PT 311 Course at a Glance

Foundations for Leadership in the Local Church

Lectures By: Dr. John Currie

Effective for the Academic Year: 2024-2025


Course Description

This course is designed to help you think intentionally and biblically about leadership in the local church. Together we will explore the foundations, convictions, and core competencies that will begin to equip you to be a faithful and, under God, a fruitful pastor or ministry-leader. We’ll see how ignorance and neglect of leadership can foster ill health in ministry and create unnecessary confusion and conflict that can hinder the fruitfulness and impinge on the faithfulness of many ministries. The course will also demonstrate how a healthy cognizance and cultivation of leadership promotes faithfulness, fruitfulness, and a healthy ministry, and relies on biblical principles and wisdom when leadership issues arise. Throughout the course, we’ll seek to define and apply a foundational understanding of leadership in church ministry as it relates to the role of the Spirit and a biblical expression of vision, strategy, and execution according to the will of God to inspire, direct, and align his people toward his purposes.


Books to Purchase

The books listed below are required readings which students should acquire by the start of the term. Additional required readings will be listed in the course syllabus and available electronically in Canvas.

The Glorious Body of Christ
by R.B. Kuiper
Banner of Truth, 1967
ISBN: 9780851513683
The Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church
by Geerhardus Vos
Fontes Press, 2017
ISBN: 9781948048026
3D Leadership
by Harry Reeder
Christian Focus, 2018
ISBN: 9781527101562

Estimated Workload

Lectures Readings Assignments
0.5 24 1.4
Hours Per Week Pages Per Week Hours Per Week

Course Assignments

The assignments listed below are provided for general guidance for students to reference as they plan and register. Please reach out to support@wts.edu if you have any questions.

  • Final Exam [2 hr written exam]
  • Response Essays [3 assignments (3 pgs each)]
  • Small Groups [4 - 1 hr meetings]