Details for Legal and Governance Issues for Christian Leadership

With the massive growth in law suits, sexual abuse cases and the like, the legal and constitutional context of churches is an essential part of pastoral formation. This paper aims to raise an awareness of the importance for church life of the legal and regulatory environment in which Christian leaders (both in church employ and in profit/ non-profit pursuits) have to act 
 

Awards offering Legal and Governance Issues for Christian Leadership

This unit is offered as a part of the following awards:

• Bachelor of Contemporary Ministry
• Diploma in Biblical Studies (Level 6)

Unit Content

Curriculum Objective

With the massive growth in law suits, sexual abuse cases and the like, the legal and constitutional context of churches is an essential part of pastoral formation. This paper aims to raise an awareness of the importance for church life of the legal and regulatory environment in which Christian leaders (both in church employ and in profit/ non-profit pursuits) have to act.

Outcomes

Students should be able to:

1. Explain the historical, governance and legal contexts of New Zealand churches
2. Analyse issues of power and responsibility in churches. This includes consideration of other Christian perspectives and understandings
3. Compare and evaluate a variety of common issues which arise for churches and Christians in non-church employ.
4. Discuss the need for due diligence in continually honing their organisation’s responses to a changing legal and governance context. 

Subject Content

1. Introduction to New Zealand corporate structures
2. Traditional and progressive models of church governance.
3. The Board: What it is, and who it is not.
4. Guidelines: Legislation and rules
5. Guidelines: Conduct becoming.
6. Guidelines: Taxing issues.
7. Creative leadership – by design.
8. Creative leadership – accountability.
9. Leadership models for organisations 

This course may be offered in the following formats

Lectures, guided discussion/reflections, tutorials.

Please consult your course prospectus or enquire about how and when this course will be offered next at Alphacrucis College.

Assessment Methods

Minor Essay (25%, 1250 words); Class presentation (30%, 15 minutes + 1500 word summary); Major Essay (50%, 2500 words)

Prescribed Text

Brown, Jim. The Imperfect Board Member: Discovering the Seven Disciplines of Governance Excellence. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2006.

Representative References

           Assemblies of God in New Zealand, Sample Constitution.

Brown, Jim. The Imperfect Board Member: Discovering the Seven Disciplines of Governance Excellence. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2006.

Courtney, Roger.  Strategic Management for Non-Profit Organizations.  New York:  Routledge, 2004.

Dresselhaus, Richard L. 'Managing Church Government', Enrichment Journal, Fall 2003.

Getz, Gene. Elders And Leaders: God's Plan For Leading The Church. Chicago: Moody, 2003.

Gross, M. J., et. al. Financial & Accounting Guide for Not-For-Profit Organisations 4th edition. New York: Wiley, 2000.

MacFarlane, Peter and Simon Fisher. Churches, Clergy and the Law. Leichhardt, N.S.W.: Federation, 1996.

Noonan, John T. The Believer and the Powers That Are: Cases, History, and Other Data Bearing on the Relation of Religion and Government. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1987.

Oster, S. Strategic Management for Nonprofit Organisations.  Oxford: OUP, 1995

Reed, K. Biblical Church Government. Westminster: Presbyterian Heritage Publications, 1995.

Welch, R. Church Administration: Creating Efficiency for Effective Ministry. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005.

Wolf, Thomas. Managing A Non Profit Organization. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2000.