Missional Leadership
Goal: Students will reflect upon and discuss the ways that a leader can empower mission by
modeling response in place of reaction.
First Session Missional Leadership begins at home
Nothing’s new under the sun: spotting leadership patterns that shaped holy history
Getting to the core of our apple: beginning genogram investigation
Friedman’s Gift: learning why self-management is the key to missional leadership
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Assigned Readings and reflection papers:
How Your Church Family Works – Peter L. Steinke, The Alban Institute
Reflection papers 3 – 6 pages
1. The Emotional System in My Family of Origin - Reflect on the following based on
what you learn from the Steinke book: What are the patterns of healthy responses
and unhealthy reactions in your family tree? How did your family reduce its anxiety?
What family patterns would benefit your leadership? What patterns would you
choose to change?
2. My Congregation’s History - The intent of this paper is for you to become familiar
with your congregation’s history and how that history may contribute to or distract
from the congregation’s mission. Assemble this history by interviewing at least three
members of the congregation and recording their answers to the following questions:
 When and why was this congregation founded – what was its original
mission?
 For what purpose now does your congregation exist – what is its present
mission?
 What events have been significant in helping or hindering mission in your
congregation?
 Is there a “secret” in this congregation’s history that has hindered its mission?
 Which leaders – clergy, staff, or laity - have been foremost in positively
empowering your congregation for its mission?
Preparing for next small group discussions: Be prepared to share insights, surprises, and
questions that arose from your reading and reflections. NOTE You are not expected to discuss
any information that you wish or need to keep private, however you are expected to participate
in small group class discussions.
Second Session discovering that systems are us
Leaders are Learners - Small Group Discussion
Friedman’s Gift cont.: learning why self-management is the key to missional leadership
My Style: leadership style inventory
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Assigned Readings and reflection papers:
A Door Set Open: grounding change in mission and hope, Peter L. Steinke, The Alban Institute
Opening the door Reflection paper 3 – 6 pages
Discuss the following: What most challenged your thinking in this book? What might
you need to change in your approach to the church’s mission in order to model effective
leadership? What in this book offered the most hope for the future of the church’s mission?
Preparing for November small group exercise in self-definition
Be prepared to share your opinion on any topic or issue that is very important to you.
Explain why the topic is important to you and give your opinion. Be willing also to listen
with openness to others as they share what is important to them.
Third Session responding with effective leadership
Here I Stand: An exercise in self-definition – Small Group time
My Style: receiving and interpreting profile results
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Final reflection paper:
Using the information in the Friendly Style Profile booklet pp. 20-30 and the self-management
worksheet on the last page, discuss the following:
 The strengths of your style and how they benefit the mission of your congregation
 Factors that can precipitate excess in your style
 Behaviors, thoughts, and feelings that indicate you are moving into excess
 Several self-management strategies that you will use to return from excess to strength.