Vision Narrative

"I'll never forget the story your father told one communion Sabbath" Mr. Carpenter reflected. "Even though it's been 25 years since I was the head elder and he was pastoring here, I still remember it. I haven't heard the story since, but it was about a girl in North Dakota who was caught in a blizzard. As I recall, her name was Hazel Miner . . ." Mr. Carpenter methodically escorted me through the touching details of a story that I too had heard my father tell.

Mr. Carpenter recounted the sobering sacrifice that Hazel Miner made to rescue her siblings. His voice cracked while his eyes leaked. Tears gushed through his well-defined wrinkles as he connected the story to the sacrifice of Christ--just like my father had done decades before.

I zoomed in for a close-up shot. I had to underscore the moment on video to replay at my dad's surprise retirement party. In that profound and holy exchange, I sensed that Mr. Carpenter was whispering my father's legacy. This tribute of memorable stories was echoed by parishioners that spanned 43 years of ministry and accented 5 hours of video interviews. The common thread that seemed to weave through the tapestry of memories about my dad's career was his gift to tell a story.

The Magic of Stories

I have always been tuned in to the mystique and magic of a tale well-told. As a youngster I could intuitively sense the focus of a mesmerized audience captured by a word picture masterfully unveiled. Consequently, I have always been enamored by master communicators who uncover truth in ways that capture the attention of listeners.

Perhaps this passion helps to explain my childhood games such as preaching to my sister while pounding on a clothes basket (which, of course, doubled as a pulpit). My early love for brilliant oratory manifested itself in a bathtub-size collection of sermon tapes by preachers like Roland Hegstead, C. D. Brooks and E. E. Cleveland. Or maybe it was simply the weekly exposure to my dad's stories that cemented the obsession. In any event, when the invitation came to publicly tell a story for myself I took a chance and tackled the challenge.

"Mrs. Taresanko asked me to tell the story of Joseph for the Busy Bee investiture service," I informed my dad.

"Great!" Dad beamed. "You going to do it?"

"Sure. But Dad, that's a really long story, what part should I leave out?"

"Oh don't worry Son, those PTA meetings are never long enough. You just tell the story."

So I told the story. The whole story. I not only shared the parts about the colorful coat and the seductive temptress. I also overflowed with details about the "sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah." I spoke passionately of the tragedy near Dothan with the Midianite merchants.

Fifty minutes later, Mrs. Taresanko gently coddled my hand and escorted my rambling mouth off the stage. According to my dad, my parting line was: "Maybe next month I can tell you how Jacob finally moved to Egypt!" My Story

While my debut as a storyteller smacked of failure, it failed to squelch my spirit. Throughout my childhood I would covet every opportunity to guide an audience through a story. In time--after a few coaching tips on brevity--people began to affirm this gift that my father had passed along to me.

"That's one of the best talks I've ever heard, especially from a seventh-grader," one elderly woman cooed after I delivered my first sermon in the Roanoke Seventh-day Adventist Church.

"Today I gave my first 100% for a speech in my 13 years of teaching Sophomore English," Mr. Garey announced to the class after I delivered the words of Dr. King: "I have a dream . . . "

"I can still remember your talk at student week of prayer," a former teacher recently shared.

With the affirmation came a sense that whatever shape my life would take, communicating stories would be an integral part of it. It was not just the story, however, that was so endearing. It was the communication of the story that really captured my heart. Creative expressions of story telling made my spirit race. Dramas, ventriloquism, mime, dance--the avenues of story telling seemed both endless and endlessly fascinating.

In college I changed majors more often than windshield wipers in a hurricane. I plowed through my pre-med requirements while completing a business degree and working on a biology degree. All the while, however, my first love was my involvement in extracurricular activities like starting a Christian drama group. Because science classes seemed a necessary evil between drama rehearsals and performances, I toyed with the idea of declaring myself a theology major and selling out in the arena of my passion--creative expressions of story telling. This seemed foolhardy because, well, somewhere along the way I picked up that doctors are in higher demand than grown-up boys who know a skit. Even as a pre-med major, however, I secretly planned to follow in the pathway of Richard Neil--a medical doctor who seemed to have the best of both worlds.

