Certificate in Executive Leadership
The Certificate in Executive Leadership program equips pastors and other key leaders of Christian institutions, both congregations and broader church or non-profit groups, with the skills and abilities vital for effective leadership in today's rapidly changing landscape.
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This highly acclaimed Certificate in Executive Leadership (CEL) equips pastors and other key leaders of Christian institutions, both congregations and broader church or non-profit systems, with the skills and abilities vital for effective leadership in today's rapidly changing landscape. The program emphasizes the development of adaptive and transformational skills, and draws on contemporary leadership theory and practice, as well as McCormick's recognized excellence in providing theological education and its thirty-five years of experience in organizational development and leadership education.
Who Will Benefit:
Pastors (head-of-staff, APs, solo, or executive) interested in transformational leadership skills
Executives and staff of denominational structures experiencing change
Clergy and Lay Leaders and staff of church-based community ministries
Course Work:
The certificate consists of four weekend courses, all of which are required for completion. Normally, classes take place at McCormick Theological Seminary in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago on Thursday 1:00-7:00 p.m., Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. using McCormick’s learning management system, Alexandria (Brightspace), as well as Zoom. While the online instruction will take place during the dates listed below, exact times for online instruction will be confirmed at a later date. Like previous years, there will be pre-course reading and writing assignments as well. Please see below for the dates of each weekend session.
Session I: Foundations for Leadership
January 11 - 13
Instructor: Jeanne Porter-King, Ph.D.
Session II: Systems and Contexts: You're Not in This Alone
February 22 - 24
Instructor: Rev. Barbara Wilson, D.Min.
Session III: Adaptive Leadership
April 11 - 13
Instructor: Valerie Landfair, Ph.D.
Session IV: Change, Collaboration, and Conflict: Addressing the Challenge
May 30 - June 1
Instructor: Rev. Dr. Grace Kaori Suzuki, D.Min.
Benefits: Students will
Strengthen their knowledge and sharpen their critical thinking skills through an examination of foundational leadership theory and practice in culturally-attentive ways.
Apply knowledge and evaluate results through collaboration with faculty and peers both in the classroom and in between-session work applicable to each student's place of ministry..
Will explore transformational leadership skills -- the ability to address current pressing issues as well as to meet unknown challenges yet to come.
Acquire insights into who they are, how God has gifted them as a leader, and their roles in relationship to others, through self-assessment and feedback from faculty and peers.
Develop an interactive peer network of colleagues through their classroom and between-session discussions and work.
Requirements:
A Bachelor's Degree is highly recommended; an M.Div. or other advanced degree is not required.
Applicants must hold active leadership responsibility at a place of ministry at the time of enrollment.
Applicants must also provide a letter of recommendation from the pastor, other person in leadership in the place of ministry, or from the board that oversees the particular ministry.
Tuition: $1,800.00. A $100.00 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of application; the full tuition may be paid in two installments. Registration is currently open and we will continue accepting registrations until December 1, 2023.
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