E-Tutorials

E-Tutorials are available at both the graduate and undergraduate level

Leadership Studies

Leadership and Personal Spiritual Transformation
Servant Leadership

Leadership and Personal Spiritual Transformation

Faculty: Rev. Susan Fowler, Ph.D., Visiting Professor of Leadership Studies

Course Description: “The grammar of transformational change is the invitational question, not the declarative answer.” These words from the Fetzer Institute form the structure for our exploration into the connection between the spiritual experience of personal transformation and its relationship to transformational leadership: What would it mean for you as a leader to cultivate the inner life? To take time apart for personal reflection and spiritual deepening? What would your leadership arising from your core of spiritual groundedness look like? Students will reflect upon these questions, relate the readings to some aspect of their interior experience of spiritual conversion, and synthesize their thoughts on the relationship between their personal spirituality and their leadership practice.

Required reading and viewing:

Palmer, Parker. Leading from Within: Reflections on Spirituality and Leadership. Washington, DC: The Servant Leadership School, 1990. This pamphlet is also available for order by mail from: The Potter’s House Book Service, 1658 Columbia Road, NW, Washington DC 20009; Tel: (202) 232-5483.

May, Gerald. From Cruelty to Compassion: the Crucible of Personal Transformation. Minneapolis, MN: Fetzer Institute. This pamphlet may be downloaded as a PDF or ordered free through http://www.fetzer.org/resources.

The Hero’s Adventure. (First video in the series Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth with Bill Moyers) VHS. Mystic Fire Video, 1986. This video may also be available from any public library or video store.

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Servant Leadership

Faculty: Rev. Susan Fowler, Ph.D., Visiting Professor of Leadership Studies

Description: Robert Greenleaf noted that the servant-leader is servant first. His or her desire to lead comes from a desire to serve, and is manifested in the care s/he takes in ensuring that others grow into greater freedom, wisdom, health, and empowered leadership. In this tutorial, you will reflect on such topics as the holy ground of leadership, the relationship between radical hospitality and servant leadership, and putting servant leadership into practice. Special attention will be given to Jesus as the quintessential model of servant leader. Students will read essays each week by respected authorities in the field, including Margaret Wheatley, Robert Greenleaf, John Gardner and Parker Palmer.

Required reading:

Spears, Larry, Ed. Insights on Leadership: Service, Stewardship, Spirit, and Servant-Leadership. NY: John Wiley and Sons, 1997.

Metzger, Bruce and Murphy, Roland, Eds. New Oxford Annotated Bible, New Revised Standard Version. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991.

Online registration form