Dr. Neil had presented a Week of Prayer at my academy. I sat like a statute in shock as he worked his communication magic. I resolved that I would get a medical degree to stifle the voices that reminded me of how important it was to be successful. But in that degree, I fancied a ticket to the same pulpits that Dr. Neil graced.

Eventually I concluded that being involved in creative communication of the Gospel did not require a bagillion dollar investment at Loma Linda. I resolved that giving weeks of prayer and telling stories did not necessitate a medical degree. So I completed a bachelors and masters degree in theology--trusting that somewhere in my church there was a place for nontraditional expressions of truth.

The nontraditional opportunities came when my first assignment was to plant a new church. Although I resisted the call initially, in time I discovered it was my opportunity to fly through uncharted ways of doing church. Through programs like the Eats-n-Acts Christian dinner theatre, a Living Nativity Drive-thru, and a variety of other creative forms of communicating our message, the church exploded to three services and several hundred people attending. The church offered an electric environment that derived energy from untapped wells of creativity and risk. All the while, I was fueled by a personal satisfaction that I was operating within the circle of my giftedness. I sensed that God had wired me to tackle the very tasks that preoccupied my life.

It was during this chapter of my life that a specific vision was taking shape. It would require coloring far beyond the lines and doing church way outside the box.

A New Story

This vision was conceived while visiting Vancouver, B.C. That's when I happened into a Theatre Sports--an improvisational comedy club where competition between two drama teams was based on input from the audience. The art form was so riveting that I spent the night envisioning a church premised in this style of communication. I was exposed to an art form that eclipsed anything I had imagined. The dynamic of audience participation, spontaneity, and free-form discovery between the communicator and the audience sparked a sense of magic that would be foundational to a dream of creating an entirely new way to do church.

Over the past decade, this seed has blossomed into a clear picture of what I have to accomplish in the remaining years of my career. This dream has prompted visits to Theatre Sports around the country and has propelled me into a study of why the art form is so effective. I have observed in my numerous visits to the Improvisational clubs that hundreds of baby busters will wait for hours just to get tickets. I have interviewed both the audience members and the improvisers asking their opinions about the potential use of improvisation in a church setting. Without exception, the idea has been met with an enthusiastic response such as: "Now that's the kind of church I would go to."

Redefining "Church"

In short, I want to redefine church for the next generation. This church would be anchored in the use of improvisation. Thus, all worshipers would create the collective spiritual experience by participating in non-threatening ways. This church would be uncompromising in a number of core values.

For example, one core value would be that the church service is a collective offering to God, not a performance. Sermons would be created with the audience providing the direction and flavor. All worshipers would leave with a sense that the service was inherently different because they attended, i.e. they were active participants rather than passive observers. In contrast, it is my observation that most people leave even so-called "interactive" church services feeling that the gift of worship offered to God that morning was not significantly shaped because of their attendance.

Another core value would be that spiritual formation happens most effectively through active participation. Consequently, in order to be a member of this church, participation during the week would be required. We would seek to erase any lines that would delineate spirituality from real life by orchestrating hands-on spiritual endeavors that would comprise the foundation of life, not just the basis for Sabbath behavior. Thus, members would regularly be engaged in service projects, small groups, mentoring programs, etc.

Inherent in this programming is the notion that people learn most effectively through experience. While I lack the educational background to substantiate this assumption based on research, it seems intuitive based on my own life experiences. For example, I had negative feelings against the system of apartheid based on my reading and news reports. My opinions dramatically changed, however, after I lived in South Africa for a year. Seeing the inequality and injustice while walking through the streets of Soweto and other black townships transformed my opinions and propelled me to fight all racial inequality with an assiduous intensity that would have never been present short of experiencing life in that environment. The point is, real-life experiences tend to result in a deeper level of learning and a more significant impact on life transformation. This would be a foundational principle upon which the Improv Church would be established. Therefore, real life spiritual experiences would comprise the foundation of this new church and fuel the momentum of the movement. Observation apart from engagement would simply not be tolerated.

