Chapters

• The Church Staff
• Personnel Evaluation
• Reasons for Employee Performance Appraisals
• Who Should Evaluate?
• When To Evaluate
• Job Descriptions
• Job Standards
• The Performance Evaluation Review
• Performance Progress Reports
• Implementation of a Performance Appraisal Plan
• Performance Appraisals for a Church Employee?
• Ministerial Staff: To Evaluate or Not To Evaluate
• New Employee Orientation
• Team Building
• A Process for Formulating a Personnel Manual
• Coaching your Team
• A Difference Look at Employee Performance Reviews
• Considerations for a Performance Review Plan
• Appendix: Evaluation Forms

Course

Church Staff Evaluation: A Tool for Effective Performance is a textbook for the Rockbridge Seminary course “Lead Like Jesus” (a fully online seminary course). 

This course is an elective for the Master of Divinity (MDiv) and  Master of Ministry Leadership (MML) programs.

Anyone who encourages others to praise God can be referred to as a “worship leader.” Worship can involve music, but it can happen without it as well. And while aspects of the worship leader’s role may be inferred from Scripture, there are no requirements to have one. A pastor or a team of people can serve together to accomplish these goals just as well, if not better than, a single person.

Bob Kauflin

Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God

Rockbridge Seminary requires students in all seminary programs to complete the course “Theology & Practice of Worship” because of the importance of worship in every church ministry role. As all Rockbridge Seminary courses, this is a fully online seminary course.

Course Schedule

2012 Course Schedule for “Theology and Practice of Worship“:

• 2012 Term 2: Master of Divinity, Master of Ministry Leadership (term starts Feb 28)
• 2012 Term 4: Diploma in Ministry Studies (term starts Jun 26)

Developing the Focused Life (R5400)

In this touchstone course, learners will examine their call to ministry, write a statement of calling, assess their competencies for ministry, develop learning objectives for their program of study, and enlist a mentor who will support their learning. The course will introduce the learner to the various facets of online learning. This course is required for all academic programs and must be taken before a learner can enroll in any other course.

Theology & Practice of Worship (W5401)

This course is a study of the biblical purpose of worship and the practice of worship in the church today. Learners will focus on the biblical foundations, theology, and history of worship.

Old Testament Survey (D5461)

This course is an introduction to the background and content of the Old Testament with an emphasis on theological interpretation and application.

Bible Language Tools (D5471)

This course explores the use of basic Bible language tools to grasp a deeper meaning of Scripture and formulate a deep appreciation of the original languages of the Bible. The course focuses on the practical application of this information for Bible Study and sermon preparation. In this practical approach to Bible study, students will learn how to use resources contained in the Bible software to discover and apply this information to Bible studies and sermons.

Introduction to Church Planting (E6407)

How do you start a new church? What is a church? What is a healthy church? What is a church planter? What are the stages of a church plant? The course will investigate the biblical and theological basis for church plants, as well as the practical aspects of starting a new work. This course is designed for students who are interested in church planting or sense a call to plant a church. It is also perfect for those who have recently started a church plant.

Lead Like Jesus (M5402)

This course is an examination of the principles and practices of leadership in Christian ministry. The course will focus on the role of the minister as servant leader, the qualities of a spiritual leader, and how a variety of leadership styles are required in ministry. The leadership of Jesus will be used as a leadership role model.

Practicing the Focused Life (R6400)

In this Capstone Course, students analyze competency growth during their seminary program through self-assessment and 360-assessment. Looking beyond seminary, students write a strategy for continued learning and ministry development.

Notes:

• 8-week courses (Feb 28-Apr 23)
• Registration deadline: Feb 20
• Download master’s course list with syllabus and textbook links
• Contact student.advisor@rsconnect.org for registration and academic advising assistance

Diploma Program Courses (DMS)

Developing the Focused Life (R1300)

In this touchstone course, learners will examine their call to ministry, write a statement of calling, assess their competencies for ministry, develop learning objectives for their program of study, and enlist a mentor who will support their learning. The course will introduce the learner to the various facets of online learning. This course is required for all academic programs and must be taken before a learner can enroll in any other course.

