Considering My MAGL Experience at Fuller Seminary

Since walking across the stage at Lake Avenue Congregational Church on June 11, 2011 and “graduating” from Fuller Theological Seminary, I have been thinking of writing about my experience. However, building pressures of ministry and various professional and personal issues compounded against me that last spring semester as I doubled up classes, and I “hit the wall” in my studies. I could not get through that one last paper on the Ethics of Bonhoeffer – an outstanding course that stretched me in many ways. That failure required me to make up four units . . . and set me back emotionally and financially. It also provided a dose of needed humility as I was looking to add to my long string of hard-earned A’s and end with a high GPA (one of my dysfunctions of focusing on my accomplishments was seriously dealt with). Having made up for that misstep by struggling through another rather stretching course, I finally earned a Masters of Arts in Intercultural Studies: Global Leadership.

I never thought I could complete an MA program . . . you see, I never finished my undergraduate degree. My daughter Molly (who earned a BA at Wheaton and MSc at the University of Edinburgh) used to playfully chide me, saying I was cheating by skipping the BS. I think she understands what a feat this was for her old dad. Perhaps it was the underlying competitive nature of our family of four MAs that egged me on . . . or was it my own stubbornness?

In any case, this effort was one I chose to enroll in almost six years earlier, after earning a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Organization Management from UC Riverside. That really got things rolling, as I had already desired to complete my BS in Business Management at University of Redlands, but several close peers challenged me in that desire (with its cost and effort), saying that I had already attained that level of education through a lot of seat-of-the-pants management experience in several positions – culminating in turning around a nonprofit organization from embezzlement and closure. Although I saw their point, I still felt that I lacked something . . . I wanted to do better in the leadership role I found myself. As I struggled with my own dysfunctions and weaknesses, I sensed there was something I should do to provide a more solid basis for my leadership; I wanted to be a better leader.

My program director at that time suggested I look into Fuller Seminary, which has a special student classification – allowing those lacking their undergraduate degree to compile their accumulated studies and ministry leadership experience into an MA degree. I did apply, and started a program in Christian Leadership (SOT), and several years later transferred to Global Leadership (SIS) when I realized I needed the MAGL’s cohort structure to be disciplined enough to push through the busyness of ministry and complete my studies. The content of the MAGL was very compelling and related directly to my ministry and leadership focus.

The MAGL provided exactly what I needed to grow personally and professionally . . . being able to recognize my dysfunctions and potential through what Robert Clinton examines as Leadership Emergence. Being stretched in my theology and social understanding, I have been able to more fully establish what I believe and desire to accomplish through my faith and practice. I think understanding what is meant by “community” has provided foundation for truly being missional in thought and deed. Exploring it all with likeminded and similarly focused students from around the globe was an extraordinary experience.

There is so much more to share that is appropriate for this brief blog posting, I will have to expound on it further in additional posts . . .

I will just say that for those seeking to explore their own faith and leadership, I can’t recommend highly enough the learning experience you will find through Fuller’s MAGL program. If you are in a position of leadership in a church or nonprofit organization, and expect more from yourself, and desire to build into others, you need to consider this program of study.

Drop me a note or invite me for a cup of coffee if you want to explore if the MAGL is right for you . . .