Practical Church Leadership

“In the case of PCL, the students are not alone. With the coach, they have a safety net. A place to discuss application, a place to be mindful of the realities they face day-to-day as church leaders, a place to consider the possibilities, personally and professionally in their development.” 
– Bill Lewis, PCL coaching coordinator

“Pastors that need a fresh approach to administrative ideas - this is the place to come. Money well spent. I am now Senior Pastor and a graduate of DWU with an MBA. The Senior Pastor role was directly impacted for me because of my one year in the program. I wouldn’t be the senior pastor without it.” 
– The Rev. Jeff Otterman, senior pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church; Yankton, S.D., PCL and MBA graduate 

"Dakota Wesleyan's program equips pastors and deacons to confidently lean into the complex realities of adaptive leadership needs."
– The Rev. Constanze Hagmaier, Bishop, South Dakota Synod Assembly

“Dakota Wesleyan’s church leadership program is a great opportunity for our churches. It is preparing bold, confident spirit-led leaders who are helping our congregations adapt to their constantly changing mission fields.”
– The Rev. Bruce Ough, former Resident Bishop, Dakotas-Minnesota Area of The United Methodist Church 

The calendar for the PCL program begins in July and runs a full calendar year.

The first session is a 2-day in-person orientation in July, on campus at DWU, followed by three weeks of onboarding and getting to know your coach, the learning management system, and more. 

The first 7-week course begins in August.

Classes have live guest lectures with experts at noon (Central Time) on 4-5 Mondays throughout each term.

The applied project, and associated processes and procedures to help manage the applied project, are also set up similar to a course in our Learning Management System and students will have access to that from start to finish as well.

DWU will host an in-person event with live speakers for 2 days in mid-January (in regional locations) and one additional in-person event at DWU in mid-July at the conclusion of the program in order to engage in some additional learning, worship together, and celebrate.  

Information and materials used during the initial gathering and subsequent orientation weeks.  ** Please note that this course is open for 4 weeks at the start of the program and will house both information about our in-person event in July as well as other information about the program that is relevant to your onboarding experience.**  

This course will discuss the current state of giving within the church, examine the underlying tenets of giving from a scriptural and a human perspective, and explore different approaches for cultivating giving within the church that will enable short and long-term sustainable resource development.

Financial Resource Management will provide students with fundamental knowledge about processes and procedures for financial planning and financial management. Students will develop skills and techniques through analysis of financial documents and practical application of contemporary financial management tools and techniques.

Evaluate different leadership and governance structures for nonprofit and church oversight. Assess best practices for human resource development and management. Understand methods for volunteer recruitment, development, engagement, and retention. 

Scholars will participate in a year-long applied learning experience where they lead the design and delivery of one or two comprehensive projects with the objective of making measurable and positive impacts on administrative functions of the organization. During the course students will be coached by a qualified and trained applied professional who will also provide instruction and support in principles and practices of project management.

Engage in oral presentation, reflection, and analytical skills by presenting your applied project during the second in-person gathering. Reflect on strengths and challenges, and connect with mentors and other church leaders.

Compose vision, mission, values, and purpose statements. Understand elements of strategic planning, program design and evaluation.

Explore a variety of mediums and communication strategies to design (or modify) methods of internal and external communication, develop skills in marketing and messaging to and for their church, and evaluate and engage strategies for effective outreach.

Engage in oral presentation, reflection, and analytical skills by presenting your applied project during the second in-person gathering. Reflect on strengths and challenges, and connect with mentors and other church leaders.

The Practical Church Leadership program is designed for practicing clergy and ministry professionals with at least two years of experience. Because this program is steeped in relevant and applicable learning and provides expert coaching and support, participants can immediately impact and navigate the realities of the church today.

Benefits for YOU and the ministry you serve: 

Financial Resource Development
Grow the current state of giving within your church, examine the underlying tenets of giving from a scriptural and a human perspective, and explore different approaches for cultivating giving that will enable short and long-term sustainable resource development.

Financial Management
Develop fundamental knowledge about processes and procedures for financial planning and financial management and strengthen skills through analysis of financial documents and practical application of contemporary financial management tools and techniques.

Governance, Personnel, and Volunteer Management
Evaluate different leadership and governance structures for nonprofit and church oversight. Assess best practices for human resource development and management, and your capacity for volunteer recruitment, development, engagement, and retention. 

Vision, Strategy and Evaluation
Compose or refresh vision, mission, values, and purpose statements while you develop competency for strategic planning, program design and evaluation.

Communications and Community Outreach
Explore a variety of mediums and communication strategies to design or modify methods of internal and external communication, develop skills in marketing for your church, and evaluate strategies for effective outreach.

Applied Project
Make measurable and positive impacts on administrative functions of your organization with a comprehensive applied project. You’ll be coached by a qualified and trained applied professional who will also provide instruction and support in principles and practices of project management.

The average amount of time participants devote to the program each week is 4-6 hours. This varies by week, and the program is very sensitive to needed flexibility during important seasons such as Advent and Lent.  

Three in-person gatherings will be held, and include two days of worship, learning, and connecting. In-person gatherings help form relationships with peers, learning from one another and from guests, and connecting with coaches. 

Live class sessions are typically held from 12-1 (CST) on Mondays during the 7-week, online classes. The 7-week classes are full of content in respective subject matter areas and will require some reading, discussion and/or applied assignments. 

Coaches are matched with students through a process that engages discerning mutual interest areas, professional experience, personality and strengths assessments. 

Each coach completes training and development as a professional coach. Many of our coaches have professional endorsements from the international association of professional coaches or international coach federation. 

Coaches meet with students bi-weekly, during normally scheduled work weeks, for 45 minutes to talk through applied project and more. 

The return on investment is distinct. Participants in the PCL program have:

• Grown giving units by as much as 65%;
• Directed transition from multiple committee governance to a single board;
• Decreased time dedicated to meetings by more than 50%;
• Improved financial management practices;
• Redesigned volunteer systems that resulted in increases in volunteers with less burnout and less turnover;
• Launched new discipleship ministries that impact hundreds in their communities.