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Forming Christ-Shaped Leaders

Forming Christ-Shaped Leaders

This course is part of Rediscovering the Heart of Methodism Specialization

Instructors: Jung Choi

Included with

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

5 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

5 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Define Christian leadership with the insights of John Wesley and Methodism.
Articulate how everyday work is part of God’s calling to ministry.
Explore how trauma impacts individuals, communities, and the shape of leadership drawing on a Wesleyan theological framework.
Explore the importance of innovative leadership for the church’s mission.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

5 assignments

Taught in English

91%

of learners achieved a positive career outcome

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This course is part of the Rediscovering the Heart of Methodism Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

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. If you are a pastor or ministry professional in need of Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits for your professional development, CEU credits are available for this course. Upon successful completion of this course, you can provide your Coursera certificate and the course description to your employer for recognition of earning 0.5 CEUs. Contact divinityonline@duke.edu with any questions regarding CEUs for this course. Each of the 5 courses in the Rediscovering the Heart of Methodism specialization is worth 0.5 CEUs, for a total of 2.5 CEUs for completing all of the courses.

Module details

“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.

What's included

1 video10 readings2 assignments2 discussion prompts

1 videoTotal 11 minutes

Bearing Witness in Christian Communities11 minutes

10 readingsTotal 49 minutes

General Course Information5 minutes
About Duke Divinity+5 minutes
Course Entry Survey5 minutes
About the Group Discussion Guide5 minutes
Group Discussion Guide2 minutes
Coursera Online Discussion Guidelines5 minutes
Report a problem with the course5 minutes
This Week's Presenter2 minutes
Key Terms5 minutes
Hispanic "Teología en Conjunto"10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 30 minutes

Reflective Quiz15 minutes
Week 1 Quiz15 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Introduce Yourself10 minutes
Week 1 Discussion10 minutes

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.

What's included

1 video3 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

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.

What's included

1 video5 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

1 videoTotal 9 minutes

Leading Through Trauma9 minutes

5 readingsTotal 34 minutes

Our Commitment to a Safe and Supportive Learning Environment10 minutes
This Week's Presenter2 minutes
Key Terms2 minutes
John Wesley on Holistic Health and Healing 10 minutes
A Blueprint for Addressing Trauma10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 15 minutes

Week 3 Quiz15 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Week 3 Discussion10 minutes

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.