ML534_Clinton

ML536: Value-Based Leadership: New Testament (4 units)
J. Robert Clinton, Professor of Leadership
Fall 2007 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 New Testament. What does the New 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? Two of the six leadership eras in the Bible, the two New Testament eras, are scanned: V. The Pre-Church Leadership Era and VI. The Church Leadership Era. Seven types of studies are introduced: (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). Two N.T. books—1 & 2 Corinthians—will be studied in-depth for leadership insights. From 1,2 Corinthians, students will study 16 leadership topics, several macro lessons and many leadership insights needed by both pastoral workers and missionary workers. The New Testament is one of the best leadership resources and least used for that purpose.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Analyze any of the 13 leadership topics found in 1,2 Corinthians. for leadership findings.
2. Recognize the importance of the Bible as a source of leadership information.
3. Learn skills for studying leadership in the Bible and major leadership lessons from the Bible.
4. Evaluation of student’s present Bible knowledge.
5. Have been introduced to Bible Centered Leadership concepts including: definition of a Bible Centered leader, notion of Core, notion of Base + Advance, notion of resonance, and the notion of a slot/filler matrix for communication.
6. Personal commitment to an on-going program of personal Bible study so as to improve the student’s Bible knowledge in general and Biblical leadership knowledge in particular with a view toward becoming a Bible-centered leader.

COURSE FORMAT:

The class meets twice a week for two hour sessions. See syllabus for details of scheduling. The 1^st session on Tuesday will be a SF time. The 2^nd session on Tuesday will be input on some leadership concept from Bible Centered leadership material or leadership concepts from 1,2 Corinthians. The first session on Thursday will be input on some leadership concept from the 1,2 Corinthians. The 2^nd session on Thursday will be small groups doing exercises on leadership concepts previously introduced.

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.

1. ML536 syllabus and ML536 reader.
Clinton, J. Robert
2. _______. Leadership Perspectives—How To Study the Bible for Leadership. Altadena, CA: Barnabas Publishers, 1993.
3. _______. The Bible and Leadership Values—A Book By Book Analysis. Altadena, CA: Barnabas Publishers, 1993.
4. _______. 1,2 Corinthians—Problematic, Apostolic Leadership. Altadena, CA: Barnabas Publishers, 2003.
5. _______. Having A Ministry That Lasts. Altadena, CA: Barnabas Publishers, 1998.