Practical Theology Commons^™

Christian Leadership In A Secular World, Janet S. Jones, Samantha R. Murray, Kelly B. Warren

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Complete Issue

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

A Trinitarian Leadership Model: Insights From The Apostle Peter, Brian Ruffner, Russell L. Huizing

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

The integration of Biblical principles with leadership theory has proven a monumental undertaking. Can such principles actually guide Christian leaders even though they are sometimes in tension with current concepts of leadership? It might seem like a difficult balance to achieve. However, by delving into Peter’s basic and presuppositional commitments, a clear picture of Biblical leadership emerged. Using 1 Peter 5 as the investigative platform, thorough analysis revealed a Trinitarian belief structure underpinning Peter’s concept of leadership. Significantly, the transition from simple fisherman to apostle demonstrated a radical transformation in both thought and application of leadership principles. Ultimately, a precise …

African Christian Leadership: Realities, Opportunities, And Impact, David K. Penno

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"African Christian Leadership is a well-organized, well-written report on some very significant research about leaders and the practice of leadership in the African church. The methodology allowed the researcher to hear from a broad spectrum of African Christians. One criticism of the study could be that a sample of church leaders and members in majority Muslim countries of North Africa were not included in the study, but this might be understandable due to the already vast scope of the project. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in leadership in the Christian context, and especially as practiced …

Elders Intentionally Developing Future Leaders Through A Mentoring Program At The Central Church Of Christ In Topeka, Ks, Terry Kitson

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to implement an Elder Mentoring Program for the Central Church of Christ in Topeka, KS. In the first chapter, the context for this project, the Central Church of Christ, is described. The theological constructs for the project were drawn from The Book of Pastoral Rule written by Gregory the Great 590 C.E. and built upon by the application of contemporary Christian authors, and Biblical examples. The three key concepts taken from The Book of Pastoral Rule are contemplation, pastoral care, and mentoring. The third chapter reviews project methodology and mentoring curriculum. The findings and …

Spiritual Transformation At Austin Christian Church, David Hooper

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This project was designed to meet a need at the Austin Christian Church (ACC) for enhancing the spiritual formation of new converts to Christianity by providing clear direction for mentors seeking to disciple others into the image of Christ. The scope of this project is focused directly on taking the first steps toward a deliberate pathway for spiritual formation by establishing the foundational principles. The apostle Paul’s pastoral theology provides the theological rationale for the project. Theosis, the theologically rich description of the Christian transformative process, also informs the theological foundation for the project. Drawing on the work of Richard …

Arthur W. Spalding: Leadership During Cultural Upheaval, Allan W. Freed

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

'Leadership always occurs in the context of cultural mindsets and expectations. this article describes the work of arthur W. Spalding, who was the first family-life educator in the adventist church. Spalding was born into an era described as a “watershed” in domesticity. With the opening of the american frontier in the mid-1800s came the shift from family to individualism. Urbanization, industrialization, expanded travel, and communications eroded the social and material conditions that supported the traditional patriarchal family system. the american experience glamorized consumption, gratification, and pleasure. the fad was to reject traditional authority, particularly that of the clergy and the …

Servants And Friends: A Biblical Theology Of Leadership, Erich Baumgartner

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"In this groundbreaking volume published by andrews University Press, some 20 scholars examine the sacred text of the Old and New testaments, as well as a selection of six biblical leadership narratives, to lay the foundation for a biblical theology of leadership. Each of the first three sections is composed of six chapters, providing an array of fascinating studies of leadership in the Bible. the fourth section attempts to integrate the multiple facets of leadership insight unearthed throughout the various contributions into what the editor, Skip Bell, claims to be “the most complete biblical theology of leadership available.”

