Masters of Arts-Transformational Leadership
Mentored Leadership Development
ML551, 552, 553 DE (Year One)
ML561, 562, 563 DE (Year Two)
ML571, 572, 573 DE (Year Three)
Revised 8-13-08
Instructors:
Greg Meland, Director of Formation, Supervised Ministry and Placement,
Instructing Cohort L and M, , (651) 635-8541
Kara Stromberg, Faculty Associate for Cohort L and M,
Jeffery Fritz, Faculty Associate for Cohort K,
Teaching Assistants:
Julia Holtze, for Cohort L,
Lindsay Barganz, for Cohort M,
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
These locally supervised courses seek to align the student with the vision, values, mission, philosophy, systems, and strategic objectives of the local or national sponsoring organization: the student’s ministry venue under which they enter the Master of Arts program. Through the use of psychometric and developmental testing, self-reflection, and mentor and group feedback, these courses will help the student identify and progressively clarify their life purpose, mission, and vision, in addition to identifying unique personal needs that require intentional focus in order to develop as whole and holy transformational leaders.Because Mentored Leadership Development is part of the interdisciplinary curriculum of the M.A. in Transformational Leadership, special attention will be given to integrating the learning experience from The Center for Biblical and Theological Foundations, The Center for Spiritual and Personal Formation, and The Center for Transformational Leadership into the student’s ministry context.
COURSE FORMAT:
These courses will be conducted through locally supervised ministry locations that receive prior approval. The material and assessments for these courses will be processed through several forms of media, such as self-leadership reflection assignments, ministry leadership practice, and mentored leadership sessions with the student's supervisor(s)/mentor(s) and through group interaction.LEARNER OUTCOMES:
The sponsoring organization/ ministry venue is asked to use these courses to provide for the student a number of ingredients crucial to a dynamic, contextual educational experience. These include but are not limited to the following:1. A healthy understanding of each student’s unique identity including their gifts, strengths, and vulnerabilities.
2. Practical experience in a wide range of innovative and entrepreneurial ministry situations, emphasizing the personal qualities of flexibility and creativity.
3. A set of multi-faceted ministry responsibilities which must be successfully negotiated and properly managed, thus highlighting the need to strategically prioritize the competing demands of multiple ministry responsibilities.
4. A healthy and reliable relational network of resource people, including peers, mentors and others who will assist and sustain the student in ministry preparation, processing leadership insights, and application of the coursework in a local ministry context.
ASSESSMENTS:
§ 16-Personality Factor with PEPQ Clinical Analysis
§ Bar ON Emotional Quotient Inventory
§ Gallops StrengthsFinder
§ California Psychological Inventory 260
§ Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory Type II
ONGOING ASSIGNMENTS:
Reflective Journal:The Reflective Journal is designed to provide the intern with a place to thoughtfully reflect on what is being learned through their assessments, ministry practice, mentoring sessions, biblical and theological reflections, and ongoing coursework. Students are encouraged to reflect on their ministry experiences through the use of journaling or other means. While this assignment will not be submitted for a grade, the students are encouraged to engage fully as this will be helpful for completing future reflection assignments and reflection with their mentor(s) and ministry support team. This could even mean putting high and low points on a calendar.
Regular Mentor Relationship Meetings:
After choosing a mentor, you are to meet with your mentor at least 6-8 times per year for at least an hour. Guidelines are provided online under Course Documents.
2008-2009 INDIVIDUAL COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
Instructions for each assignment will be posted on BlackBoard.COHORT M: Fall 2008: ML 551:
Genogram due December 5th:
This is the first of several foundational discernment exercises in the Mentored Leadership program. For the Life Story Timeline, students reflect upon and integrate elements of their spiritual heritage, faith streams, pivotal events and people stories, spiritual formation experiences, and destiny processing items.
To submit your genogram, either mail it in to:
Attn: Lindsay Barganz
Department of Formation, Supervised Ministry and Placement, #7003
3949 Bethel Drive
St. Paul, MN 55112-6998
Or to submit it electronically in the Assignment Link in the Assignment tab in Blackboard; electronic documents must be in Microsoft Word or converted to Adobe PDF.
COHORT M: Winter 2009: ML 552:
Mentor Selection due January 28th:
Selection of a mentor is critical to the entire MATL program. Mentor selection criteria and process will be discussed at length during the Fall Intensive. Additional materials for mentor selection and interaction are available in the Course Documents section on BlackBoard.
1 Page Book Review and BlackBoard Discussion due January 28th:
Benner, David. The Gift of Being Yourself. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004.
This reading is to help inform the work you will do throughout the remainder of this course. The assignment will be to write a one page review of the book. Quality and level of writing should be high enough to submit for publication. Please DO NOT write more than one page (double-spaced, one inch margins and 12pt. type).
Ministry Perspectives Paper due March 16th:
In this paper you are asked to reflect on and describe yourself and your current perspectives on issues relevant to spiritual and personal formation, theological perspectives, and Transformational Leadership in the context of vocational ministry.
COHORT M: Spring 2009: ML553:
Mentor Meeting and Evaluation due by May 15th:
The student’s mentor will submit a completed evaluation at the end of each academic year providing feedback on the student’s vocational and developmental progress. The mentor will review the evaluation with the student prior to submission.
