Master of Arts in Leadership and Culture

Overview

The Master of Arts in Leadership and Culture degree program is designed to equip persons in ministry who want accessible, affordable, and pedagogically robust theological education, spiritual formation, and professional leadership training in cultural contexts. The entire curriculum pathway is designed to prepare you to lead and serve like Christ, the Way.  

Graduates will serve in a variety of leadership roles, such as:

  • Associate pastors
  • Specialized church-ministry leaders
  • Parachurch leaders and activists
  • Overseas missionaries and cross-cultural personnel
  • Camp or campus pastors
  • Bivocational ministers
  • Christian business and nonprofit organizations 
  • Educational teachers and leaders 
  • Christian entrepreneurs
  • Neighborhood chaplains 

The Master of Arts in Leadership and Culture curriculum is designed around leadership theory and practice  courses, biblical and theological foundations courses, and spiritual formation courses. The study of leadership involves exposure and training in disciplines such as team building, conflict resolution, reconciliation skills, cross-cultural awareness, organizational systems studies, strategic change processes, and individual and social transformation processes. The spiritual formation courses give the student exposure to the development of deep moral and spiritual values, spiritual disciplines, and self-awareness and self-management skills. 

Program Competencies

The MA in Leadership and Culture program will equip and form students to think with clarity like Christ, live with integrity in Christ, and serve with the heart of God for Christ. 

To think with clarity like Christ students will

  • Analyze ancient sources and contextualize meaning  
  • Examine Information value  
  • Engage interdisciplinary research  

To live with integrity in Christ students will

  • Embrace identity & belonging in Christ
  • Deepen self awareness for Christ 
  • Embody listening and discernment with the Holy Spirit 

To serve with the Heart of God for Christ students will

  • Steward one’s calling 
  • Form communities of shalom and grace 
  • Create healthy systems and environments 
  • Lead as a servant influencer to a sustainable future 

Degree Outcomes

Students will:

  • Develop capacity for critical and constructive biblical and theological reflection.
  • Practice habits of authentic disciplines for living holistically in today’s world.
  • Demonstrate the character and skills necessary for spiritually guiding or leading others in the Christian tradition.
  • Function as skilled leaders in various settings for developing flourishing communities with meaningful purposes
  • Support the just transformation of local communities and societies
  • Increase skill in the design, implementation, and assessment of various leadership environments

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Arts in Leadership and Culture program must hold a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university,* with a minimum GPA of 3.0. In addition, applicants must complete the following to be considered for admission to the program:

  • Submit Portland Seminary application and application fee
  • Submit one official transcript from each college/university attended
  • Resumé
  • Personal mission statement and statement of faith
  • Three letters of reference (as specified in admissions materials)
  • An interview

*Applicants who do not hold a four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university may apply to the university and will be required to submit additional documentation to be considered for admission.

Transfer Credit

Transfer of up to 23 hours credit is allowed toward the Master of Arts in Leadership and Culture program from ATS-accredited graduate schools. Students must have earned a grade of B or better for a course to be considered for transfer. In addition, only courses taken elsewhere within 10 years of the date of matriculation to the Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership program will be considered for transfer. Transferability of credits earned at this institution and transferred to another is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Consult the registrar's office for information on eligibility of transfer credit.

Residence Requirements

Residence, as described in this section of the catalog, does not refer to the time a student spends on campus. It refers to the portion of a degree program that students are required to earn with Portland Seminary, as compared to transfer credits and credit applied as advanced standing. With regard to the MA in Leadership and Culture program, students are required to complete half of the degree (23 semester hours) directly with Portland Seminary. A leave of absence is valid for up to one year, after which the student must reapply to the program. Reinstatement to the program after withdrawal requires Admissions Committee action and may subject the student to additional requirements for the degree.

Course Requirements

The Master of Arts in Leadership and Culture program can be completed in two years, though most students take three years with 46 semester hours of coursework required as a minimum for graduation.  Of the total hours required for the degree, 18 are in leadership courses, 4 in spiritual formation courses, 18 in biblical and theological foundations courses, and 6 in elective hours which may be taken in any discipline area.  Students will either complete an Interdisciplinary Concentration or a Spiritual Formation Concentration.

Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate with the Master of Arts in Leadership and Culture degree students must:

  • Satisfactorily complete a minimum of 46 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
  • Achieve no grade lower than a C- in all courses. If a grade lower than a C- is received, that course must be retaken (for more specific information, please refer to the student handbook).
  • Successfully complete each milestone
  • Be admitted to candidacy for the degree
  • Be recommended by the seminary faculty for graduation from George Fox University

Other Degree Requirements

Each masters student will undergo an initial personality assessment with a licensed mental health practitioner upon matriculation to identify strengths and areas for growth. The seminary faculty will conduct a first semester review of this assessment for newly matriculated students each fall semester and take it into consideration alongside conversations regarding the student’s performance during the semester. At times, the faculty may recommend, or require counseling in order to better identify areas of personal growth in order to maximize one's potential for flourishing and capitalize on discovered strengths through one’s seminary career. For more specific information, please refer to the student handbook.

Curriculum Plan

Choose one of the following:
Introduces students to the literature of the Old Testament in its socio-historical, literary, and theological contexts with particular interest in spiritual formation and Christian practice. Students will explore the contents of the Old Testament, the history of ancient Israel, historical geography, and interpretive approaches that explore the literary features of the Old Testament and its historical and cultural contexts.
Introduces students to the literature of the New Testament in its socio-historical, literary, and theological contexts with particular interest in spiritual formation and Christian practice. This course will discuss the history that leads up to the New Testament; the voices in early Christianities represented in the Gospels, Pauline, and other letters, and the churches and/or persons who first received them; as well as the voices of those who read them today. Besides introducing the general information on each book, this course will also highlight different themes in the books of the New Testament.
Choose one of the following:
Building on the foundation of BIST 501 through hermeneutics, the study of ancient and modern methods of biblical interpretation, this course introduces a variety of analytical and critical approaches, from the development of biblical exegesis and hermeneutics in early Jewish and Christian tradition to modern-day readings of the Old Testament. Topics include: textual witnesses, reception history, issues of translation, historical-criticism, reader-response criticism, canonical analysis; postcolonial, feminist, womanist, intersectional, and minority readings. Prerequisite: BIST 501.
Building on the skills and knowledge of BIST 502, this course engages students with the nature of interpretation (hermeneutics) as well as methods and tools that support interpretation (exegesis). Special emphasis will be placed on key moral and theological concerns today and how a variety of viewpoints, methods, and approaches help the reader of the Bible move from ancient text to modern life. Topics include: historical criticism, reception history, literary criticism, rhetorical criticism; postcolonial, feminist, womanist, intersectional, and minority readings. Prerequisite: BIST 502.
Complete the following:
Covers the development of Christianity and Christian theology from the end of the apostolic period to the 16th century. Examines the expansion of the Church, the unfolding of Christian institutions and practice, the conflicts that confronted the Church from within and without, and the development of central theological doctrines.
Covers the development of Christianity and Christian theology from the Reformation to the present outside North America. Examines the Reformation and its effects on the Continent and in England, important growth and changes in Roman Catholicism and Protestantism since the Reformation, key doctrinal developments, and implications from the global spread of Christianity.
Discusses the historical development and contemporary global expressions of core Christian beliefs and their relation to Christian practices. The course enables a well-informed, life-long creative engagement with theology, whether through studying, teaching, preaching, writing, or counseling.
Complete the following:
Studies biblical, historical, and cultural approaches to leadership. The qualities and skills of the leader are discussed with particular emphasis on the transformational and adaptive leadership models, the leader’s creative and entrepreneurial development, and the stewardship of a leader’s gifts and responsibilities.
Explores the questions: What are spiritual formation, healing and discipleship as pursuits of Christian believers? What is the spiritual leader's role in leading these pursuits? and How do formation, discipleship, and healing happen in current cultural contexts and in the church? The scriptural, theological, developmental, pedagogical, and biological nature of formation, discipleship, and healing are considered.
Designed to assist leaders and their communities in understanding and engaging in faithful transformation of the cultures, systems, and structures of their context. The course follows a practical theological approach, engaging in description, theological evaluation, and transformational practice while drawing insights from various disciplines to help discern effective and faithful change in a cultural system.
Equips students to be competent in media and communication skills understanding theories and praxis. Students will get hands-on practice in diverse platforms, social media content development, and a range of communication modalities, as well as an assessment of the intended audience of the media/communication effort. Students will learn how to lead through media content with an emphasis on God’s mission and building spiritual community.
Builds the capacity of women and men to effectively develop cultural intelligence and leadership skills for an increasingly globalized and diverse world. This course will explore methods for curating sacred spaces in diverse contexts, responding to justice concerns both personally and communally, and understanding how to engage and manage conflict.
Complete the following:
Provides an opportunity for students to identify their deep longings and giftings as they discern their vocational way of being in the world for the sake of others. This discernment is rooted in a growing knowledge of the biblical and theological roots of identity and belonging. Students will be invited to integrate their way of being in the world with the God who calls them.
Provides an invitation for students to embrace the calling to belong within a faith community as an essential of Christian spirituality. Locating their past and present sources of belonging, students will integrate those experiences in order to grow in their understanding of self in relation to community. Students will support this awareness by reflecting on the cultural forces and narratives that shape both individuals and communities.
Provides an invitation for students to engage in prayer and other spiritual practices for greater awareness of self, others and God. As students practice they will be introduced to the gift of a contemplative life and will begin to experience a groundedness in Christ’s presence. This groundedness helps them embrace themselves, God, and others. As students learn to experience this space, they will be able to invite others into a more contemplative life.
Leaning deeper in reflection on areas of disintegration and integration, students will be invited to practice self-acceptance, generosity of spirit, boundaries, and to recognize invitations of growth. Analyzing the theology of spiritual leadership and reviewing elements which invite leaders to sustain a leadership role with integrity and health, students will reflect and create a rhythm of life that will serve as a fluid document to sustain them as they live out their vocational call within the communities they serve.

