Origins of the Program

POSTGRADUATE
Leadership Development Program

Origins of the Program

In July 2013, Christ College welcomed its first intake of students into the Leadership Development Program (LDP). The college created this program because of several convictions about leadership:

Leadership matters

Leadership is one of the greatest influences on the health and growth of others. The Scriptures have a strong focus on the leadership of God’s people (good and bad), because leaders have a decisive impact on the life of God’s people. Recent research shows that there is a strong connection between good leadership and the health and growth of individuals, organisations and churches[1]. Most people can probably name at least one leader who, under God, made a significance impact in their lives.

Christian leadership is challenging

As the pace and scale of change accelerates around us, and society becomes more distant from the Christian worldview, Christian leaders are put under extra pressure. In response, too often Christians reach for popular models of leadership that are flawed theologically, theoretically and empirically. Instead, we need approaches to leadership that are based on a deep understanding of the Scriptures and our Reformed tradition; critical engagement with contemporary research on leadership, management and organisations; and thoughtful application of integrative frameworks that enable us to promote the gospel within our specific context.

Leadership benefits from intentional development and experience-based learning

Traditional theological education has usually had little focus on leadership development. Further, it has often relied primarily on classroom instruction, followed by unsupervised ministry experience. Even the most gifted leaders benefit from exposure to a range of leadership frameworks and styles, reflection on their own strengths and weaknesses, challenging projects which stretch them, feedback on their leadership, and encouragement from mentors and peers.

Graduates of Christ College are leaders in all of life

The College is committed to developing graduates who live and lead for Christ in all of life. Many of our graduates take on pastoral leadership roles in churches; all of them lead in their families, workplaces, cities or wider culture. We want them to know God from his Word, grow in the likeness of God’s Son, understand God’s mission and their role in it, and apply their knowledge of God in healthy forms of leadership.

Christ College is committed to developing pastoral leaders who will develop all of God’s people for all of life. This program is an important means to that end.

Aims of the Program

The LDP aims to develop leaders who:

·  Have a leadership style shaped and driven by the gospel

·  Make and develop disciples and leaders towards maturity in Christ

·  Form and empower effective teams with complementary strengths

·  Adapt, innovate and lead change across diverse contexts

·  Understand and value their own gifts and calling

·  Improve in their effectiveness over time

These program aims are embedded deeply into the design of the program. They also shape the learning goals, content and assessments of all related subjects.

Design of the Program

The program is based on clear biblical and theological foundations, and draws on the best of contemporary leadership and organisational theory. It has been designed from first-principles to equip aspiring pastoral leaders to better serve our churches[2].

Subjects within the LDP are highly applied, developmental, and fit together as a coherent program nested within other college programs and other awards from the Australian College of Theology (ACT). They also require students to work collaboratively with peers and church leaders.

The LDP can be completed as part of a Graduate Diploma of Ministry, or a larger Master of Arts degree. Some students may also participate in the LDP in parallel with FES (see further the relevant application for undergraduate and graduate students). A summary of the relevant LDP subjects for postgraduate students is listed below in Figure 1.

Figure 1: LDP Subjects and ACT Awards

Award / Graduate Certificate of Ministry (12 cps) / Graduate Diploma of Ministry (24 cps) / Master of Arts (Ministry) (30 cps)
Eligibility / ACT Bachelor of Theology, Bachelor of Ministry or equivalent (e.g. Master of Divinity)
LDP / 12 credit points (cps) of leadership:
·  PC766 Frameworks for Christian Leadership (4 cps)
·  PC749a Leading in Different Contexts (1 cp)
·  PC749b Leading Skills 1 (1 cp)
·  PC749c Leading Skills 2 (1 cp)
·  PC749d Lifelong Leadership (1 cps)
·  PC738 Developing Disciples and Leaders (4 cps)
·  896 Leadership Project (internal unit)[3]
Rest of Award / N/A / ·  12 cps from 700 level electives in any unit field / ·  16 cps from 700 level electives in any unit field
·  8 cps project or capstone experience unit from 700 level units in EM, PC or DM fields

Primary Audience

The primary audience for this program are men aspiring to serve in pastoral leadership roles. While this program is aimed first at developing pastoral leaders, it can also cater simultaneously to the needs of men and women seeking to grow as leaders in other ministry contexts. In this instance, equivalent learning opportunities may need to be sought, and a modified agreement entered between the church (or organisation) and student.

Intensive Delivery Mode

All subjects in the LDP are now offered by intensive mode. That means classes are not scheduled on a weekly basis, but are offered over a limited number of full days, arranged together in larger teaching blocks, where possible. This delivery mode is more accessible to students living outside Sydney, as well as part-time students with other commitments during the week. It is also more appropriate pedagogically, as it enables the program to ‘front-end’ formal face-to-face learning in anticipation of individualised application over a year-long church-based project. Learning each semester is further reinforced through one-day retreats after the examination period every semester. A summary of the timing of LDP classes is found in Figure 2.

Figure 2: LDP Subjects and their Timing

Church-Based Projects

In Semester A of the program (July to November), students will investigate a recent significant change in a Presbyterian church in Australia in the subject Frameworks for Christian Leadership. Students may investigate their own church (if it is Presbyterian), or visit another Presbyterian church in Australia of their choosing (this church does not need to be part of the PCA). After gaining ethics approval from their lecturer, students may request opportunities to speak about these changes with church leaders and members, past and present. They may ask for relevant documents and artefacts that support these changes (e.g. strategic plans or reports prepared for church leaders or members). And they may ask permission to observe church services or ministries in action. Although students bear ultimate responsibility for selecting their church and collecting their own data, church leaders are expected to accommodate reasonable requests for information.