It is beyond the scope of this paper to delineate the details of all the core values and the Biblical basis upon which they are established. Suffice it to say that my vision and calling in life is to reinvent church for the next generation.

Connecting With the Next Generation

This background helps to explain why I accepted a call to serve in a community that has at the heart of its mission statement the task of reaching college students for Christ. It is a community with a disproportionate percentage of students because of three colleges operating in a small town. Thus I feel that God has positioned me in a situation where the needs and resources are fertile for the accomplishment of my dream.

To sell out to a lesser dream would be unacceptable for me. I toss and turn at night anguishing over the high percentage of baby busters who are leaving the Adventist church. By the most conservative estimates over one-third of our young people have already left. To attract them back and prevent further casualties by engaging them in a life of meaningful, spiritual transformation, we must make a radical departure from the traditional forms that are proving to be highly ineffective. It is my calling to help capture the imagination of this generation and connect them to Christ through innovative forms and experiences.

Creating the Future

The Leadership Program will be valuable to me to the extent that it gives leadership training and educational rationale for the teaching dynamics and techniques that we will use in the improv church. I am anxious to study theories of human motivation in order to utilize the volunteers who actively participate in the church. I am keen to understand how creative story telling and liberal use of humor factor into the motivational equation. I am focused on using the latest research and techniques to make this project as successful as possible. In short, I want to use the Improv Church as a laboratory where we can test and study theories relating to creative communication, human motivation, change, building a culture and leadership.

To Sum it up

I have a vision of leaving a lasting legacy similar to my father's. It is a focused desire to impact people's lives through effective forms of communication such that in their sunset years, people will remember those defining moments of spiritual discovery where God used me to help facilitate life change. I believe this will require a bold vision and strong leadership to navigate the inevitable whitewater of change. In my opinion it will require a radical, new paradigm for church and worship. In the end, however, it will be worth the risk and the investment because it will be the result of God's work--His calling and His crafting of my experiences and spiritual gifts to accomplish His purpose.


Competencies

1. Effective Instructor

Prior Education

COMA 500 Executive Skills I: Communications (PLU, 2 semester hours)

GSEM541Pastoral Formation I (AU, 1.6 hours)

GSEM542 Pastoral Formation II (AU, 1.6 hours)

GSEM543 Pastoral Formation III (AU, 1.6 hours)

GSEM547 Pastoral Formation IV (AU, 1.6 hours)

CHMN574 Inst Evan/Past Min (AU, 12 hours)

SPCH135 Intro to Public Speaking (SU, 4.5 quarter hours)

SPCH381 Biblical Preaching (WWC, 2 quarter hours)

SPCH382 Biblical Preaching (WWC, 2 quarter hours)

SPCH383 Biblical Preaching (WWC, 2 quarter hours)

BUSA505 Managing Effective Organizations (PLU, 4 semester hours)

1a. Effective Instructor-Using, developing, evaluating, and adapting learning materials

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I seek to demonstrate my competency in using, evaluating and adapting instructional materials by researching a broader spectrum of available resources and experimenting with them for future teaching opportunities.

Proposal

I will take an independent study by Dr. Bill Green for 3 hours credit (EDUC 630 Seminar in Instructional Leadership). In addition to the formal classroom work (September 20-21, 1998 at Walla Walla College), I will experiment with the teaching techniques presented. The venues used for experimentation will include classroom lectures, committee meetings, sermons and seminar presentations. I will use evaluations and reflection papers to document and debrief the process.

