Overview
The Orthodox Church in the Western context relies upon community initiative and lay participation for its sustenance and development. This course aims to equip members of the church community to engage in leadership and development both within the church community and between the church community and the wider society. Participants in the course will develop leadership skills, be able to make informed decisions, and develop practical, logical and critical thinking skills related to community development. They should be able to introduce and develop new ideas and initiatives in the parish community and the wider community. Participants will be challenged to discover and develop points of contact between the church and civil society, as well as learning to network with NGO:s and other faith-based communities.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the participants are (individually and collaboratively) expected to be able to:
- communicate effectively with others, collaborate in a group, and demonstrate leadership qualities
- develop motivation and engage in ongoing personal and interpersonal development and formation
- develop a strong understanding of their own experiences, values, and beliefs (as well as those of others), and use this self-awareness to inform their decisions and interactions with others
- build strong relationships with others and develop a sense of community and belonging
- broaden their understanding of cultural, religious, and societal issues, and apply this knowledge to engage in meaningful discussions and develop informed opinions and beliefs
- develop the practical organizational knowledge and skills needed to initiate and grow community-based projects
Requirements
Students are expected to participate in all course activities, both by being present and playing an active role in scheduled course sessions, and by completing assignments to be done outside of scheduled lessons. If participants miss lessons, they may be required to do extra assignments in order to fulfill the participation requirements of the course. 80% attendance and participation (including completion of assignments) are required for the course to be considered to have been completed.