The Role Of Chaplains In Leadership Development And Conflict Management: A Reflection On Acts 15:36-41, Boubakar Sanou

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Learning To Pray The Lord’S Prayer For Spiritual Transformation At Tachikawa Church Of Christ, Naoyoshi Fukushima

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

This thesis describes a project to lead the members of Tachikawa Church of Christ to learn and experience the power and blessings of praying the Lord’s Prayer for spiritual edification and maturity. The program consisted of eight weeks of learning the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer and doing spiritual exercises. To provide a theological foundation for this project, I delivered eight sermons on the Lord’s Prayer with strong emphasis on the relational nature of the prayer.

Those who engaged in the spiritual exercises were given opportunities to experience joy, peace, and correction as they tried to live in harmony …

Growing Young: Six Essential Strategies To Help Young People Discover And Love Your Church, David Chimwaro

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"the authors of Fuller youth institute have made a valuable contribution to the ongoing quest for church growth by providing not only a theoretical model for relational church growth that can “Energize [the] entire church congregation,” but also a description of a practical application of the concept. the model has been explored in the context of “six core commitments,” or strategies, “of churches that are growing young.” the profiled churches are thriving because they are attracting and engaging young people ages 15 to 29, who are growing spiritually and emotionally, which gives credence to this concept (pp. 19, 20, 23). …

What Do Pastors In German-Speaking Europe Perceive As Important Leadership Competencies In Order To Be Effective Pastoral Leaders, Thomas C. Gyuroka

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"thirty-nine of the 104 competencies from the qualitative study were rated 5.00 and above. Four of them were leadership competencies, four were management competencies, and 31 were other competencies. Few regional differences were found in the German-speaking fields except for the North German Union. Only 29.9% of the pastors rated the leadership competencies associated with the core tasks of leadership as high. in contrast they tended to attribute more importance of those competencies they used on a more frequent basis and with greater proficiency. these results suggest the need for training in actual leadership competencies."

Spiritual Gifts, Pastoring, And Gender: An Ongoing Dialogue, Boubakar Sanou

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"in Joel 2:28-29, god promises an innovation regarding how he will make his Spirit available in the last days ... god promises to give his Spirit and gifts without discrimination to both genders (“your sons and daughters,” and “both men and women”), young and old, from all walks of life, races, and social strata. in Acts 2:16-21, the apostle Peter quotes Joel 2:28-32 to assert that the equal filling of the Spirit for the 120 disciples (among whom were women, cf. Acts 1:14) was an element of the fulfillment of god’s promise through the prophet Joel. he also points out …

Beyond The Barriers Of Discipline And Culture, Erich Baumgartner

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"culture sometimes prevents us from appreciating the very gifts offered to us, at least at first. in one place i learned a dimension of friendship that my culture does not allow me to experience easily. it happened when i was teaching Leadership Development to teachers and administrators of religious organizations in India. the first thing i noticed was their eagerness to learn in the classroom and their desire to share the beauty of their city and cultural sites with me. i enjoyed both, the classroom and the time outside the classroom. But i was unprepared for a gesture of friendship …

Love In The Ordinary: Leadership In The Gospel Of John, Alex Sosler

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"Jesus did extraordinary things. the gospel of John includes seven miraculous signs that point to Jesus’ true identity as the Son of god. god incarnate is no ordinary concept. however, the first 30 or so years of his life seem rather ordinary. Just look at some of the regular patterns of his ministry as recorded in the gospels: attending weddings, hiding from crowds, going to the synagogue. At the end of his time on earth, as Jesus asks the question, “Do you love me?” he calls his followers to be ordinary in the ordinary. it is these regular moments that …

Thirsting For God, Jon L. Dybdahl, Petr Cincala

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"For a lot of people, particularly in Western culture, what is commonly seen are business and managerial forms of leadership. there is nothing wrong with that, but christian leadership is different. Leadership is something that needs to be practiced. Leadership needs to have a reflective side. A christian leader must take time to think, consider, and have a period of quietness rather than just making quick decisions. A christian leader must be reflective and learn to listen to god. this is a key part of spirituality."