Students must complete 3 credits in one of the internship options listed below.  An internship is either Apprenticeship, Mentoring, or Spiritual Direction Training†. All students complete an internship. 

 

†Students who plan to complete the Spiritual Formation Concentration must complete the Spiritual Direction Training internship option (SFAD 571). 

Apprenticeship

Students completing an Apprenticeship will complete the following courses.  Students can complete either one 3-credit course, three 1-credit courses, or any variation.
A unique practicum experience in which students do a supervised internship in order to gain expertise in the tasks of ministry. Note: PSTD 568/569/570 can be taken in any order. PSTD 568/569/570 can be taken together as a 3 credit course in one semester.
A unique practicum experience in which students do a supervised internship in order to gain expertise in the tasks of ministry. Note: PSTD 568/569/570 can be taken in any order. PSTD 568/569/570 can be taken together as a 3 credit course in one semester.
A unique practicum experience in which students do a supervised internship in order to gain expertise in the tasks of ministry. Note: PSTD 568/569/570 can be taken in any order. PSTD 568/569/570 can be taken together as a 3 credit course in one semester.

Mentoring

Students completing Mentoring will take the following mentoring courses (3 credits total) in sequence but may start the sequence in Fall, Spring, or Summer term.
A coaching experience in order to explore one’s calling, enhance one’s awareness of his or her leadership skills, or receive guidance on current leadership challenges. The student will meet one on one with a certified coach. The course is yearlong and is taken sequentially beginning with 526.
A coaching experience in order to explore one’s calling, enhance one’s awareness of his or her leadership skills, or receive guidance on current leadership challenges. The student will meet one on one with a certified coach. Prerequisite: MLDR 526
A coaching experience in order to explore one’s calling, enhance one’s awareness of his or her leadership skills, or receive guidance on current leadership challenges. The student will meet one on one with a certified coach. Prerequisite: 527

Spiritual Direction Training

Students completing Spiritual Direction Training will take the following Spiritual Formation course.

†Students who plan to complete the Spiritual Formation Concentration must complete the Spiritual Direction Training internship option (SFAD 571).

This course focuses on hosting spiritual conversations for soul companions. Generous listening is a core practice for intentionally guiding persons in their spiritual growth and at the center of training for spiritual directors. This course explores the historical, theological, biblical, and psychological premises for soul companionship and introduces students to core practices. Students will reflect on meaning and definitions of hosting spiritual conversations in light of their own experience and the course teachings and personal discernment regarding vocational spiritual direction. Note: it is required that students take SFAD 571 & SFAD 572.

Master of Arts in Leadership and Culture students must complete 6 credits of electives. Students completing the Interdisciplinary Concentration can choose any combination of courses from the subject areas listed below: Biblical Studies, Christian History and Theology, Leadership, and Spiritual Formation.

 

Students completing the Spiritual Formation Concentration must complete SFAD 572 and 3 additional SFAD credits from the listed Spiritual Formation course options listed below.

