as a social-scientific basis for thinking about what leadership looks like and is comprised of as it is carried out in the student’s life.
• Developed a sound, Lutheran, authentic hermeneutical approach to using leaders in the Bible and their stories as the basis for talking about leadership and teaching leadership in a congregational setting.
• Composed a plan for equipping his people for spiritual leadership in their various vocations.
• Developed a core portfolio of Bible stories and Bible characters that present key leadership concepts appropriate for a congregational setting.
• Thought through the relationship of “business models” of leadership and the student’s own approach to talking about leadership.
• Broadened his understanding of the concepts and vocabulary of the social-scientific study of leadership.
• Led and participated in and evaluated a spiritual leadership training conference.

Courses 

Core courses:

Revelation: Spiritual Leadership in the Face of Challenge  (1 cr)

Using Bible Stories to Teach Leadership in a Congregational Setting (1 cr)

Elective courses:

Shared Leadership in a Multi-Cultural Setting (1 cr)

Developing a Mission-Minded Philosophy of Ministry (1 cr)

The Leadership of the Apostle Paul (1 cr)

Teaching Spiritual Leadership in Congregations, Classrooms, and Christian Homes (1 cr)

Congregational Strategic Planning (1 cr)

Congregational Organization and Management (1 cr)

The Theology and Practice of Stewardship (1 cr)

Note: Additional credits can be earned in any course offered by taking on additional assignments as negotiated with the instructor.

Ways to Earn Credits (prioritized) 

1. Summer Quarter Courses in even-numbered years
2. Satellite Summer Quarter courses in odd-numbered years
3. Winterim Courses in January
4. Online Courses (Spring, Summer, Fall)
5. Guided research
6. Partner institutions
7. Thesis