Abstract
Non-profit organisations (NGO�s) play an important role in helping satisfy society�s many needs. Churches, for example, are called upon to address critical challenges facing the South African society such as discrepancies in life chances, unemployment and corruption. It largely depends on the management skills of leaders of such organisations to succeed in their endeavour to meet community needs. In order to improve these skills, this study sought to redefine the initial training of student pastors, including their management training, at the colleges of the International Assemblies of God Church (IAG). A qualitative research approach was followed. Two focus group interviews and seven individual interviews were conducted. Interviews included members of the national and provincial executive committees of the IAG, serving pastors, directors of training colleges, pastor trainees in their final year of study, and a newly graduated student. The findings of the study support the importance of formal management training for pastors before being employed in the service of the IAG. This Church has moved away from accepting ministers for service based on their faith and profession of a call to ministry only. The investigation revealed shortcomings in the initial training programmes of pastors; for example, the emphasis on theological courses at the expense of courses that are responsive to community needs and management training issues. Leaders with the competency to respond to community needs are required. The implementation of a transformational management framework, which includes community responsive courses, is recommended as a way to effectively train church leaders.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: Although this article is written within the framework of Educational Management, it touches on other fields like Practical Theology and Curriculum Development. It reflects on the perceived need to include management training in the formal preparation of pastors; an aspect which has previously been sorely neglected. A training model is suggested to achieve this objective.Keywords: community;�training; pastors
Highlights
A community needs responsive management training model: Re-envisioning management training for pastors of the International Assemblies of God Church
In order to improve these skills, this study sought to redefine the initial training of student pastors, including their management training, at the colleges of the International Assemblies of God Church (IAG)
The investigation revealed shortcomings in the initial training programmes of pastors; for example, the emphasis on theological courses at the expense of courses that are responsive to community needs and management training issues
Summary
A community needs responsive management training model: Re-envisioning management training for pastors of the International Assemblies of God Church. For example, are called upon to address critical challenges facing the South African society such as discrepancies in life chances, unemployment and corruption. It largely depends on the management skills of leaders of such organisations to succeed in their endeavour to meet community needs. Non-profit organisations in South Africa, for example churches, are frequently called upon to help address critical challenges facing society today. Smit et al (2007:4) endorse this pronouncement in showing the huge role that churches play in society by including them among non-profit organisations which help ‘satisfy society’s many needs’ For these organisations to succeed in addressing these problems, they must be led by effective and efficient leaders who are seen as convinced and convincing leaders (Masenya 2014:3–4). According to Bolman and Deal (1991:xiii–xiv), ‘organisations that are overmanaged but underled eventually lose any sense of spirit and purpose’ and ‘poorly managed organizations with strong charismatic leaders may soar temporarily only to crash shortly thereafter’
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