Leading Adaptive Action in Communities of Faith

What does adaptive action look like in communities of faith? Identifying the differences between technical and adaptive challenges only goes so far. This doctoral level course will support the framing of effective community adaptive action, nourish students’ personal resources for navigating systemic change, and draw on the deep theological resources of specific congregations. Students will work with case studies, explore various “art of hosting” techniques for open source change, and engage in a variety of contemplative practices to sustain their faith in the midst of dynamic change.

Here is a print version of the syllabus

Course Objectives

Students will:

• articulate their specific understanding of adaptive action, and their role in leading it
• write a congregational case study, draw out its pertinent elements (particularly in terms of identifying adaptive vs. technical challenges), and formulate an adaptive action plan for engaging it
• be familiar with and able to implement at least two practices drawn from “the art of hosting”
• practice a form of contemplative and/or introspective prayer
• identify at least one specific personal learning challenge, and formulate a plan for their own growth in meeting that challenge, which they will pursue in the following year