Professor: Aaron Meraz, PhD,
Bobby J. Worthington,
CRISWELL COLLEGE
MIN625 L01.A Topics in Leadership: Team Building
Spring 2016
A. Course Description
A detailed study, with a significant research component, about a selected topic in Christian leadership. This course may be repeated for credit when the topic studied differs. Open to graduate students who are completing their final 18 hours of an M.A. The study topic is team-building.
B. Course Objectives
At the end of this course, the student should demonstrate the ability to satisfy the following course outcomes:
1. Theology: to understand and have knowledge to apply the biblical and theological
foundations of team building.
2. Biblical Studies: to identify and develop principles of team building through a study of
Nehemiah.
3. Integration: to develop a team building strategy for your current ministry context.
4. Academic Advancement: to progress in critical thinking and writing skills.
C. Required Textbooks
Nehemiah. Holy Bible.
Buckingham, Marcus, and Donald Clifton.Now, Discover Your Strengths. New York: The
Free Press, 2001.
Cordero, Wayne. Doing Church as a Team. Ventura, CA: Regal, 2005.
Dungy, Tony. The Mentor Leader. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2010.
Phillips, Donald. The Founding Fathers on Leadership. New York: Warner Books, 1997.
D. Course Requirements
1. Article Submissions. Each week, students will find an article written on urban evangelism or
ministry and post a brief description of the article in the Discussion Board. Students
must also include a link to the article or bibliographic information on the article. These posts
must be posted by Sunday each week by 11:59pm. (25% of grade)
2. Book Review. Each student will submit review of the book Doing Church as a Team by
Wayne Cordero. Guidelines for the review are in the CriswellStyleManual. (20% of grade)
Due Sunday of Week 3.
3. Team Building Leader Interview Paper. Each student will interview a proven team building
leaderand submit a six (6) page paper, not including the title page, appendices, and
bibliography,detailing the team-building principles/practices used in the leader’s occupation
and a critical evaluation of these principles/practices. Agrading rubric will be put on
Blackboard.The following outline should be observed:
I. Introduction and thesis statement (1/2 page)
II. Body of Paper (4 pages)
A. Brief bio of leader and his occupation (Approximately 1 pages)
B. Principles/Practices of Team-Building (Approximately 1 pages)
C. Critical evaluation of principles/practices (Approximately 2 pages)
III. Conclusion (1/2 page)
This assignment will count for 25% of the student’s grade. Due Sunday of Week 5.
4. Team-Building Strategy Paper. Utilizing what the student has learned in the
course, the student will write a team-building strategy for the student’s ministry. The strategy
will be a fifteen (15) page, double-spaced paper, not including appendices, bibliography, etc.
The paper should be in your own words withlessthan30% quotations from other materials. A
grading rubric will be handed out in class.
Thefollowing outline should beobserved:
I. Introduction with thesis statement (1/2 page)
II. Body of Paper (14 pages)
A. Brief bio and summary of ministry context (Approximately 4 pages)
B. Evaluation of current ministries (Approximately 5 pages)
C. Team Building Strategy for Ministry Context (Approximately 5 pages)
III. Conclusion (1/2 page)
This paper will count for 30% of the student’s grade.Upload to BB. Due Sunday of Week 8.
E. ATTENDANCE POLICIES
Students are expected to attend all class sessions (Criswell College Catalog, 2015-2016for attendance policies).
Absences: Since class participation is vital to learning, absences should be taken only when absolutely necessary. More than three (3) absences for block classes will result in a grade of “F” in the courses. The professor and the Vice President must approve all exceptions to this policy. Proportionate absences apply to all other terms (Winter, summer, etc.). Students are responsible for all absences due to illness or any other reason. Granting of excused absences is permitted at the discretion of the professor.
Tardies: Missing more than fifteen (15) minutes at the beginning or end of a class period is considered one absence. Three instances of tardiness of fifteen minutes or less equals one absence. The tardy student is responsible for notifying the professor of his/her presence in writing at the end of class. Students who wish to depart early should clear it with the professor.
Late Assignment Policy: There will be a 5 point deduction per day late assignment penalty. No assignment will be accepted past 6 days late.
F. GRADING SCALE
A 97-100 4.0 grade points per semester hour
A- 93-96 3.7 grade points per semester hour
B+ 91-92 3.3 grade points per semester hour
B 88-90 3.0 grade points per semester hour
B- 86-87 2.7 grade points per semester hour
C+ 83-85 2.3 grade points per semester hour
C 80-82 2.0 grade points per semester hour
C- 78-79 1.7 grade points per semester hour
D+ 75-77 1.3 grade points per semester hour
D 72-74 1.0 grade point per semester hour
D- 70-71 0.7 grade points per semester hour
F 0-69 0.0 grade points per semester hour
G. CLASSROOM MILIEU
1. ACADEMIC HONESTY
Absolute truth is an essential belief and the basis of behavior for those who believe in a God
who cannot lie and forbids falsehood. Academic honesty includes the basic premise that all
work students submit must be their own and any ideas received from somewhere else must be
carefully documented.
