Community Leadership and Transformation, M.A.

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.

Locations Offered

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