During this same semester, students will be given detailed instructions regarding the design of a proposal for a significant church-based Leadership Project in Leading in Different Contexts. A further six days of intensive classes will be held prior to the start of Semester B to prepare students for the delivery of their project. The Leadership Project will be implemented by students in Semesters B and C of the program (January to November).

This Leadership Project will involve the introduction of substantial change, or the creation of a new venture, that:

a)  Furthers Jesus’ agenda for whole-of-life discipleship[4];

b)  Involves large-scale and small-scale training and development; and

c)  Requires students to form and lead a new team.

This project may be combined with other existing or planned projects in the church or local community. This project should be a blessing to both the student and the broader church and community. The student will discuss their proposed project with their college-recognised ‘Trainer’ (often the Moderator or an equivalent ministerial role) prior to seeking their final approval, the approval of their Session, and the approval of the LDP Coordinator. Following this approval process, the Trainer will then oversee the student’s implementation of their project the following calendar year, after the intensive classes in January/February.

Estimated Time Commitments

The Leadership Project will require a significant investment of time from students and their church leaders. Students should expect the process of proposal development to take approximately 20 hours in Semester A of the program (their major project in Leading in Different Contexts). Prior to the start of Semester B, students will spend a further six intensive days being equipped to deliver their project effectively.

During Semesters B and C of the program, the Leadership Project should require approximately 320 hours of student time, or an average of approximately 8 hours per week over a 40-week year (allowing for school holidays) from January to November.

A typical breakdown of this time is indicated below:

a)  Approximately 200 hours for implementation of the approved project proposal, or an average of 5 hours per week. This time does not include ordinary participation in the church community, such as attending regular church services.

b)  Approximately 80 hours for attending ordinary meetings of Session (or the equivalent body) and the staff/pastoral team as an observer, or an average of 2 hours per week (see further below).

c)  Approximately 40 hours for meetings to discuss and review progress of the Leadership Project, or an average of 1 hour per week. This time is to be allocated in the following manner:

i.  Approximately 20 hours for meetings with their Trainer to review progress implementing the project, or an average of 2 hours per month (note: up to half this time may be spent in preparation for these meetings).

ii.  Approximately 10 hours for two individual written reports submitted to the LDP Coordinator (5 hours in June and November).

iii.  Approximately 10 hours for preparation and delivery of two individual presentations at LDP Retreats (5 hours in June and November). This time does not include engagement with other student presentations and related activities scheduled during Retreats.

Participation in Session and Pastoral Team Meetings

Throughout the program, students will be encouraged to learn about leadership by observing their church leaders in action. Most students who graduate from college will eventually assume significant leadership responsibilities in their local church, usually within the Session in Presbyterian churches.

It is therefore recommended that student applicants be given opportunities to participate regularly in ordinary[5] meetings of Session (or the equivalent body) and the staff/pastoral team, as an observer, if they are not already doing so. Attending these meetings regularly will help students to discern relevant spiritual, political and sociological dynamics within their church community, form authentic relationships with their church’s leadership community, and over time make more valuable contributions to the broader church and its overall mission. The required hours spent in observation will count formally towards the Leadership Project in Semesters B and C of the program only. However, church leaders are encouraged to invite their students to observe their Session and staff/pastoral team meetings throughout their enrolment in the LDP.

Approved female students will need to identify with their church leaders appropriate forums within which they can observe the practice of leadership.

Church Commitment to the Approved Project

Once the Trainer and Session (or the equivalent senior leadership team) formally approve the student’s project proposal towards the end of Semester A, they are expected to do all that they can to support and defend the student’s implementation of their approved project during Semesters B and C. Changes made to the student’s project at this late stage put the student’s successful completion of the LDP at risk.

Church leaders who are interested in further information about their student’s participation in the LDP are invited to attend an LDP Church Leader’s Briefing held shortly after the commencement of the LDP in the middle of each calendar year.

Changing Churches during the LDP

As a result of the very significant time commitment required to develop and then deliver the Leadership Project in Semesters A to C of the program, along with the relational capital required to develop an observer relationship within Session and the relevant staff/pastoral team, it is recommended strongly that students remain in the same local church during Semesters A to C of the program. A change of church after the start of the program can result in significant delays in the development, approval and ultimately implementation of the project. These delays can impact upon the student’s timely completion of the broader program.

Mentoring

In Semester A in Leading in Different Contexts, students will develop a mentoring relationship with a more experienced leader of the same gender. Students are encouraged to choose their own mentor. This mentor should be someone other than the student’s local church leader or college lecturer whom they are already formally accountable to. Students will organise their own meetings with their mentor, usually on a monthly or bi-monthly basis over the life of the program, and potentially beyond. They will also set their own developmental agenda. To promote the development of safe and authentic relationships with mentors, the college will never ask mentors to report on student progress (unlike the college-recognised Trainer).

Acceptance into the Program

Acceptance into the program is conditional upon the approval of the Director of the Centre for Pastoral Leadership, taking into consideration the following:

·  Submission of a complete, compliant and timely application form

·  Commitment by the student to the aims and expectations of the program

·  Completion of other relevant subjects at a satisfactory level

·  Evidence of discipline in the student’s development of character consistent with church leadership (see further 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9)

·  Commitment of the student’s Trainer and Session (or equivalent senior leadership team) to support the student’s participation in this program

Conflict Resolution

If problems arise between a student and their church leaders during the program, they will be encouraged to discuss and resolve the matter between themselves in the first instance. Should these matters, or aspects of them, be unresolvable to the satisfaction of the student and/or church leaders, the following staff from Christ College can be contacted for further assistance: