ML530: Lifelong Development
(4 units)
J. Robert Clinton,
Professor of Leadership
Winter 2004 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
This course explores the nature of Christian
leadership development. Leadership emergence theory is a grounded theory
derived from the comparative study of many life histories of biblical,
historical, and contemporary leaders.
The development of a leader takes a lifetime. God processes or shapes a leader in terms of leadership character, leadership skills, and leadership values. The processes that God uses can be studied, categorized, and characterized. They can be integrated around a timeline of a leader that shows development from the big picture, the lifetime perspective. Patterns can be observed as God develops a person over a lifetime. These variables—that is, the large umbrella concepts of the course, processing, time, and patterns of response—form the backbone of the course. Emphasis in this course is upon recognition of values and lessons learned in God's processing as well as integration of them along a timeline.
Many individual concepts flowing from these
variables such as various process items, the unique timeline, boundaries,
giftedness development pattern, and many, many more are examined, all with a
view toward understanding one's own shaping. The thrust of this course involves
learning perspectives that will aid life-long development.
LEARNING
OUTCOMES:
• Ability to analyze one's life using leadership emergence theory
concepts.
• Ability to construct a case study
involving the following elements: unique timeline with additional information
on it (response patterns, etc.); listing of process items; a narrative capsule
(personal history); social base inventory; analysis of 5 key process items;
major principles for the 5 key process items; analysis of one major boundary;
giftedness analysis; destiny processing analysis; life purpose paragraph.
• See purposes and goals as given in
the ML530 syllabus for measurements of the learning goals.
COURSE
FORMAT:
This course meets
for two two-hour sessions per week. The first session includes a time of
spiritual formation. There are also instructor lectures and question/answer
times. Half of the second session involves further input on life-long
development concepts. The other half is devoted to small group activities that
apply the concepts.
REQUIRED
READING:
ML530
Class Syllabus
ML530 Reader Articles (available on discs).
Clinton, J. Robert. The Making of a
Leader. Colorado Springs: NAV Press, 1998.
Clinton, J. Robert. Leadership Emergence
Theory. Altadena: Barnabas Publishers, 1989.
Trebesch, Shelley. Isolation.
Altadena: Barnabas Publishers, 1997.
Choice of One:
Samuel. Altadena: Barnabas Publishers, 1993.
Barnabas. Altadena: Barnabas Publishers, 1997.
Joshua. Altadena: Barnabas Publishers, 1990.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Reading of all listed materials plus
additional case studies on reserve shelf.
2. Weekly exercises from Leadership Emergence Theory and articles designed for analysis of a
student’s own life.
3. A case study on the student's own
life using leadership emergence theory concepts to prompt analysis. This case
study will be completed by the end of the ninth week.
4. Th.M. Students: Presentation in
class from biographical case study.
PREREQUISITES: Students must have at
least three years of ministry experience. PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL FROM
INSTRUCTOR IS NEEDED TO AUDIT and must be obtained prior to first class.
Auditors must do all class work and major project. • Class size limited to 25 students due to format
of the class.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective. Basic course in leadership concentration. Foundational concepts for other leadership courses.
FINAL EXAMINATION: No written examination. Final class day students share orally the results of the class on their lives.