How to get the most from the course

Course notes

I cannot emphasise enough the importance of working through all the assignments. The course is not a text book to be read. It is more of a study book to help you think through the issues. If you just use it as another book on leadership you will miss so much. You will only get maximum benefit if you attempt every assignment, think deeply about the issues and then apply your new understanding to your own circumstances. 

Forum

Secondly, it is beneficial to share with others what you have learned.  To this end we have established a Forum where course participants can interact with each other and with the tutor.

An internet based course has advantages for busy people. For one thing, it means that you can take the course from your own home and at a pace that suits your ministry commitments. However, one downside is that it can sometimes be a little lonely and impersonal. The Web Board facility goes a little way to solving this problem.

Gender

For simplicity the masculine gender has been used throughout this course. This should not be taken to imply that we see leadership as a male preserve. We recognise that there are many ladies who provide sterling leadership in ministries both within and beyond the local church. Earlier versions of the course used constructions like he/she, him/her which made the sentences clumsy and sometimes complicated. We hope no one will take offence at our decision to simplify matters.

Copyright And Costs

This material belongs to David Clarkson (Tilsley College).

Individuals and churches are welcome to use it free of charge. We simply ask that you acknowledge Tilsley College as the source.

If you would like to contribute to the costs of developing the course please contact us at college@glo-europe.org

Any contributions will also help to make the course more widely available in the developing world.

And finally

Taking a course in leadership will not make you a leader any more than reading a book about tennis will make you a great tennis player.  What makes you a leader is getting out there and leading something.

Biblical leadership, however, will introduce you to some basic principles of leadership and allow you the opportunity to develop some leadership skills.

This course is built on the premise that the basic requirement of leadership is a passion for God.  If the leader does not have an underlying spiritual integrity then no matter how many skills he develops, he can never be effective as a servant leader amongst the people of God.  The leader will be a man or woman of prayer, of the Bible, committed to the church and will demonstrate continuous personal growth in the things of God.

While insights will be drawn from sociology or the world of business management the underlying principles are essentially Biblical.  Christian leadership is not about managing a human organisation but is rather about following the command of God as he seeks to guide His people to the place where he intends to bless them.

This course is not about technique and image but rather about character and substance.

I hope you will find this course of great benefit to you personally and to your ministry.

David Clarkson