Rick Bartlett, Director of Constituency Relations for MB Biblical Seminary and Student Dean for its Fresno, CA campus, graduated with a Doctor of Ministry degree from George Fox University on December 15. The focus of the D.Min was Christian leadership in the emerging culture.
Bartlett's thesis was titled "A Seven Strand Cord: Braiding Together Leadership Development for Mid-adolescents." Bartlett says he chose an emphasis on high school students because "the world they inhabit today is already the emerging culture."
In his research, Bartlett outlines seven strands of leadership development. They are discernment, call, mentoring, spiritual formation, rite of passage events, leadership/ministry opportunities, and commissioning. Bringing all these strands together is the uniqueness of this method. Bartlett argues that in order to fully prepare a young person to be ready to lead, all seven need to have been braided into a life.
According to Bartlett, his thesis has many "implications for the church". "For one, it provides a leadership development method that develops young people in the context of the local church, not just the youth ministry ‘ghetto.' Also, it is reproducible – any church could create a plan to develop leaders in this way."
His thesis speaks of the potential for a church to create "a leadership development system where people walk together and braid these principles into life."
Bartlett's studies integrated with, and grew out of, his role as director of MB Biblical Seminary's Ministry Quest program, which nurtures young people's ministry potential within the context of their local church. Rick directed the program from its inception in 2002 until August 2006, when he took on the Constituency Relations role.
Rick and his wife Karen live in Fresno and have two children, Grace (9) and Toby (7).
Posted: December 18, 2006