Portfolio Documentation

1b. Effective Instructor-Carrying out instructional management to accommodate individual variability

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I will intensify my efforts to teach in a manner that is intentionally cognoscente of the individual variability, including components such as multicultural, multiple intelligence, and learning styles of the people I lead.

Proposal

I propose to accommodate individual variability in teaching spiritual truths, primarily through the collegiate church plant--The Church of Acts. In this new paradigm of doing church, I will seek to tailor individual ministry opportunities for every participant.

Portfolio Documentation

1c. Effective Instructor-Using proven instructional strategies

Prior Experience

I seek to have a working knowledge of a broad spectrum of instructional strategies. In terms of putting the theories into practice, I want to focus primarily on the strategies that emphasize interactive and participatory types of "hands-on" learning.

Proposal

I will take an independent study by Dr. Bill Green for 3 hours credit. In addition to the formal classroom work (September 20-21, 1998 at Walla Walla College), I will experiment with the teaching techniques presented. Furthermore, I will take EDUC632 Issues in Education Foundation, and Learning Theory in the fall of 1998.

Portfolio Documentation

2. Dynamic Change Agent

Prior Education

BUSA506 Managing the Value Creation Process I (PLU, 4 semester hours)

BUSA507 Managing the Value Creation Process II (PLU, 4 semester hours)

BUSA509 Business Strategy in a Global Context (PLU, 4 semester hours)

BUSA505 Managing Effective Organizations (PLU, 4 semester hours)

GSEM541Pastoral Formation I (AU, 1.6 hours)

GSEM542 Pastoral Formation II (AU, 1.6 hours)

GSEM543 Pastoral Formation III (AU, 1.6 hours)

GSEM547 Pastoral Formation IV (AU, 1.6 hours)

CHMN555 Pastoral Counseling (AU, 2.4 hours)

PSYC130 General Psychology (WWC, 4 quarter hours)

MGMT372 Human Resource Mgmt (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

MGMT476 Human Relations in Mgmt (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

GBUS477 Independent Study (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

OFAD362 Business Communications (WWC, 4 quarter hours)

RELP490 Field Evangelism (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

MGMT474 Leadership and Supervision (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

2a. Dynamic Change-agent-Planning and implementing change

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I have a vision to reinvent worship for the next generation. This vision will take shape in the innovative form of an Improv Church (i.e. The Church of Acts).

Proposal

I will plant the Church of Acts. This will require the leadership skills of steering a 1,700-member church through the process of change. I plan to prepare and carefully document a 5-week pulpit series prepping the congregation for change.

I will also develop a framework for change by implementing the principles in Dr. John Kotter's classic book, Leading Change. I will teach the principles of change based on this book to our regional group.

Furthermore, I attended the Willow Creek Leadership Summit in August, 1998. This 4-day event, "From Big Ideas to Bold Realities" focused on training leaders to plan and implement change. I will also submit the following two essays reflecting on the Summit: 1) "Leadership Summit Application of Learning"; 2) A reflection paper concentrating on how the experience affected me in the context of my responsibilities to lead change in the arenas of vision casting, relationship building and personal authenticity.

Portfolio Documentation

2b. Dynamic Change-agent-Developing Human Resources

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I will develop leaders to assume leadership roles in The Church of Acts. This will require leadership development in the following areas: organizational details, music, prayer ministry, administration, acting, advertising, finances and technical skills.

Proposal

I will focus on developing my immediate staff at the College Church. Additionally, I will establish and develop the volunteer staff at The Church of Acts.

Portfolio Documentation

2c. Dynamic Change-agent-Planning and directing public-relations activities

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I want to continue to be able to promote programs and my vision with clarity and confidence.

Proposal

I seek to demonstrate my competency in planning and directing public-relations activities for The Church of Acts. This will be a comprehensive marketing package that will include radio, television and newspaper ads.