2. LEARNING DISABILITIES
If you have learning or other disabilities, please inform the professor at the beginning of the
course. Our intention is to help all students learn. We will try to accommodate your needs if at
all possible.
3. DRESS CODE (While on Campus)
All students are to follow the Criswell College dress code as noted in the Student Handbook.
Students not in compliance to the code may be asked to leave class. The dress code reflects
our intent of preparing students for leadership in ministry. Here are the basics of the dress
code. Jeans and casual wear are appropriate provided that the clothing is modest and in good
condition. Both men and women should avoid extremes in hairstyles and jewelry. No body
piercings are allowed except women’s earrings. All students are expected to maintain proper
hygiene and grooming. Shorts and tank-tops are not allowed on campus. Other inappropriate
wear would include torn clothing, skimpy dresses, bare midriffs and bare shoulders.
4. AUDITING AND SIT-IN STUDENTS
Any student may enroll in a course as an Auditor or Sit-in as long as the class is below
capacity. A student’s permanent transcript will reflect which courses have been completed as
audits. Sit-in students are not given grades by professors and their transcripts will not reflect
enrollment in the course. Taking tests and participation in course activities are afforded to
credit students in the syllabus and is at the discretion of the professor.
H. DISTANCE EDUCATION STUDENTS
General
Students participating in courses through Distance Education, whether with or without live interaction, must complete the academic requirements for those courses with the integrity and commitment necessary to participate in and benefit from all of the exercises provided by the professor for learning the subject matter of the course. Therefore credit for Distance Education courses is the same as credit for courses taken on campus.
Library
Distance Education Students can access information about Criswell College’s Wallace Library at 214-818-1348 or The Wallace Library manual is available at
Student Life and support
Students needing educational support or services should contact the Student Life Office (SLO) at 214-818-1332 or or the Registrar at 214-818-1303.
Video and Other Intellectual Property Rights: Unless otherwise specifically instructed in writing by the professor, students must neither materially nor digitally reproduce materials from any course offered by Criswell College for or with the significant possibility of distribution.
I. DISCLAIMER
This syllabus is intended to reflect accurately the learning objectives, instructional format, readings, learning activities, evaluation criteria, policies on late assignments and absences, grading scale, course schedule, reference list, and other information necessary for students to appraise the course. However, during the course of the semester the professor reserves the right to modify any portion of this syllabus as may appear necessary because of events and circumstances that occur during the semester.
J. COURSE CALENDAR
Date / Reading / Powerpoint / AssignmentsWeek 1 / Nehemiah / Nehemiah’s Team Building Principles / Post Team Building Article
Week 2 / Dungy,
Ch. 1-6 / The Make-Up of a Team Builder
The Making of a Team Builder / Post Team Building Article
Week 3 / Dungy, Ch. 7-9
& Q&A / The Means of a Team Builder / Post Team Building Article Book Review Due
Week 4 / Buckingham, Intro-Ch. 3 / Strength Building Concept
Identifying Strengths / Post Team Building Article
Week 5 / Buckingham,
Ch. 4-7 / Working through Strengths / Post Team Building Article Team Building Leader Paper Due
Week 6 / Phillips,
Intro-Ch. 8 / Preparing Your Team
Motivating and Mobilizing
Your Team / Post Team Building Article
Week 7 / Phillips,
Ch. 9-12 / Winning with Your Team / Post Team Building Article
Week 8 / Phillips,
Ch. 13-Epilogue / Persevering with Your Team / Post Team Building Article
Team Building Strategy Paper Due
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bauknight, Brian. Body Building: Creating a Ministry Team through Spiritual Gifts. Nashville:
Abingdon, 1996.
Cladis, George. Leading the Team-Based Church. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1999.
Galloway, Dale. Building Teams in Ministry. Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 2000.
Gangel, Kenneth. Team Leadership in Christian Ministry. Chicago: Moody, 1997.
Jaynes, Sharon. Building an Effective Women’s Ministry. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2005.
Jones, Alanna. Team-Building Activities for Every Group. Richland, WA: Rec Room, 2000.
Maxwell, John. The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2001.
McIntosh, Gary. Staff Your Church for Growth. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000.
McKee, Jonathan. The New Breed: Understanding and Equipping the 21st Century Volunteer.
Loveland, CO: Group, 2007.
Morgan, Tony. Take the Lid Off Your Church. Amazon Kindle Edition, 2012.
Osborne, Larry. Sticky Teams. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010.
Smith, Pamela. Team Building in the Church. Bartlett, TN: Turning Point Publications, 2012.
Thompson, Janet. The Team that Jesus Built: How to Develop, Equip, and Commission a Women’s
Ministry Team. Birmingham: New Hope Publishers, 2011.
Tooker, Eric, and John Trent, and Rodney Cox. Leading from Your Strengths. Nashville: B&H,
2004.
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