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Commentary
COMMENTARY: Working a new frontier of theological education Ann Michel, Oct 15, 2009
Ann Michel
By Ann A. Michel Special Contributor
No matter how good their seminary education, most pastors find that formal education alone does not fully prepare them for the challenges and responsibilities they face in parish ministry. This is because the “teachable moments” for acquiring certain practical leadership skills come as one encounters critical junctures in the practice of ministry.
Leadership education is one of the new frontiers of theological education. At Wesley Theological Seminary, through the work of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, a new emphasis on leadership development shapes the curriculum for masters of divinity and doctor of ministry students. But the Lewis Center also focuses on the leadership development needs of those beyond their seminary years.
The Center’s work with younger clergy and its many years of research among newly ordained United Methodist clergy suggest that those who are new to ministry are often unprepared to deal with some of the more pragmatic aspects of congregational life, such as church finances, conflict resolution, and planning and leading change.
Consequently, one of the new frontiers of learning has involved work with a number of annual conferences to provide customized continuing education events for provisional clergy that address these and other leadership development needs.
Research also suggests that mentoring is a very promising leadership development tool for new clergy—but only if clergy mentors are well trained for this critical role. Over the years, we have offered training to clergy mentors as well as those who train clergy mentors within conferences and districts. Just recently, we have converted our clergy-mentor training curriculum into a video-based training package to make it more widely available.
Peer learning is proving to be another vital aspect of leadership education for those in the practice of ministry. A network of leadership development cohorts, for instance, is bringing together church leaders who face similar challenges, whether they be younger clergy, pastors who are beginning ministry in new settings, those who are new to positions of denominational leadership or those facing mid-career challenges.
These groups have become important places of accountability and support as leaders struggle with shared challenges. This type of learning opportunity was recently expanded to encompass a wider range of church leaders—both clergy and lay—with a series of learning communities for churches that are committed to the goal of increasing worship attendance.
Another vital means of helping clergy grow as leaders involves providing constructive feedback on their effectiveness in ministry. Following several years of development, research and field-testing, the Lewis Center has launched a new leadership assessment instrument designed specifically for clergy called the Lewis Pastoral Leadership Inventory (LPLI).
This new online assessment instrument (see www.lpli.org) provides the basis for informed and objective conversations between a pastor and pastor-parish relations committee or supervisor. The purpose of the instrument is to help good clergy become better, more fruitful leaders.
One of the key understandings gained as this instrument took shape is that it is possible to talk about clergy effectiveness in an objective and meaningful way. This, in and of itself, is having an impact on the way people think and talk about leadership in the church.
Finally, virtually all church leaders today need help in funding ministry—particularly in these challenging times. So a major emphasis of leadership development work must be on equipping a wide array of church leaders to deal with issues of church finance in creative and constructive ways.
Wesley Theological Seminary has always understood its mission to be one of preparing fruitful leaders for mission-shaped churches. For this reason, it is committed to developing leaders—in the classroom and beyond—with the skills and instincts to help congregations and denomination serve, thrive and grow.
Ms. Michel is associate director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.
Ann Michel
