Denominational Leadership: Serving God and the Church as a District Superintendent
This four-day educational event has been designed specifically for those who have been serving as United Methodist district superintendents for one to three years. It provides these church leaders with the opportunity to reflect on their own practice of leadership, while equipping them to face the challenges and opportunities of institutional leadership today.
Specifically, this event will offer superintendents:
- a variety of learning experiences designed to develop their individual leadership capacity
- the opportunity to learn about their own practice of leadership by receiving 360-degree feedback
- ways of understanding change processes and transition times
- strategies for practicing innovation at the district and conference level
- tools for responding to challenges that are part of the work of a district superintendent, including strategic appointment-making, having "critical conversations" and offering difficult feedback
- times to network with colleagues from around the United Methodist connection
Denominational Leadership
Ideal applicants for Denominational Leadership: Serving God and the Church as a District Superintendent have been serving as United Methodist district superintendents for one to three years. Registration is limited to 20 participants.
Leadership Education is now accepting applications. This is a two-part application process that requires completing a short online form, then answering short essay questions and submitting a resume.
Early applications will receive first consideration; once the program capacity is reached, registration will close. The application deadline is August 19, 2013.
If you have questions or concerns about the application process or would like assistance in determining whether you are eligible for the program, please contact the Leadership Education office at leadership@div.duke.edu with the subject line "Denominational Leadership."
Denominational Leadership: Serving God and the Church as a District Superintendent
Nov. 18-21, 2013
Avila Retreat Center
Durham, N.C.
$995 registration fee
Meals and accommodations are included in the registration fee. Payment will be due after admissions decisions have been made. Transportation is the responsibility of the participant.
Limited scholarships are available.
Nathan Kirkpatrick is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. He served the Asbury-Longtown charge in Hamptonville, N.C., before joining the staff at Duke Divinity School. Kirkpatrick directs the Duke Course of Study in partnership with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church, as well as leading Courage to Serve, the Institute of Preaching and other learning events for pastoral leaders. Kirkpatrick is a graduate of Wake Forest University and Duke Divinity School.
Nancy James is a leadership development trainer who has developed dozens of customized learning experiences for corporations across the world. She has been associate dean for executive education at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business and more recently has been a human resource executive for the United States Postal Service. She has been a member of the faculty of the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) since 1995. At one time she managed CCL’s most popular program, Looking Glass Experience. James holds a Ph.D. in educational psychology from Mississippi State University and an M.B.A. from the Fuqua School of Business. She is a Eucharistic minister and lector in her parish in Greensboro.
Gretchen Ziegenhals is interested in the art of teaching and learning. For 10 years, she was a consultant and writer for the Lexington Seminar, a project that assisted Protestant theological seminary faculties with such issues. At Georgetown College in Kentucky, she was an adjunct instructor in English before she founded and directed the Women’s Studies Program. Prior to Georgetown, she was the assistant editor at The Christian Century. Gretchen is a graduate of Yale Divinity School and Williams College.