Graduates of the pastoral leadership track will:
Knowing
· Demonstrate a broad understanding of the Bible, theology and church history
· Possess, and be shaped by, deep convictions about God, Scripture, the church and mission
· Be able to articulate a mature grasp of the Christian gospel and the kingdom of God
· Appreciate the current state of the Christian church and mission world-wide, and the place of a local church in New Zealand within that larger reality
· Be able to articulate an integrated and holistic personal philosophy of Christian ministry
Doing
Theological leadership
· Preach and teach biblical truth in a way that connects with listeners, enables them to meet with Christ, develop a Christian worldview and live as citizens of the kingdom
· Communicate the Christian gospel and worldview with clarity
· Lead worship, administer communion, and conduct baptisms, weddings and funerals
· Reflect theologically on their ministry practice and mission context
Pastoral leadership
· Make disciples by encouraging and equipping people in their faith and service
· Develop authentic and loving Christian communities
· Understand and cultivate the processes by which people are spiritually formed in community
· Undertake pastoral visits, listen empathetically, and provide basic pastoral counsel
Missional leadership
· Inspire within people a passion for mission at the individual, community and worldview levels
· Lead the Christian community in responding to current and future missional challenges
· Exegete both the world and the word, and connect the two
· Think creatively and with freshness
Organisational Leadership
· Empower Christian communities to discern together the mind of Christ through the leading of the Spirit
· Develop culture by articulating vision and values
· Build and lead teams, developing leaders and delegating tasks
· Manage change effectively within an organisation’s existing ethos
· Handle conflict constructively
· Sustain the day-to-day running of an organisation
· Communicate clearly in written and spoken form
Being
Integrity
· Demonstrate a growing coherence between beliefs, words and actions
· Prove themselves to be trustworthy and reliable
· Act with courage on the basis of convictions rather than convenience
Humility
· Desire to serve others rather than seek personal gain
· Understand their own strengths, weaknesses, personality and passions
· Recognise and take responsibility for destructive thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and respond well to correction
Flexibility
· Relate well across barriers of difference ethnically, socially, generationally and theologically
· Exhibit grace and courtesy towards those who are difficult or disagreeable
· Adapt to changed circumstances and respond positively to challenges
Feeling
God
· Demonstrate confidence in their identity as a child of God and their calling into Christian ministry
· Cultivate their relationship with Jesus through healthy spiritual practices
· Be willing to take risks, depending on God’s grace and the Spirit’s power
Others
· Evidence a growing love for people inside and outside the church
· Show compassion for the needy and marginalized
· Understand and attend to the needs of their families
Self
· Exhibit a growing ability to manage priorities and time
· Attend to their ongoing physical, emotional, mental and professional health
· Recognize their need of others within the Body of Christ, utilizing healthy accountability and support networks
· Demonstrate resilience and perseverance in the face of ministry pressures and setbacks
While this is a lengthy list we believe that it is realistic. Regardless of the particular ministry context in which our graduates serve, they will be required to have some level of competency in most of these areas if they are to sustain an effective long-term ministry.