Portfolio Documentation

3. Effective Organizer

Prior Education

OFAD362 Business Communications (WWC, 4 quarter hours)

GBUS361 Business Law (WWC, 4 quarter hours)

GBUS362 Business Law (WWC, 4 quarter hours)

ECON211 Principles of Economics (WWC, 4 quarter hours)

ECON212 Principles of Economics (WWC, 4 quarter hours)

ACCT335 Personal Income Tax (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

GBUS477 Independent Study (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

GBUS496 Seminar (WWC, 2 quarter hours)

MGMT372 Human Resource Management (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

MGMT474 Leadership and Supervision (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

MGMT 476 Human Relations in Management (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

RELP150 Ministerial Orientation (WWC)

ACCT430 Auditing Concepts (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

PHIL305 Moral Philosophy (WWC, 4 quarter hours)

RELG496 Seminar in Religious Ethics (WWC, 2 quarter hours)

GSEM541Pastoral Formation I (AU, 1.6 hours)

GSEM542 Pastoral Formation II (AU, 1.6 hours)

GSEM543 Pastoral Formation III (AU, 1.6 hours)

GSEM547 Pastoral Formation IV (AU, 1.6 hours)

CHMN574 Institute of Evangelism and Pastoral Ministry (AU, 12 hours)

THST574 Principles of Christian Ethics (AU, 2.4 hours)

BUSA506 Managing the Value Creation Process I (PLU, 4 semester hours)

BUSA507 Managing the Value Creation Process II (PLU, 4 semester hours)

BUSA509 Business Strategy in a Global Context (PLU, 4 semester hours)

BUSA504 Legal and Ethical Environment of Business (PLU, 4 semester hours)

BUSA505 Managing Effective Organizations (PLU, 4 semester hours)

ECON501 Analytical Methods for Decision Making (PLU, 4 semester hours)

COMA500 Executive Skills I: Communications (PLU, 4 semester hours)

ECON500 Executive Skills II: Applied Statistics (PLU, 4 semester hours)

BUSA 503 Financial Resources (PLU, 4 semester hours)

3a. Effective Organizer-Organizational development

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

My vision is to continue to develop my organizational skills by effectively contributing in my work environment as Senior Pastor at the College Church.

Proposal

In light of the extensive educational training and ongoing experiences listed above, I believe I am currently demonstrating competency in this area.

Portfolio Documentation

3b. Effective Organizer-Allocating resources

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I want to be a skilled overseer of the financial resources entrusted to my care as senior pastor. I want to demonstrate high competency and flawless integrity in this area.

Proposal

I want to set up a budget and oversee the implementation and management of it for the The Church of Acts. This will also require raising funds for the initial working capital.

Portfolio Documentation

3c. Effective Organizer-Interpreting laws, regulations and policies

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I want to attain the highest ethical and legal standards of all organizations to which I belong and under whose governance I work.

Proposal

I seek to design regulations and policies for the Church of Acts that are legally grounded and fundamentally sound.

Portfolio Documentation

4. Collaborative Consultant

Prior Education

GSEM541Pastoral Formation I (AU, 1.6 hours)

GSEM542 Pastoral Formation II (AU, 1.6 hours)

GSEM543 Pastoral Formation III (AU, 1.6 hours)

GSEM547 Pastoral Formation IV (AU, 1.6 hours)

CHMN574 Inst Evan/Past Min (AU, 12 hours)

COMM648 Workshop (AU, 1.6 hours)

CHMN505 Biblical Preaching (AU, 2.4 quarter hours)

GSEM555 Colloquiums (AU, 4.8 hours)

SPCH135 Intro to Public Speaking (SU, 4.5 quarter hours)

PSYC130 General Psychology (WWC, 4 quarter hours)

SPCH381 Biblical Preaching (WWC, 2 quarter hours)

SPCH382 Biblical Preaching (WWC, 2 quarter hours)

SPCH383 Biblical Preaching (WWC, 2 quarter hours)

OFAD362 Business Communications (WWC, 4 quarter hours)

MGMT372 Human Resource Management (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

MGMT474 Leadership and Supervision (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

MGMT476 Human Relations in Management (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

RELP150 Ministerial Orientation (WWC)

BUSA505 Managing Effective Organizations (PLU, 4 semester hours)

BUSA506 Managing the Value Creation Process I (PLU, 4 semester hours)

BUSA507 Managing the Value Creation Process II (PLU, 4 semester hours) COMA500 Executive Skills I: Communications (PLU, 4 semester hours)

4a. Collaborative Consultant--Communicating effectively

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I seek to hone my skills as a competent communicator, particularly focusing on excellence in public speaking.

