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Jung Choi and Laceye Cammarano Warner

Welcome to Forming Christ-Shaped Leaders. This course is part of the Rediscovering the Heart of Methodism series. Through this series, we hope you will experience a deeper grounding in the distinctive elements of Methodism at its best, and a renewed capacity for hopeful, imaginative participation in the mission of God.

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Welcome to Forming Christ-Shaped Leaders. This course is part of the Rediscovering the Heart of Methodism series. Through this series, we hope you will experience a deeper grounding in the distinctive elements of Methodism at its best, and a renewed capacity for hopeful, imaginative participation in the mission of God.

This course addresses two closely related questions: what does it mean to be a Christ-shaped leader, and how do we become that kind of leader? To develop our answers, we’ll mine the riches of Wesleyan wisdom, Mary’s witness, and Jesus’s teachings. We’ll also consider how calling and trauma inform Christian leadership. These four weeks will provide frameworks to guide our ongoing formation as Christ-shaped leaders who, in turn, encourage that same growth in others.

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Syllabus

Forming Christ-Shaped Leaders: Bearing Witness in Communities
“Rediscovering the heart of Methodism requires greater intentionality around forming Christ-shaped leaders who bear witness in communities.” What does it mean to be a Christ-shaped leader? This week, we will explore Wesleyan answers. First, by considering John Wesley’s view that leadership requires wisdom and holiness. We’ll also examine how holistic, Christ-shaped leadership reflects Christ as prophet, priest, and king. And we’ll explore the tensions between popular accounts of heroic lone leaders and communal approaches that enable Christ-shaped leaders to bear witness to the reign of God en conjunto—together.
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A Wesleyan Perspective on Work and Vocation
The calling to Christ-shaped leadership isn’t solely for people whose paychecks come from tithes and offerings. In fact, those set aside by God for pastoral ministry are tasked with equipping lay Christians for ministry. This means both “professional Christians” and those who work in any other area of life (paid or unpaid!) need clear understandings of work and vocation. This week, we will learn about discerning our callings and consider ways our Christian communities can better encourage a sense of calling in every Christian.
Leading Through Trauma
Trauma impacts us as holistic beings in community. Because leadership is always relational, leaders need to understand how trauma shapes human interactions. Because God calls leaders to come alongside those who have experienced (or are still experiencing) traumatic circumstances, it’s vital for leaders to develop practical skills for helping people heal as individuals and communities.
Christ-Shaped Character and Leadership Innovation
As we wrap up this course, we’ll revisit the question of what Christ-shaped leadership looks like by taking a close look at Jesus’s teachings on the Great Commandment in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Along the way, we’ll examine how leading others into innovation for the sake of the church’s mission demands a Christ-shaped character that refuses to replace love with preference and demonstrates mercy in the face of reluctance and resistance.

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Examines Wesleyan theology and how it relates to Christian leadership
Analyzes Mary's role as a witness and how her example can inform Christian leadership
Explores Jesus's teachings on leadership and how they can guide Christian leaders today
Investigates the impact of trauma on Christian leadership and provides practical skills for helping others heal
Develops participants' understanding of Wesleyan perspectives on work and vocation
Emphasizes the importance of forming Christ-shaped leaders who can bear witness in communities
Requires prior knowledge of Wesleyan theology and Christian leadership

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Forming Christ-Shaped Leaders with these activities:
Review Wesleyan history and thought
Refreshes knowledge and understanding of Wesleyan history and thought and will provide a strong foundation for the course.
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  • Read selected chapters from a Wesleyan history book
  • Review key Wesleyan theologians and their ideas
  • Explore online resources and articles on Wesleyanism
Refresh knowledge on Wesleyan theology
References key concepts from Wesleyan theology that will be discussed throughout the course.
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  • Read relevant chapters in the recommended book
  • Take notes on key concepts and ideas
Practice identifying different types of leadership
Solidifies understanding of the different types of leadership discussed in the course.
Browse courses on Leadership Styles
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  • Review course materials on different leadership styles
  • Analyze real-world examples of leaders
Eight other activities
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Explore resources on Christian leadership
Provides supplemental materials and perspectives on Christian leadership, enhancing understanding of the course content.
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  • Watch videos and read articles on Christian leadership
  • Follow online courses or tutorials on Christian leadership
  • Engage in discussions or forums on Christian leadership
Organize a group discussion on a specific topic
Encourages active engagement with course material through peer-led discussions.
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  • Select a topic related to the course
  • Prepare discussion questions and activities
  • Facilitate the group discussion
Engage in peer discussion forums
Provides opportunities for discussion, knowledge sharing, and diverse perspectives, enhancing understanding of course material.
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  • Participate in online discussion forums
  • Share insights and experiences with peers
  • Engage in respectful and constructive dialogue
Create a reflective blog post
Provides a guided opportunity to reflect on and synthesize learnings from the course, reinforcing key concepts.
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  • Choose a specific topic or concept from the course
  • Write a blog post that explores your thoughts and insights on the topic
  • Share your blog post with peers or instructors for feedback
Read 'The Leadership Challenge'
Provides theoretical and practical insights into effective leadership, complementing the course content and broadening perspectives.
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  • Read and analyze key chapters of the book
  • Summarize and discuss the main ideas and principles
  • Apply the concepts to personal and professional leadership situations
Volunteer at a local faith-based organization
Provides practical experience in applying leadership skills in a real-world setting.
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  • Research local faith-based organizations
  • Identify volunteer opportunities aligned with your interests
  • Attend volunteer orientation and training
Develop a leadership development plan
Helps students apply course learnings to their own leadership development.
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  • Identify your strengths and areas for growth
  • Set specific and measurable goals for your development
  • Develop a plan for achieving your goals
Apply leadership principles through case studies
Provides hands-on practice in applying leadership principles through case studies, reinforcing course concepts.
Browse courses on Leadership Principles
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  • Analyze case studies of leadership challenges
  • Identify and discuss leadership principles applicable to the cases
  • Develop and present recommendations for addressing the challenges

Career center

Learners who complete Forming Christ-Shaped Leaders will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

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