 

Biblical Studies Courses
Building on the foundation of BIST 501 through hermeneutics, the study of ancient and modern methods of biblical interpretation, this course introduces a variety of analytical and critical approaches, from the development of biblical exegesis and hermeneutics in early Jewish and Christian tradition to modern-day readings of the Old Testament. Topics include: textual witnesses, reception history, issues of translation, historical-criticism, reader-response criticism, canonical analysis; postcolonial, feminist, womanist, intersectional, and minority readings. Prerequisite: BIST 501.
Building on the skills and knowledge of BIST 502, this course engages students with the nature of interpretation (hermeneutics) as well as methods and tools that support interpretation (exegesis). Special emphasis will be placed on key moral and theological concerns today and how a variety of viewpoints, methods, and approaches help the reader of the Bible move from ancient text to modern life. Topics include: historical criticism, reception history, literary criticism, rhetorical criticism; postcolonial, feminist, womanist, intersectional, and minority readings. Prerequisite: BIST 502.
This course will apply the interpretive skills developed in BIST 503, with special attention on the exegetical issues of the designated Old Testament book. Prerequisite: BIST 503 or permission of instructor.
This course will apply the interpretive skills developed in BIST 504, with special attention on the exegetical issues of the designated New Testament book. Prerequisite: BIST 504 or permission of instructor.
This course will examine a special topic in the Old Testament or/and the New Testament. Building on the hermeneutical skills developed in either BIST 503 or 504, students will engage with important voices in scholarship related to the topic. Prerequisite: BIST 503 or 504, or permission of instructor.
Christian History and Theology Courses
An introduction to the origins, histories, myths, and basic tenets of other religious traditions in the world and how Christians might engage them in meaningful interaction. Involving a research project and on site visits, a concerted effort will be made to show the common humanity of the people who follow other religions. Co-learners will guard against viewing people from other religions as the "excluded other” by understanding commonalities and celebrating differences.
An exploration of the guiding assumptions and frameworks undergirding various ethical positions and their claims, especially in relationship to Christian theology. The course also analyzes the relationship between context and ethics, specifically as it pertains to the church and its role in the formation of Christian ethics. Implications for the practice of ethics in personal, social, economic, and political problems of our contemporary world will be examined and evaluated.
The course discusses a variety of interpretations, responses, and practices related to suffering and healing in Christian traditions. It draws upon scriptural, theological, and scientific perspectives, with the goal of addressing current concerns and promoting human flourishing.
Examines a particular issue or topic in Christian history and theology, including practical application for the Church today.
Leadership Courses
Studies the principles and practices of administration for ministry organizations including finances, buildings, staff and personnel relations, legal and safety concerns, information and communication systems, tactical management of daily operations, mixed team development (gender and ethnic diversity), and elder/board relations.
Explores the development of particular leadership and/or management skills needed for effective outcomes in an organization.

Spiritual Formation Courses

Note: Students completing the Spiritual Formation and Discipleship Concentration must complete SFAD 572† and choose 3 additional credits from the listed Spiritual Formation course options listed below (for a total of 6 SFAD elective credits).

Introduces students to the concept of three-way listening: listening to another, listening to themselves, and listening to the Spirit with hospitality to all. Quaker, Wesleyan, and Ignatian spiritualities help shape this understanding of listening and discernment. Part of this journey is to begin to notice the barriers that arise in listening this way. Growth will occur as students learn how to sift through their interior and exterior experiences to determine their origin and the movement of the Spirit in themselves, their community, and the world.
Introduces students to the rhythms of ritual, mystery, and beauty as pathways for Christian formation. Moving from the specific to the general, students will cultivate the ability to experience the sacred in the ordinary through tangible practices. These practices will be guided by theological reflection on the implications of the Incarnation, thus allowing students to both explore and notice God’s recreative presence in the arts, creation, and all of life.
Invites students to experience and explore images of God and understandings of spirituality through Scripture and the writings of the mystical traditions of the Church. Studying the spiritual writings of others through history opens one to consider their own image of God and concept of spirituality. This recognition, often shaped from childhood and life experience, offers an invitation to an expanding understanding of God. Mystics invite us to move beyond knowledge about God into an experiential relationship with God that impacts everyday life.
Invites students to explore God’s transformative action and desire for restorative justice and Shalom through the writings of the biblical prophets, Christian mystics, and activists. Students will broaden their awareness of unjust systems while considering their personal participation in oppressive structures. Reflective practices and discussion will invite students to actively join with God and create practices for response and reconciliation that extend God’s hospitality and restores the humanity of all.
This course continues the students’ training in the discipline of spiritual direction. It addresses professional issues related to being a spiritual director and gives students practical experience in being spiritual directors, under the guidance of certified supervisors. (Note: it is required that students take both SFAD 571 & SFAD 572. Additional fees: The cost of personal spiritual direction is covered by the student.)