Theology and Practice of Discipleship (D1301)

An exploration of a comprehensive program for producing fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Emphasis will be given to the study of the doctrine of the Word of God, planning, implementing, and evaluating the discipleship task of the church. Learners will design a discipleship strategy for their congregation or ministry.

Preaching/Teaching for Life Change (W3303)

Learners will study the purpose of preaching/teaching and will examine the practical steps of crafting, planning, communicating and delivering a message. The course includes a preaching/teaching workshop component that gives students an opportunity to construct, preach/teach, and evaluate messages preached or taught locally in their ministry context.

Practicing the Focused Life (R4300)

In this Capstone Course, students analyze competency growth during their seminary program through self-assessment and 360-assessment. Looking beyond seminary, students write a strategy for continued learning and ministry development.

Notes:

• 8-week courses (Feb 28-Apr 23)
• Registration deadline: Feb 20
• Download diploma course list with syllabus and textbook links
• Contact student.advisor@rsconnect.org for registration and academic advising assistance

Alan Hirsch, author and missiologist, describes how the gospel travels like a virus. What are the implications for church planters?

Alan Hirsch is featured in the Rockbridge Seminary course “Introduction to Church Planting” (fully online).  This course is an elective for the Master of Divinity and Master of Ministry Leadership programs.

2012 Course Schedule for “Intro to Church Planting”

• 2012 Term 2 (Feb 28-Apr 23)

(Adapted from Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges’ Lead Like Jesus: Lessons for Everyone from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time, pp. 74-75)

Step One

One more than one occasion I have allowed my self-serving needs to negatively impact my role as a leader and that my leadership has not been the servant leadership that Jesus modeled.

Step Two

I’ve come to believe that God can transform my leadership motives, thoughts, and actions into the servant leadership that Jesus modeled.

Step Three

I’ve made a decision to turn my leadership efforts over to God and to become a disciple of Jesus and the servant leadership He modeled.

Step Four

I’ve made a searching and fearless inventory of my own leadership motives, thoughts, and behaviors that are inconsistent with servant leadership.

Step Five

I’ve admitted to God and at least one other person the exact nature of my leadership gaps – when I behave in ways that do not make Jesus proud.

Step Six

I am entirely ready to have God remove all character defects that have created gaps in my leadership.

Step Seven

I humbly ask God to remove my shortcomings and to strengthen me against the temptations of recognition, power, greed, and fear.

Step Eight

I’ve made a list of those people whom I may have harmed by my self-serving leadership and am willing to make amends to them all.

Step Nine

I’ve made direct amends to such people whenever possible unless doing so would injure them or others.

Step Ten

I continue to take person inventory regarding my leadership role, and when I am wrong, I promptly and specifically admit it.

Step Eleven

By engaging in the disciplines of solitude, prayer, study of Scripture, and belief in God’s unconditional love for me, I seek to align my servant leadership effort with what Jesus modeled and to constantly seek ways to be a servant first and a leader second with the people I encounter in my leadership responsibilities.

Step Twelve

Having had a “heart attack” regarding the principles of servant leadership, I have tried to carry this message to other leaders and practice them in all my affairs.

Lead Like Jesus: Lessons for Everyone from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time is a textbook for the Rockbridge Seminary course “Lead Like Jesus” (a fully online seminary course). 

This course is an elective for the Master of Divinity (MDiv) and  Master of Ministry Leadership (MML) programs.

Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey

Authors: Bill T. Arnold and Bryan E. Beyer

(Interactive CD-ROM learning aid included)

GOALS

Intellectual Goals:

1. Present the factual content of each book of the OT
2. Introduce historical, geographical, and cultural backgrounds
3. Outline primary hermeneutical principles
4. Touch on critical issues
5. Substantiate the Christian faith

Attitudinal Goals:

1. Make the Bible a part of students’ lives
2. Instill in students a love for the Scriptures
3. Make them better people
4. Enhance their piety
5. Stimulate their love for God

CONTENTS

• Introduction

1. What is the Old Testament and why study it?
2. Where and when did the events of the Old Testament take place?

• Encountering the Pentateuch
• Encountering the Historical Books
• Encountering the Poetical Books
• Encountering the Prophets

This book is one of the textbooks used in the Rockbridge Seminary course “Old Testament Survey” (100% online). This course is required for the Master of Divinity (MDiv) and Diploma in Ministry Studies (DMS) programs and is an elective for the Master of Ministry Leadership (MML) program.