Spiritual Leadership And Organizational Knowledge Processes: New Relations In The Field Of Knowledge Management, Lorena Martinez Soto

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"this paper analyzes the dynamics arising from interactions between typical elements of organizational culture such as leadership, strategic processes, and knowledge management. More specifically, it seeks to establish possible relationships between leadership based on spirituality and the processes of creating, sharing, and reusing knowledge. the goal of this analysis is to establish a link between spiritual leadership as a strategy of the study of spirituality in the workplace and knowledge management. the research is focused on the application of Louis Fry’s theory of spiritual leadership to a group of organizations made up of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located in …

Creating A Spiritual Learning Space: The Changing Leadership Roles In The Life Cycle Of A Church Plant, Erich Baumgartner, Andres Flores

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

the role of a church planter is multifaceted and unique. church planters and their teams venture out as faith entrepreneurs in obedience to christ’s commission to share the gospel in every community. they have to experiment with creative ministry approaches in a particular context. then, as they find methods which meet the needs of people in that community context, experimenting gives way to more predictable ministry structures. church growth requires constant fine-tuning of leadership roles to deal with new challenges and growth pains, calling often for new skill sets that the original church planter may not possess. thus, as church …

Transparency In Leadership: The Divine Governance Challenge From The Apocalypse, Sigve K. Tonstad

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

this chapter has explored the leadership implications of the word that gives the last book of the Bible its title. the principle discovered in the nature of the book of revelation is transparent leadership. this ideology is announced in the opening word. revelation corrects religious, political, and other institutions that thrive on secrecy and concealment. “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near,” says the narrator in revelation (1:3). Blessed, too, is the leader who takes revelation’s …

The Need For Spiritual Leadership, Morris Thompson

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"Leadership comes in different shapes and sizes within our society. Some leadership practices are characterized as good, and other forms are toxic. however, within the 21st century, spiritual leadership is necessary as christian leaders focus on growing the next generation of leaders. this article focuses on the importance of the spiritual leader within today’s society, and will first discuss the need for dedicated spiritual leaders. it will then discuss how spiritual leaders affect the spiritual growth of others. Finally, it will discuss the need for spiritual accountability."

The New Adapters: Shaping Ideas To Fit Your Congregation, Mark Magnusson

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"At the onset of the book the author established that the “vision of a church has to fit the mission field” in which the church is located (loc. 2). this point is clear and can apply to all leaders and congregations. the way people dress, think, and act will vary from place to place. For example, a church in preparation for a wedding in a rural area which is decorated with empty shotgun shells loaded with flowers and the bride and groom using a branding iron making their mark on a prepared log is going to vary from a wedding …

Transforming Pastoral Leadership: Reimagining Congregational Relationships For Changing Contexts, Evadne Williams-Henry

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"As we go through changes, we must remember that god is in control of his church and we must always seek him for guidance and direction. this is an excellent book to help pastors who are seeking to honor god in a society that is ever changing. it helps pastors to recognize that our ultimate Leader is Jesus christ, and we should follow the example that he has set for us. i strongly recommend this book to all pastors."

The Intersection Of Leadership And Spirituality: A Qualitative Study Exploring The Thinking And Behavioral Attributes Of Leaders Who Identify As Spiritual, D. S. Goldberg

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"the primary question was does spirituality influence leaders’ thinking and behaviors. the secondary questions included an exploration around ways spirituality influences thinking and behaviors. it also explored the questions as to spirituality informing the ways leaders can be challenging within their organizations, and if acknowledging one’s spirituality publically helps or hinders building effective teams. the highlights of the research include the finding that spirituality does indeed influence everything a leader does and is, whether thinking or behavior attributes, and the process of a leader’s questioning."

