Leading in Church Change

Who is this course for?

​This course is offered as professional development for recognised church leaders/clergy. It is open to those with an undergraduate degree or equivalent recognised prior learning. It is available as a standalone professional development course of the University of Glasgow. 

​The course and credits are also recognised towards an MTh in Ministry, Theology and Practice with Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Glasgow.

​Course Description

​This course aims to:

​Assist church leaders to evaluate their critical change challenges.

• Assess key tools deployed in recent organisational change practice.

• Equip participants to situate church change in theological perspective and develop faithful and strategic interventions needed for their own situation.

• Offer a supportive learning cohort for leaders in difficult church change

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Topics include:​

• Leadership models and their roles in church change

• Interpreting and mapping unpredictable situations

• Engaging organisational culture change

• Theological perspectives in congregational change

• Managing and engaging others in difficult church change

• Clarifying purpose and cultivating learning

• Conscious leadership skills and postures in the midst of uncertainty 

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Timetable & Duration​​​

This course will take place online (2-hour classes plus four 1-hour seminars). It will be taught over 8 weeks via online real-time meetings & instruction and after class activities. There is a week’s break during the course.

The time commitment required is approximately 6 hours per week inclusive of classes.

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Course Format

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Online instruction will take place in weekly real-time conversations on Zoom along with materials and interaction using the learning platform Moodle. Access to these tools will be supported by the University course administration. More information about the use of these will be provided once you have applied and enrolled.

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Each learning module will be taught through a range of online lectures, group discussion, exercises, activities, viewing and reading.

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Participants will complete two written pieces of assessment. 

Course Feedback

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What previous students have told us about the course:

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‘new tools and ideas to work with and frames of reference that I was unfamiliar with’

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‘encouraged deeper theological reflection which in turn has provided reassurance of God’s presence and agency in the change challenges that I am facing’

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‘teaching was clear and to the point, while good amounts of time were given to students to present, explain and explore how the concepts taught in class related to their own context’

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‘I already see a slightly different direction beginning to emerge. That is saying something after being in ministry for 27+ years’

‘In the recent past I have intuited the importance and impact of organisational culture. To be given a framework to think about that in a more coherent fashion has been invaluable.’

​‘It has helped me personally as well as professionally to understand better not just issues around complex change but to think further about leadership in general and from the perspective of ministry.’

​Cost £499​ for ordained/recognised leaders in a UK Church.

The standard cost is £799. 

Study funds or subsidies may be available through your own church or denomination and we encourage you to approach them with the details of the course.