Year-End Reflection due May 29th:
Students will use their Reflective Journals as a tool to reflect on the past year’s ministry experience, mentoring outcomes and completed course work.
COHORT L: Fall 2008: ML561:
1 Page Book Review and BlackBoard Discussion due December 5th:
Steinke, Peter L., How Your Church Family Works: Understanding Congregations as Emotional Systems, Herndon, VA: Alban Institution, Inc., 1993, 2006.
Core Beliefs, Values, and Mission Statement due December 5th:
This is the second foundational discernment exercise integral to the Mentored Leadership program. For this assignment, students identify and reflect upon their biblical core beliefs, core values, life purpose, life mission, life vision.
COHORT L: Winter 2009: ML562:
Resume due February 2nd:
Ministry placement resumes have some unique characteristics that set them apart from secular resumes. Put together the best résumé you can and submit it via BlackBoard. We will review it and give you recommendations to consider revising it for a ministry search committee. If you have questions about building aresume, there are resources on BlackBoard.
1 Page Book Review and BlackBoard Discussion due March 16th:
Parker Palmer, A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life, San Francisco: John Wiley and Sons, inc., 2004
Ministry Support Team chosen by March 16th and should meet 2-3 times before May 15th (to help with Development Plan):
The choice of a Ministry Support Team (MST) is tailored to the discernment resulting from the student's individual Portfolio Assignment results. The MST provides relationships essential for a student's stewardship of and accountability to her/his callings and strengths.
The MST is comprised of 4-6 members selected by the student. In general, this group includes the student's spouse and/or a close friend or accountability partner, and 3-5 people who are ministry peers and others who are concerned about the student’s developmental process. The student’s supervisor(s) and mentor(s) are not part of the MST. Composition of the team will vary depending upon each student’s unique situation, but should be as diverse a group as is practical. In most cases they are people who will observe the intern's ministry; however, it is not required that all team members attend the same church or participate in the same ministry as the student.
The MST members commit to developmentally support the student during the third year of the practicum period (ML571). The MST meets together with the student at least 6 times during the course of ML571. Based upon their observations and interactions with the student, the MST members must be willing to speak the truth in love to build the student up in Christ. The MST will, as a group, complete an evaluation of the student at the end of the practicum. The MST members will be aware of the student's assessment recommendations, Portfolio Assignments and particularly the Development Plan. They will also extend their observations, support, and evaluations to the whole life of the student.
The MST members must be approved by a Bethel program representative. Once the student has this approval, the student is responsible to recruit the MST members. MST members will be selected during ML562 and work with the student during ML571.
COHORT L: Spring 2009: ML563:
Development Plan due May 15th:
This is the third foundational discernment exercise integral to the Mentored Leadership program.
The Development Plan includes a synopsis of the primary results obtained through the various psychological and developmental assessments taken and the previous Portfolio Assignments. Based upon this information, students identify their top 2-3 developmental goals in each of the following areas: spiritual formation (e.g., spiritual disciplines), personal growth (eg. personal disciplines), and vocational development (e.g., ministerial and professional skills).
Mentor Meeting and Evaluation due May 15th:
The student’s mentor will submit a completed evaluation at the end of each academic year providing feedback on the student’s vocational and developmental progress. The mentor will review the evaluation with the student prior to submission.
Year End Reflection due May 29th:
Students will use their Reflection Journal to reflect on the past year’s ministry experience, mentoring outcomes and completed course work.
COHORT K: Fall 2008: ML571:
Ministry Support Team Meetings:
Students will meet with their MST a minimum of 6 times over the course of the academic year with the initial meeting taking place during the fall term. Students will submit to the course instructor the contact information of their MST facilitator no later than the last day of fall intensives.
1 Page Book Review and Blackboard for Discussion due November 21st:
Post your review of Henri Nouwen, Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming. New York: Doubleday, 1994. In addition to posting your book review students will be expected to interact with the post of two other students.
COHORT K: Winter 2009: ML572:
1 Page Book Review and Blackboard for Discussion due February 28th:
Post your review of Paul Stanley and Robert Clinton, Connecting: The Mentoring Relationships You Need to Succeed in Life. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1992. In addition to posting your book review students will be expected to interact with the post of two other students.
MLD portfolio due March 16th:
Students will compile all MLD materials, assessments and completed assignments to date into a single database (electronic or hardcopy). As such the student should have a single resource containing all material from ML551-ML571.
COHORT K: Spring 2009: ML573:
Ministry Support Team Evaluation due May 15th:
The student’s MST will review their evaluation with the student and submit the evaluation to the course instructor.
Mentor Meeting and Evaluation due May 15th:
The student’s mentor will submit a completed evaluation at the end of each academic year providing feedback on the student’s vocational and developmental progress. The mentor will review the evaluation with the student prior to submission.
Year End Reflection due May 29th:
Students will reflect on the past year’s ministry experience, mentoring outcomes and completed course work.
LATE WORK POLICY:
"We understand that life happens. Balancing schoolwork with ministry and family means that you will continually make choices about what gets done well and what doesn't. We want to help you make good choices. If something comes up and you need more time to complete an assignment, contact us before it is due and we will gladly give a one-week extension - no questions asked. Two points per day will be taken off for anything beyond that, and also for late assignments without prior approved extensions. The bottom line: stay in touch, do your best and we'll try to work with you."