LEAD 620 Mission, Vision, and Strategic Planning

This course prepares the student for strategic planning in various ministry settings. It will also equip the student to cast a vision and mission for their church or parachurch organization. The student will examine core biblical passages and create a clear vision/mission/values statement. (Formerly DSMN 620)

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

The success of churches, institutions, and Christian-led businesses is dependent on leadership grounded in a biblically centered mission, motivated by a clear vision, and effectively led by strategic planning. Leaders across the country have been flocking to leadership seminars and conferences to learn how to lead in a more compelling and strategic manner. This course will equip the student in the discovery of mission, the communicating of vision, and the crafting of strategy. The implementation of these skills will be explored in a variety of venues including churches, institutions, and businesses.

Textbook readings and presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in Module 1: Week 1.

Discussions (3)

The Discussions in this course are completed over 2 modules. Discussions are collaborative learning experiences.

In the first module that the Discussion is assigned, the student must post a 400-word thread in response to the prompt provided. For each thread, the student must support his/her assertions with at least 2 citations in current Turabian format or the applicable style guide for his/her area of study. Acceptable sources include assigned readings, textbooks, and related materials, per the individual prompts for that Discussion. In the subsequent module, the student must then post 2 replies of at least 200 words each in response to 2 other classmates’ threads. For each reply, the student must cite at least 1 source using his/her current Turabian format or the applicable style guide for his/her area of study. Acceptable sources include assigned readings, textbooks, and related materials, per the individual prompts for that Discussion. (CLOs: A, C, D, E, F)

Leading with Vision Assignment

The student will draw from the readings of Barna’s The Power of Vision and the presentation from Module 1: Week 1 to draft a 750 – 1000-word Leading with Vision Assignment. The purpose of this assignment is for the student to effectively describe the elements of mission-driven visionary leadership. The assignment must have 2–3 citations in current Turabian format or the applicable style guide for the student’s area of study. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, G)

Book Critique Assignment

The student will read Advanced Strategic Planning by Aubrey Malphurs and then submit a well written paper critiquing that book. The student will summarize what he/she reads, critique and evaluate the work, and apply the work to his/her own situations. The papers must be 900 – 1,500 words (double-spaced), include 4 – 6 citations, and comply with current Turabian writing style or the applicable style guide for the student’s area of study. If using current Turabian style, the paper must use footnotes as needed. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E)

Interview Assignment

The student is to interview a visionary leader of a church, institution, or business. The choice of leader must be relevant to the student’s intended occupational field. The leader’s understanding of his/her organization’s mission and vision for fulfilling that mission must be clarified. The student is to uncover how the leader initiates strategic planning. In conclusion, the student is to analyze what he/she has learned from this leader and make application of principles to his/her own future leadership. The paper must be 900 – 1,500 words (double-spaced), and comply with current Turabian writing style or the applicable style guide for the student’s area of study. If using current Turabian style, the paper must use footnotes if citations are needed. (CLO: E)

Case Study Assignment

The student is to read Rick Warren’s, The Purpose Driven Church, and then do a case study analysis of Warren’s strategic model.  The student will clearly describe the working dimensions of the model and then make relevant contemporary applications of specific principles and processes from Warren’s explanation of strategy.  The paper must be 900 – 1,500 words (double-spaced) and include 4 – 6 citations of Warren’s book.  The paper must comply with current Turabian writing style or the style guide that is applicable to their area of study. (CLOs: A, C, D, E, F)

Reading Reflection Assignment

The student will read the assigned readings from the Dockery book, Christian Leadership Essentials, and then submit a well-written reflection paper. The papers must be 600 – 900 words (double-spaced) for each book, include 2 – 3 citations using footnotes, if using current Turabian formatting. The papers must comply with current Turabian writing style or the applicable style guide for the student’s area of study. (CLOs: A, D)

Strategic Planning Project Assignment

The student will create a comprehensive strategic plan that reflects his/her research from the textbooks and course materials. The paper must be 3,000 – 3,600 words (double-spaced), have a minimum of 10 citations (i.e. footnotes), and comply with current Turabian style or the applicable style guide for the student’s area of study. All of your required texts in the course must be incorporated along with other sources. The strategic plan must utilize all the course-required readings and, as needed, additional materials. The strategic plan will demonstrate the student’s grasp of the materials and the integration of those materials into his/her life. (CLOs: B, G, H)

Leadership Resolutions Assignment

The student will write an approximately 600-word paper consisting of 10 – 15 well-crafted resolutions related to their mission-driven leadership.  This is meant to serve as a list of personal commitments, that if lived out, will greatly contribute to their ability to become an effective Christian visionary leader.  Under each resolution statement written, the student will include a unique quote from the class texts or video class presentations which relate to and add inspiration to the resolution written.  The paper must comply with current Turabian writing style or the style guide that is applicable to the students area of study. (CLO: E)