MC506/606: Leading a Missional Church (4 units)
Reggie McNeal, Adjunct
Professor of Church Growth
Summer 2006 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
The
emergence of the missional church is showing signs of being the largest
realignment of Christianity since the Reformation. This course explores the
distinguishing contours of the missional church revolution as well as the
leadership required by it. Major course attention will center on two primary
shifts underway: the shift from internal to external focus and the shift from
program-driven to people development as the core activity of the missional
community. The course is designed for those who want both to understand these
developments and to exercise leadership in this movement.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Explore and chart the cultural
trends in emerging culture and their implications for leadership in the
missional church
• Identify the major characteristics of the missional church movement
• Understand the requirements for leadership in the missional church,
including theological, methodological, and behavioral aspects
• Develop leadership strategies for missional renewal in the student’s
realm of influence
COURSE FORMAT: This course is a one-week
intensive that will meet daily from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Class will consist of lectures and peer
learning activities built around the topics of the course discussion.
REQUIRED
READING: If you have read any of the required books for another course, please
select an alternative text from the recommended list.
Frost, Michael and Hirsch, Alan. The Shaping of Things to Come.
Hendrickson Publishers, 2003.
Guder,Darrell ed. The Missional Church. Wm.
B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1998.
McNeal, Reggie. The Present Future.
Jossey Bass, 2003.
McNight, Scot. The Jesus Creed.
Brewster, Mass.: Paraclete Press, 2004.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Barrett, Lois ed. Treasure in Clay Jars. Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co., 2004.
Bridges, William. Managing Transitions.
Addison-Wesley, 1991.
Easum, Bill. Leadership on the Other
Side. Abingdon Press, 2000.
Goleman, Daniel, Boyatziz, Richard and McKie, Annie. Primal Leadership. Harvard
Business School Press, 2002.
Handy, Charles. The Elephant and the Flea.
Harvard Business School Press, 2001.
Heifetz, Ronald and Linsky, Martin. Leadership
on the Line. Harvard Business School Press, 2002.
Kotter, John. The Heart of Change.
Harvard Business School Press, 2000.
Lewis, Robert. The Church of Irresistable
Influence. Zondervan, 2001.
McNeal, Reggie. Revolution in Leadership.
Abingdon, 1998.
McNeal, Reggie. A Work of Heart.
Jossey Bass, 2000.
McNeal, Reggie. Practicing Greatness.
Jossey Bass, 2006.
Newbigin, Lesslie. The Gospel in a
Pluralist Society. Eerdmans, 1989.
Nouwen, Henri. In the Name of Jesus.
Crossroad/Faith & Formation, 1993.
Roxburgh, Alan J. The Missionary
Congregation, Leadership & Luminality in Christian Mission and Modern
Culture. Trinity Press International, 1997.
Rusaw, Rick and Swanson, Eric. The
Externally Focused Church. Group 2004.
Scott, Cynthia D. and Jaffe, Dennis T.
Managing Organizational Change. Crisp Publications, 1989.
Wheatley, Margaret. Leadership and the
New Sciences. Berrett-Koehler, 1994.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Complete a reading report
(250-300 words) for each book you’ve selected to meet the 1500-page
requirement. Book reports for 4 required texts are due on the 1st day of the
course. Book reports should provide the title of the text and the number of
pages read, and then go on to identify the three best, most challenging, or
most insightful ideas in the book and why? What will be different because these
ideas have come to you? What actions will you take? What attitudes will you
change? How will your ministry be different?
2. A 3500-word paper that explores key issues raised in the course lectures and
reading, identifying theoretical and practical components of these issues and
how they make church leadership more missional.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATION TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAM: None.