Implementing A Leadership Development Process at Greater Mount Tabor Church, Chicago Illinois

Abstract

ABSTRACT

IMPLEMENTING A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

PROCESS AT GREATER MOUNT TABOR

CHURCH, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Robert Nathan Barnes, D.Min.

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2015

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. T. Vaughn Walker

This project examines the inherent benefit of implementing and maintaining a

verifiable and functional leadership development process at Greater Mount Tabor Church

in Chicago, Illinois. The lack of appointment-ready candidates to fill vacancies as they

occurred began to cause undue stress on the current leadership staff.

Chapter 1 identifies the stated problem of needing a leadership development

process and proposes a solution to the problem through implementing a four-month

leadership development program. This program initially involved enrolling four to six

qualified candidates during the specified enrollment period and equipping the candidates

through a training/ development process.

Chapter 2 examines the biblical and theological justification of pursuing such

a project through an examination of Numbers 27:15-23, the subject passage, which

confirms the intentional selection component and leadership development of Joshua for

his appointment as the legislative and military commander, a position soon to be vacated

by Moses.

Chapter 3 examines the practical and theoretical implications of implementing

a Leadership Development Process. These implications benefit the church body through

maintaining a permanent pool of candidates equipped for successful integration into

ministry headship. The benefits are that by continuously providing leadership training

and new program evaluation, enhanced program implementation will take place and

elder or pastoral candidates will emerge that consider serving at GMT or outside clerical

headship vacancies as the Lord inspires.

Chapter 4 examines how Greater Mount Tabor Church implemented a

leadership development process based on the biblical texts provided in the appendices.

The process included extensive biblical training utilizing the examples of how biblical

patriarch leadership was formed. Of equal importance the aspirants were required to

satisfactorily complete three ministry service projects as a practical approach to servant

leadership. All of this work was performed under the supervision of pastor-appointed

training elders.

Chapter 5 evaluates the project. The project’s purpose and the three goals are

examined for their effectiveness. Strengths and weakness of the process are identified.

Evaluations are submitted by all parties involved to assess the strengths and weaknesses

of the process and its practicality in moving forward.