An Examination In The Role Of Spirituality In The Development Of The Moral Component Of Authentic Leadership Through A Sociorhetorical Analysis Of Paul's Letter To Titus, J. D. Henson

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"this study examined the role of spirituality in the moral development component of authentic leadership in comparison to leadership principles found in the Epistle to titus. the study of moral development was drawn from literature on authentic leadership theory, spiritual leadership theory, and preexisting frameworks of moral agency, self-concept, and the stages of moral development. the exegetical process followed the methodology of sociorhetorical analysis and was interpreted for the moral, ethical, and leadership principles found in the pericope. the study yielded five themes of leadership from which 10 principles of leadership were discovered as found in Paul's letter to Titus. …

The Role Of Spirituality In The Leadership Style Of Organizational Leaders, A. S. Koko

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"the transcendental phenomenology research design was used to investigate the essence or meaning of these leaders’ experiences regarding their spirituality and leadership style as they were currently experiencing it. the knowledge obtained from this study explained spirituality, consciousness, and cognition’s role in leadership style, which can be applied to the fields of sports, politics, organizational management, coaching, mentoring, leadership, employee recruitment, and other areas of society or within any organization where leadership performance is important. the conclusion from this study was that organizational leaders who self-identified as being spiritual demonstrated compassion when relating with their employees and others. these organizational …

Spiritual Leadership In Religious Organizations: A Grounded Theory Study, K. S. Washington

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"research has not yet identified one specific style or set of characteristics that represents overall leadership effectiveness among christian pastors. this grounded theory qualitative study examined spiritual leadership in religious organizations in order to develop a theoretical model of effective leadership for pastors...the results of this study suggested the presence of five themes related to pastoral effectiveness in non-denominational christian churches: (a) communication; (b) personal development; (c) business acumen; (d) religious practices; and (e) relationships."

Superbosses, Joseph Bates

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"there has long been a disconnect between church membership and discipleship. Superbosses provides leaders of christian churches access to a discipleship model that is proven to work. the author emphasizes the personal development of each person within the organization. As people realize their true potential, are inspired, trained, equipped, and set free to accomplish their god given purpose in life, they will grow and pursue excellence with a passion rarely seen."

Toward A Framework For Interfaith Leadership, Barbara A. Mcgraw

Engaging Pedagogies in Catholic Higher Education (EPiCHE)

Today there is a need for a vision of the world that takes account of religious, spiritual, and non-faith orientations in a way that promotes cooperation and resolves conflict. Educational programs that employ this article’s proposed four-dimensional interfaith leadership framework can contribute to that vision. Through dialogue for understanding and compassion, lens bias reflection and cognitive-affective frame-shifting, religious literacy, and leadership theory and practice, students can become socially conscious leaders who effect positive change in religiously diverse environments. This interfaith leadership framework is especially salient for Catholic institutions of higher education, but is readily extendable for use in other institutions.

In Our Time: Advancing Interfaith Studies Curricula At Catholic Colleges And Universities, Eboo Patel, Noah Silverman, Kristi Del Vecchio

Engaging Pedagogies in Catholic Higher Education (EPiCHE)

People who orient around religion differently are interacting with greater frequency than ever before. These interactions, especially in the context of college and university campuses, require young people to grapple with their own identities in ways that previous generations could more easily avoid. Conversations about religious diversity have become elevated at colleges and universities, which has led Drs. Douglas Jacobsen and Rhonda Hustedt Jacobsen to claim that religion is “no longer invisible” in the context of American higher education.

As an organization that works with hundreds of American colleges and universities every year, Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) believes that Catholic …

The Blessing Of Spiritual Mentoring, S. Joseph Kidder

Faculty Publications

Paul’s core argument for spiritual mentoring includes that to be effective mentors, our teaching must be backed by the witness of our own lives. We are to demonstrate all that we teach. What is laid upon us is the tremendous task of not only talking to men about Christ but showing Him to them through our lives. The experienced and exemplary Christian creates a responsible atmosphere for spiritual growth, sharing life experiences and skills and sacrificing time and energy.

As part of the mentoring process, Christians are to take every opportunity to teach younger people about God. This can be …