Proposal

I will continue to serve in the capacity as the primary speaker for church services at the Walla Walla College Church. Furthermore I will remain active as a guest lecturer and keynote speaker, seminar presenter and published author.

Portfolio Documentation

4b. Collaborative Consultant-Evaluating and assessing programs and procedures

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I want to be proficient at performing accurate and meaningful evaluations of programs and procedures.

Proposal

Portfolio Documentation

4c. Collaborative Consultant-Solving problems and making decisions

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I want to be confident and competent when decisions must be made or problems must be solved.

Proposal

I will continue to operate in an arena where problem solving and good decision making is critical for survival. Therefore, as a collaborative consultant, I am particularly interested in probing deeper into the topic of relational conflict resolution and team building. I will also identify problem-solving models and adapt one or several of them for use.

Portfolio Documentation

5. Reflective Researcher

Prior Education

ECON 500 Executive Skills II: Applied Statistics (PLU, 4 semester hours)

ECON501 Analytical Methods for Decision Making (PLU, 4 semester hours)

BUSA503 Financial Resources (PLU, 4 semester hours)

BUSA509 Business Strategy in a Global Context (PLU, 4 semester hours)

MATH126 Precalculus (CUC, 6 quarter hours)

MATH181 Analytical Geometry and Calculus (WWC, 4 quarter hours)

ENGL224 Research Writing in Religion (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

RELB141 Bible Exegesis (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

RELB142 Bible Exegesis (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

RELB143 Bible Exegesis (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

5a. Reflective Researcher-Reading and evaluating research

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I want to be proficient at reading and evaluating a variety of scholarly research.

Proposal

I will scrutinize ValueGenesis research in order to complement it with further study regarding SDA youth values and their commitment to the SDA church by conducting research surrounding the Church of Acts plant. Data will seek to determine the optimal paradigm for the types of expression of worship that will most effectively connect with young people who are spiritually adrift.

Furthermore, I will read 5 dissertations on my chosen dissertation topic. I will also take 8 hours of course work on qualitative research. I will conduct thorough qualitative and quantitative research for my dissertation.

Portfolio Documentation

5b. Reflective Researcher-Conducting research

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I want to improve my skills such that I will be fully competent at conducting and evaluating research in both quantitative and qualitative methodologies.

Proposal

I will to conduct research that will give shape to the Church of Acts. This will involve compiling data, doing surveys, and analyzing the results in order to create a new paradigm of worship for the next generation. Also, I will develop and demonstrate qualitative and quantitative research in my dissertation.

Portfolio Documentation

5c. Reflective Researcher-Reporting research

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I want to be comfortable and accurate in reporting and discussing research.

Proposal

For my dissertation I will report in written and public presentation the data from the Church of Acts.

Portfolio Documentation

6. Competent Scholar

Prior Education

BUSA506 Managing the Value Creation Process I (PLU, 4 semester hours)

BUSA507 Managing the Value Creation Process II (PLU, 4 semester hours)

BUSA509 Business Strategy in a Global Context (PLU, 4 semester hours)

BUSA505 Managing Effective Organizations (PLU, 4 semester hours)

GSEM541Pastoral Formation I (AU, 1.6 hours)

GSEM542 Pastoral Formation II (AU, 1.6 hours)

GSEM543 Pastoral Formation III (AU, 1.6 hours)

