Course Descriptions

Courses will be offered in the fall and spring of two consecutive years. They will be structured in such a way that a student could begin at any session, but would still be required to complete the entire series in order to receive credit.

The series will consist of four units, meeting each fall and spring over a two year period. Each unit will be offered on a single day with two three hour classes meeting on that day.

The cost for each unit (single day of two classes) will be $59.00.



Unit 1

Principal Objectives of Alliance Women Ministries – Becky Zuch, Instructor (See Bio Below)
  - An in-depth study of AWM objectives and how they align with the vision and mission of the C&MA.
(see syllabus)

Foundations of Women's Ministries – Susan Bernard (See Bio Below)

- Methods of designing women’s ministries in the local church through observation, evaluation and assessments (see syllabus)


Unit 2

Who We Are and What We Believe – Sari Harris, Instructor (See Bio Below)
  - Overview of the origins of The Christian & Missionary Alliance and its historical affects on doctrine and ministry with a closer look at Alliance Distinctives.
(see syllabus) 

Assessment and Integration of Leaders – Janet Howard, Instructor (See Bio Below)
  - Identifying then integrating the principles of leadership and personality styles within the context of the church. (see syllabus)

 

Unit 3

Organizational Principles and Planning – Dr. Charlotte Stemple, Instructor (See Bio Below)
  - Learning to cast a vision and set measurable goals while working with a team.
(see syllabus)


Methods of Mentoring and Coaching of Emerging Leaders – Joyce Griffin, Instructor (See Bio Below)
  - Preparing leaders to identify and develop future leaders through guidance and encouragement.
(see syllabus)



Unit 4

Fundamentals of Communication– Sharon Crosby, Instructor (See Bio Below)
  - Master the ability to engage your listeners in a variety of venues. (see syllabus)

Evangelizing and Discipling Women - Karen Gustafson, Instructor (See Bio Below)
  - Training the leader to share her faith, and to provide evangelistic tools and resources for discipling women in today’s world.
(see syllabus)


Instructor Biographies:

Check back for updates each Fall and Spring

BECKY ZUCH (Principal Objectives of Alliance Women Ministries - Unit 1)

Becky is a graduate of Asbury College with a degree in Education. She has taught in public and private schools for 30 years. Becky has served in various leadership positions in Alliance Women Ministries for over 25 years. Most recently she served a six year term as National Director for Alliance Women Ministries and is now serving as the director of Women's Leadership Studies.

SUSAN Bernard (Foundations of Women's Ministries - Unit 1)

Susan graduated from Nyack College with a degree in Missions and served in Irian Jaya, Indonesia (now called Papua) from 1965 to 1982. During that time, Susan taught leadership training for both men and women. She was a professor at the Ruland Les Nussa Bible School and in the Penagi Leadership Development program.
Since returning to the U.S., Susan has been involved with Alliance Women Ministries at all levels of leadership, her most recent position as National Director from 2005 - 2011. Susan has also been active in local church ministries with women and children. Currently she is Director for Women’s Leadership Studies, as well as the A.W.M. Midwest District Director..

SARI HARRIS (Who We Are and What We Believe - Unit 2)

Sari Harris comes to Women’s Leadership Studies as an Alliance pastor’s wife of 25 years. She and her husband served for over 15 years in the Midwest District (Indiana) and more than 8 years in the Western Pennsylvania District. They have 3 children that keep them busy.

Sari is involved with the Alliance Women’s Retreat in Western Pennsylvania and has been a speaker for the past 3 years. Her jobs as a school administrator and part time faculty at a local college keep her busy as well. Since teaching is still a passion, she is committed to the Truth Project in her local church where she and her husband lead a small group of young married couples.

She is excited about being a part of the team for Alliance Women’s Leadership Studies and loves the topic that she will be teaching.

JANET HOWARD (Assessment and Integration of Leaders - Unit 2)

Janet Howard received her BS in missions from Nyack College and her MA from Wheaton College Graduate School in Intercultural Studies and Leadership. She served with her husband, Bill Kuhns, for 42 years in Indonesia. During that time she taught at the Immanuel Bible School and Jaffray Theological College and Seminary where she taught and trained women for leadership. In addition, she directed and spoke in the first women's retreats in Kalimantan and then was a speaker both in the Indonesian islands of Java, Sulawesi and Papua as well as in district retreats in the U.S.. After the death of her husband in 2002, Janet married a widower, Dr. David Howard, in 2005. She is presently Minister of Discipleship at the Village Church in Fort Myers, Fl. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Christian and Missionary Alliance.


DR. CHARLOTTE STEMPLE (Organizational Principles and Planning - Unit 3)

Charlotte graduated from West Suburban Hospital School for Nurses (part of Wheaton College) in Oak Park, IL in 1958 and Nyack College in 1961. She and her husband served in Vietnam as C&MA missionaries, 1964 – 1974, and at the Dalat School for Missionaries’ children in Penang, Malaysia, 1974 – 1980.

Charlotte has served in all levels of leadership in Alliance Women Ministries including National President of Alliance Women from 1993-1999.  She received an honorary LLD degree from Nyack College, May 2000. Other ministries have included National Director of the Short-Term Missions Office of the C&MA for 2 years and Mission's Mobilization co-director for the Central District for several years. In the fall of 2010, Charlotte’s book entitled, “My Vietnam” was published.


JOYCE GRIFFIN (Methods of Mentoring and Coaching of Emerging Leaders - Unit 3)

Joyce graduated from Crown College and Wheaton Graduate School. She taught at a Bible School in Argentina for ten years. In 1998 she began teaching at Toccoa Falls College in the School of World Missions. Her special areas of teaching include cross-cultural studies, world religions and discipleship.


KAREN GUSTAFSON (Evangelizing and Discipling Women - Unit 4)

After having worked as Minister of Counseling at Grand Avenue Alliance Church in Minneapolis for three years, Karen left for missionary service with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. She was in Argentina for 18 years where she ministered with women, adolescents and young adults as well as taught at the Buenos Aires Bible Institute. Karen did her PhD in psychology at the Universidad de Palermo in Buenos Aires, Argentina and has served on the faculty of Crown College in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota since 2007.

SHARON CROSBY Fundamentals of Communication - Unit 4)

Sharon Crosby has taught at the Vasayas Alliance School of Theology in the Phillippines. She has also worked with Theological Education by Extension where she wrote teacher’s guides as well as editing the course in Alliance History and Distinctives.

Since returning to ministry in the United States, Sharon has been involved with Alliance Women Ministries and teaching in her local church as well as speaking engagements around the country. She has also helped to start a mentoring program for young women going into missions at Toccoa Falls College. "After working for 6 years at Toccoa Falls College as Director for Public Relations and Director for Church Relations, she is now the Special Events Coordinator for the city of Toccoa, GA.  She also serves as the Director for Disciple Making Ministries at Toccoa First Alliance Church.