ML534/634:
Value-Based Leadership in the Old Testament (4 units)
J. Robert Clinton, Professor of Leadership
Fall 2006 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
Leadership theory over the past 150 years has evolved through five
major paradigmatic eras. The present era, the Complexity Era, has a strong
focus toward value-based leadership. Early eras concentrated on the “what” of
leadership and the “how” of leadership. The Complexity Era continues these, but
adds the “why” of leadership. This course utilizes many of these leadership
perspectives, most of which are cross-cultural, to test and explore these
findings in the Old Testament. What does the Old Testament say about these
various leadership perspectives (such as leadership elements, leadership
styles, philosophical models, leadership emergence theory, mentoring, change
dynamics, etc.) as the framework for studying leadership? Four of the six
leadership eras in the Bible, the four Old Testament eras, are studied: 1) The
Patriarchal Leadership Era (leadership roots); 2) The Pre-Kingdom Leadership
Era (desert, warfare, tribal); 3) The Kingdom Leadership Era (united, divided,
single); 4) The Post-Kingdom Leadership Era (exile, post-exilic, interim).
Seven types of studies are done: (1) biographical; (2) historical leadership
acts; (3) actual leadership contexts, (4) parabolic leadership literature, (5)
indirect passages dealing with Christian character or behavior; (6) Bible books
studied as a whole placing them in their context hermeneutically and in terms
of leadership eras; (7) studies across books for common themes and lessons on
leadership (called macro-lessons). This quarter we will major on two Bible
Characters and their books—Nehemiah and Habakkuk.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Ability
to analyze any of the seven leadership genres in the Old Testament for
leadership findings.
• Recognize the importance of the Bible as a source of leadership information.
• Learn some skills for studying leadership in the Bible, including a
devotional technique for O.T.
• Learn some major leadership lessons from the Bible.
• Evaluate present Bible knowledge.
• Commit to an on-going program of personal Bible study so as to improve their
Bible knowledge in general and Biblical leadership knowledge in particular with
a view toward becoming Bible centered leaders.
COURSE FORMAT:
The class meets twice a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8:00
a.m. – 9:50 a.m. See syllabus for details of scheduling. The 1st
session on Monday will be a SF time. The 2nd session will be input
on some leadership concept from the Old Testament. The first session on
Wednesday will be input on some leadership concept from the Old Testament. The
2nd session on Wednesday will be small groups doing exercises on Old
Testament leadership concepts.
REQUIRED
READING: If you have previously read
any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the
recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.
ML534 syllabus and ML534 reader.
Clinton, J. Robert
_______. Leadership Perspectives—How To Study the Bible for Leadership.
Altadena, CA: Barnabas Publishers, 1993.
_______. Clinton Biblical Leadership Commentary CD, Vol 2—We will be studying
two books in particular: Nehemiah, Focused Living and Habakkuk, Hope for Leaders
in Troubled Times. This CD is available at the Fuller Bookstore.
_______. Having A Ministry That Lasts.
Altadena, CA: Barnabas Publishers, 1998.
RECOMMENDED READING: Optional Extra Credit.
Clinton, J.
RobertThe Bible and Leadership Values—A
Book By Book Analysis. Altadena, CA: Barnabas Publishers, 1993.).
ALSO RECOMMENDED READING: Optional Extra Credit. Either one of the
following three biographical studies.
Bjoraker, Bill. Samuel—Last of the Judges and First of the Prophets: A Model Leader for
Transitional Times. Altadena, CA: Barnabas Publishers, 1993. OR
Clinton, J. Robert. Joseph—Destined to
Rule-A Study in Integrity and Divine Affirmation. Altadena, CA: Barnabas
Publishers, 1985. OR
Clinton, J. Robert & Raab, Laura. The
Joshua Portrait. Altadena, CA: Barnabas Publishers, 1990.
OTHER RECOMMENDED READING:
See syllabus for actual listing of other suggested technical works available on
the reserve shelf in the library.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1) Satisfactory completion of reading of
Leadership Perspectives; 2)
Evaluation of Bible background using the BMPI given in Having A Ministry That Lasts; 3) 1500 pages of reading of required
materials; 4) One communication event— to be presented in class before a peer
group—written and turned in. 5) one paper (1250-2500 words each) from analysis
of Leadership Genre types. 6) 16
written devotionals using the 7 Question method from the book of Nehemiah.
PREREQUISITES: None. Courses such as ML530 or ML501, ML520, ML521,
and ML523 are helpful.
RELATIONSHIP TO
CURRICULUM: Elective. May fulfill MAICS Theology Competency requirement. NO AUDITING PERMITTED.
FINAL EXAM: None.