GSEM547 Pastoral Formation IV (AU, 1.6 hours)

CHMN555 Pastoral Counseling (AU, 2.4 hours)

EDUC630 Seminar in Leadership Orientation (AU, 6 hours)

EDUC632 Issues in Education Foundations (AU, 2 hours)

ENGL224 Research Writing in Religion (WWC, 3 hours)

PSYC130 General Psychology (WWC, 4 quarter hours)

MGMT372 Human Resource Mgmt (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

MGMT474 Leadership and Supervision (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

MGMT476 Human Relations in Mgmt (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

GBUS477 Independent Study (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

OFAD362 Business Communications (WWC, 4 quarter hours)

RELP490 Field Evangelism (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

MGMT474 Leadership and Supervision (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

RELT456 Systematic Theology I (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

RELT457 Systematic Theology II (WWC, 3 quarter hours)

6a. Competent Scholar-Educational foundations

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I want to possess a thorough knowledge of educational foundations in order to apply this understanding to teaching spiritual truths in the context of a church.

Proposal

I will take two classes that should give me a good handle on educational foundations and provide opportunity for me to apply them in the context of the Church of Acts. The classes include EDUC633 Issues in Education Foundations and an Independent Study under Dr. Bill Green.

Portfolio Documentation

6b. Competent Scholar-Theories of learning and human development

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I wish to develop a fluent, working knowledge of foundational theories of learning and apply them to teaching opportunities at the College Church and in the Church of Acts.

Proposal

I will take a class from Dr. Tucker on theories of learning and EDUC689 Seminar in Learning Theory. I will then apply the major concepts gleaned from the class to my context of teaching in a church context.

Portfolio Documentation

6c. Competent Scholar-Theories of leadership and management

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I seek to continue to improve my leadership and management skills through a deeper understanding of the theories behind them.

Proposal

I will demonstrate mastery of this competency through effectively leading/managing the College Church through a variety of major changes.

Portfolio Documentation

6d. Competent Scholar-Social values such as family dynamics, political issues, and bureaucratic structures

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I want to grow in my understanding of sociological structures and organizations in order that I may influence people toward God.

Proposal

I will continue to be actively involved in civic organizations and acquaint myself with various social systems. I will take a 2-hour course on social systems (with Dr. Jackson) in order to broaden my knowledge base in this arena.

Portfolio Documentation

6e. Competent Scholar-Educational technology and its application

Prior Experience

Vision Statement

I will continue to learn how to use technology to communicate the message of Christ.

Proposal

I want to incorporate technology throughout the Church of Acts. My dream is to have everyone in the congregation connected electronically to the presenting coordinator so that every person is participating in a non-threatening way. I also intend to create a state of the art web page for the Improv Church, since technology seems to be the language of the young people we are attempting to reach.

Portfolio Documentation


Credit Worksheet

Leadership Course List

Course title

Instructor

Credit hours

EDUC630 Leadership Seminar

Tucker

6

EDUC631 Individual Development Plan

Freed

2

EDUC632 Issues in Education Foundations

Tucker

2

EDUC633 Issues in Research

 

2

EDUC 630 Seminar in Instructional Leadership

Green

3

EDUC689 Seminar in Learning Theory

Tucker

3

EDUC756 Advanced Studies in Change (To teach to regional group)

Karl Haffner

2

EDUC 689 Seminar in Philosophical Issues in Leadership

Henning Guldhammer

2

EDUC756 Advance Studies in Social Systems

Jackson

2

EDUC756 Advance Studies in Qualitative Research

Freed

4

EDUC756 Advance Studies in Problem Solving

 

1

EDUC689 Seminar in Assessment and Evaluation

Freed

2

EDUC689 Seminar in Collaboration

Freed

2

EDUC756 Advanced Study in Innovative Church Organizational Development

 

5

EDUC756 Advanced Study in Church Research

Freed

5

EDUC886 Internship: Church Leadership

 

5