Creating
the Church of the Future: Organizing and Planning for Tomorrow
Organizational
development models used today in congregations and religious organizations
reflect the mainline church and a religion of yesterday. Membership in most
denominations remains on a plateau or in decline, and governance and organizational
development are so far off the mark that they'll never make any difference.
This
course emphasizes integrity of membership ("constituents" for
religious organizations) because you can't plan much with a congregation of
uncommitted souls; stressing the importance of charitable giving in good measure
because you can't plan much when half the congregation gives less than $10 per
week; how to create courageous leaders
rather than caretakers; and how to change the ground rules from people who believe
they should be ministered to, to a culture of people becoming lay ministers.
Resources
from Kotter, Durall and other contemporary planners will motivate conversations
about creating a community of compassion at the top of any strategic planning
process. Guest leaders from various religious traditions (Christian, Jewish,
Muslim) in planning for churches will be guests in class every day; students
will be encouraged to develop deliverables for their particular ministry.
Attendees and guests will
be committed to becoming resources for each other subsequent to the classroom experience.
Michael
Durall, Mark Dollhopf and Amy Robinson, all experts in planning and deliverables
for faith-based communities, will individually address the class.
This
course is open to members of the public on a space-available basis. It carries
three graduate level credits or may be audited. Students taking courses for
credit will be given preference in registration.
Required
Readings:
Leading
Change
John P. Kotter; Harvard Business School Press, 1996
Catching
the Next Wave, Leadership Strategies for Turn-Around Congregations,
by Steven Goodwin, Augsburg Press, 1999
Leading
Congregational Change by
Herrington, Bonem and Furr; Jossey-Bass, 200
Prepare
your Church for the Future
by Carl F. George; Baker
Publishing Group, 1991
Beyond
the Collection Plate by
Michael Durall; Abington Press, 2003
Other
Suggested Readings:
The
Passionate Church,
by Walt Kallestad and Mike Breen
Images
of Organization,
by Garth Morgan
Leadership
and the New Science,
by Margaret Wheatley
Methods
of Delivery:
- Reading
and reflection
- Lectures/
Instructor’s presentations and stories
- Guest
presentations
- Student
sharing/discussion
Method
of Assessment:
- Student
evaluations
- Optional
paper (4-6 pages; reflections, discovery)
- Instructor’s
evaluation
Pre-Course Requirements:
Read
Leading Change by John P. Kotter and come to class prepared to
lead/participate discussions and specific applications for your
particular ministry. Commit to memory the key elements of Kotter’s
“Eight-Stage” process.
Be
prepared, on the first day of class, to share specific vision,
mission and tactical planning opportunities in your ministry.