2012 Course Schedule for the course “Old Testament Survey“

• 2012 Term 2 (Feb 28-Apr 23) – MDiv and MML
• 2012 Term 6 (Oct 23-Dec 17) – DMS

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ONE: Neglecting the Great Commandment in Pursuit of the Great Commission

TWO: Failing to Take Opposition Seriously (If you want to plant a church, you will face, and must be prepared for, spiritual warfare.)

THREE: A love affair with one’s fantasy church blinds the planter to the realities of the surrounding mission field (God honors only those planters who love the people more than their fantasy church.)

FOUR: Premature Launch (Planter, you are going to make lots of mistakes and survive, but launching prematurely virtually guarantees failure. This mistake is a head wound!)

FIVE: Evangelism Ceases after the Launch (Church planting is a “contact sport.”)

SIX: No Plan for the Other Six Days of the Week (Planters are so fixated on the main event they give no thought to what to do with the people who show up.)

SEVEN: Fear of Talking about Money until It is Too Late (The more a new church succeeds, the more likely it runs the risk of financial shortfalls: growth has a big appetite – it demands to be fed.)

EIGHT: Failure of the Church to Act Its Age and Its Size (Effective church plants don’t begin ministries to please guests. It’s better to just let them walk away than to overextend and burn out.)

NINE: Formalizing Leadership Too Soon (Future leaders need time to prove themselves on the battlefield.)

TEN: Using the “Superstar” Model as the Paradigm for All Church Plants (You CANNOT plant a church on a “borrowed” vision)

Ten Most Common Mistakes Made by New Church Starts by Jim Griffith and Bill Easum is one of the textbooks required for the 100% online Rockbridge Seminary course “Introduction to Church Planting.” This course is an elective for the Master of Divinity and Master of Ministry Leadership programs.

2012 Course Schedule for the course “Intro to Church Planting”

• 2012 Term 2 (Feb 28-Apr 23)

• Effectively employs Bible study tools and basic biblical language skills for personal Bible study and Bible teaching. (D-2)

The 8-week course is taught 100% online in an online classroom of about 15 students , guided by a professor with high academic credentials and current ministry experience.

After completing this course, learners are able to:

E-Portfolios are built using Dropbox.com, a cloud storage service

The Proficiency Portfolio is not connected to a specific course or term, but is constructed throughout a student’s seminary program with the insertion of (1) major assignments from courses and (2) materials from the five projects. Students must undergo a successful portfolio review prior to registering for the Capstone Course near the end of their seminary program.

PORTFOLIO LEARNING OUTCOMES

After completing the portfolio, students will be able to:

1. Use a cloud-based file storage and sharing platform
2. Design and conduct ministry projects that develop specific ministry competencies
3. Access for review, reflection, and development all key documents from their seminary program
4. Present a seminary learning journey composed of learning assessment snapshots from each course and project
5. Present evidence verifying the support of ministry mentors during their seminary program
6. Demonstrate proficiency in meeting seminary program objectives

Rockbridge Seminary students build their e-portfolio using Dropbox, a free, cloud-based file storage provider.

TEXTBOOK CONTENTS

The Biblical Foundations of Worship

• Biblical themes in worship
• OT worship
• NT worship
• Early Christian worship

A Biblical Theology of Worship

• Worship is the Gospel in motion
• Worship is the Gospel enacted
• Worship is the Gospel enacted through forms and signs

A Brief History of Worship

• Ancient and medieval worship
• Reformation and Free Church worship
• Worship renewal in the twentieth century

The Practice of Worship

• The environmental setting of worship
• Content, structure, and style
• Assemble the people
• Listen and respond to the Word
• Remember and give thanks
• Go forth to love and serve the Lord
• The role of music in worship
• The role of the arts in worship
• The services of the Christian year
• The sacred actions of worship
• Worship and related ministries
• A challenge to Evangelical worship renewalists

COURSE SCHEDULE

2012 Course Schedule for “Theology and Practice of Worship”:

• 2012 Term 2: Master of Divinity, Master of Ministry Leadership (term starts Feb 28)
• 2012 Term 4: Diploma in Ministry Studies (term starts Jun 26)