Parishes are specific contexts in which the Church, regardless of denomination, lives out its calling. As a course in parish leadership and ministry, our learning will be first grounded in an understanding of the Church; what it is and what it is for. Together we will explore the implications of what it means to say that the Church is the body of Christ in the world. In the context of a deeply rooted ecclesiology we will then begin to understand what it means to be a Christian leader in the Church, exploring practical areas of parish leadership and ministry including: traits and disciplines of Christian leadership, developing others as leaders, leading and managing change, dealing with conflict, cultivating missional organizational practices, assessing sound financial management, and developing effective parish communications and ministry with children.
2 hours of lecture & discussion + 1 hour of seminar & discussion
