Community Leadership and Transformation, M.A.

Program Director: Randall White

Overview

This degree is designed to equip practitioners personally, theologically, and practically in order to provide effective leadership in community transformation strategies. Its aim is to prepare leaders for faith-based Community Benefit Organizations (CBOs) and congregations that will engage their local contexts with gospel-centered solutions, ones that engage the strengths of indigenous leaders and local assets. This program is designed for leaders who recognize the need for theological learning that impacts ministry practice immediately. It will accentuate five key themes that issue naturally from the assets in place within the Fresno regional context. These include: the development of entrepreneurially oriented faith-based CBOs; missional engagement at the neighborhood level; Christian participation in the public and political spheres; ministry among populations such as the working poor, immigrants, refugees, and gang youth; and finally, community building within a complex multicultural context. The degree utilizes opportunities to serve with CBOs in internships, and many of the courses are held off-campus in the city.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate commitment to live as a disciple of Jesus in Christian community.
2. Articulate commitment to a biblical theological Christian perspective.
3. Interpret diverse cultural contexts of ministry using theological perspectives integrated with social scientific approaches.
4. Practice leadership skills in ministry, leadership, and culture.
5. Demonstrate a commitment to community leadership and transformation by developing a biblical, theological, anthropological, missiological, sociological and historical foundation for influence.
6. Accept coaching through mentoring relationships with community leaders in the city.
7. Demonstrate the ability to serve and lead in cultural and religious diversity by applying socio/biblical/theological perspectives.
8. Demonstrate preparedness for transformational ministry in communities by developing and maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships and communication links with diverse ethnic, cultural and class groupings

Locations Offered

Main Campus Fresno, and onsite in various districts and neighborhoods of the city