Transformative Leadership through National Organizations

Dr. Samuel Barkat. Dr. Johnston Barkat, and Dean L. Gregory Jones

Duke Center for Reconciliation Summer Institute 2009

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to assist the senior leaders of organizations and institutions in discovering ways to move their own leadership and their organizations to a new level of faithfulness in the mission of reconciliation.  Drawing from a theological framework, case studies, and participant experiences, three areas will be addressed:

 

  1. A biblical and theological view of transformative ministry for reconciliation and teamwork for common objectives.
  2. How to lead an organization in pursuing reconciliation, both internally and externally, including addressing conflicts.  What does it mean to pursue reconciliation ministry Biblically and theologically, and with psychologically and sociologically sound principles and practices rather than through power and position?  How does the call to embody both justice and forgiveness reshape institutional practices, structures, and programs?
  3. Development of a practical action plan.  Participants will identify opportunities and barriers and develop a concrete action plan to move their organization ahead in dealing with reconciliation issues on personal, structural and institutional levels.

 

This course is based on collaborative and transformative leadership principles.  We will address the character, integrity and humility that leaders of Christian organizations need to posses in order to be successful collaborative leaders.

 

 

COURSE SYLLABUS

Introduction:

What is an organization’s agreed upon vision and mission regarding reconciliation?  The role of a successful leader is to assist her/his organization in achieving its mission.  It is important that leaders function collaboratively.  What should Christian leaders know about themselves, their organizations and the issue of reconciliation in order to provide transformative and collaborative leadership?             

 

  1. We live in a broken world.  Many are looking for leaders who provide solutions toward reconciliation for communities, organizations, and churches.  What is the role of the Christian leader?  What are Christian organizations and Christian leadership?  What can we learn from our scriptures, including passages from Numbers and Acts - especially Acts 6:1-7?  What does “loving enemies” have to do with Christian leadership?  How must we embody reconciliation in our organizations if we are to do the work of reconciliation in the world?  We will explore such questions in the first part of our course.

 

Christian Leaders and Christian Organizations.  What makes them Christian?

 

  1. The life of a Christian leader
  2. The call of a Christian leader
  3. The reconciliation work of a Christian leader---“Loving enemies and friends”
  4. The ministry of wholeness within and outside

 

Gregory Jones, Dean, Duke Divinity School

 

 

  1. Can we piece together our broken world? How do we as Christian Leaders transform our organizations through reconciliation and conflict resolution at the individual and organizational level? In this segment we will first explore the foundational elements of procedural justice and conflict resolution to provide a theory-based and practical framework to help leaders resolve conflicts with individuals and groups they work with. Next we will explore how the same principles can guide us toward appropriate systemic change, and identify some of the challenges of doing so effectively and sustainably.

 

  1. Procedural Justice
  2. Theories for conflict resolution
  3. Conflict Resolution in Practice
  4. Systemic Change

 

John Barkat, Assistant Secretary General of United Nations

 

 

  1. Development and implementation of action plans for the ministry of reconciliation

 

Participants will have an opportunity to take an introspective look at their organizations/institutions.  How well are they as Christian leaders and Christian organizations living out the mission of reconciliation?  In light of all they hear, observe, and learn, and their interactions with others at this Institute, what will they “take home” in concrete terms?  As representatives of their organizations, they will be encouraged to develop concrete actions plans.  Participants will be encouraged to think about their organizations’ mission and their strengths and challenges for becoming agents of reconciliation internally and externally. They will be provided with concrete help in developing their action plans, and critiquing and implementing those plans.

 

  1. Introspective look
  2. The question: Challenges our organization face
  3. Components of an action plan
  4. Practical steps for implementation

 

              Samuel Barkat, Executive Director, Institute for Collaborative Engagement

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brueggemann, Walter. Peace, Chalice Press, 2001.

 

Carlin, John. Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation, The Penguin Press, 2008.

 

Crouch, Andy. Culture-Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling, InterVarsity Press, 2008.

 

Dörner, Dietrich. The Logic of Failure: Why things go wrong and what we can do to make them right. Metropolitan Books, 1996

 

Jones, L. Gregory. Embodying Forgiveness: A Theological Analysis, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1995.

 

Lederach, John Paul. The Journey Toward Reconciliation. Harold Press, 1978.

 

Lederach, John Paul. The Moral Imagination: The art and soul of building peace, Oxford University Press, 2005

 

Martin, Roger. The Opposable Mind: How Successful Leaders Win through Integrative Thinking, Harvard Business School Press, 2009.

 

Yoder, Perry B. Shalom: The Biblical Word for Salvation, Justice, and Peace.  Evangel Publishing House, 1987.