Reflections on Bakke Graduate University

In the fall of 2001 I had one of the defining moments of my life. I met Ray Bakke at a CCDA (Christian Community Development Association). Ray was one cohort deep into a nascent graduate program of ministry called, The Northwest Graduate School of Ministry (later to be changed to Bakke Graduate School of Ministry). As we talked he explained that the reason he started the program was first to provide opportunities for leaders from developing countries to receive further advanced and accredited education without having to leave their ministry and move to the United States. “One of the untold tragedies of missions is that many of the best and brightest who come to the U.S. to study never return to their home country. After 4-6 year of living in the U.S., if they do return, their children have become Americanized and don’t quite fit in when they return. I wanted to create a graduate university for the best leaders and practitioners, who will take classes a week or two at a time, but do their research and writing in their own city…in their own leadership context.” The second reason he wanted to start a graduate university was to produce a new generation of writers who can speak to the world’s new realities of mission.

At the time I was consuming all the books I could find on churches working outside the walls and was traveling around observing what churches were doing. When Ray asked me to apply for the Doctoral program, it didn’t take much deliberation. How could I pass up the opportunity to attach an academic track to all I was learning? How could I pass up the opportunity to be in shoulder to shoulder relationships with world-class leaders? I applied to the program, was accepted and began my class work for my DMin in “Transformational Leadership in the Global City” with my first two week class in Seattle in the spring of 2002. My cohort included Kathy Dudley, founder of the Dallas Leadership Foundation, H. Spees from Fresno, Kris Rocke from World Vision, Jeff Johnsen from Mile High Ministries, and a number of great leaders from India, Asia and Africa.

Each four unit class required between 1500 to 2000 pages of reading on the most fascinating books (Orthodox Alaska, Transforming Mission, The Lexus and the Olive Tree, The Confessions, etc), a daily journal for each day of class, and a 30 page paper that was a treatise on the impact of what we learned in the classroom and field (days were typically split between classroom and ministry site visits). Eight unit classes lasted 10-14 days and had roughly double the requirements. I tried to “major” in Ray Bakke. Ray is a rare combination of experience, scholarship, insight and relational panache that is a rarity. Wherever we have gone, Ray is treated as a Christian statesman. I took three 8-unit classes in Seattle, China and Italy. The rest of my classes were elective classes on contextual ministry, church planting, and Urban Field Experience in Chicago. The coursework was challenging, enlightening, and invigorating. It provided much of the insight that helped me co-author two books (The Externally Focused Church (2004) and Living a Life on Loan (2006). With the exception of taking 12 days in a cabin writing my dissertation, I was able to keep up with my other responsibilities (and graduate a mere one year after my cohort group!).

My dissertation topic was built around determining the effectiveness of Leadership Network’s Leadership Community process in deploying volunteers in service and ministry to the community. I finished my final draft in early May, passed my oral examinations and graduated in late May.

I recognize there are a number of excellent seminary programs in which one can enroll but for me, I can’t give a higher recommendation than BGU. I almost wish I could do it again.

-----
Eric Swanson (eric.swanson@leadnet.org) works with Leadership Network as Leadership Community Director for Externally Focused Churches. In partnership with Tango he also works with pastors and leaders in cities around the world who are engaging their communities with the good news and good deeds. He holds a D.Min. in Transformational Leadership in the Global City and is co-author of The Externally Focused Church, Living a Life on Loan, and numerous articles on churches that are transforming their communities. Eric has been married to Liz for 30 years, have three children, two grandchildren and reside outside of Boulder Colorado.

Comments

[how to write a masters dissertation]

Blogs are good for every one where we get lots of information for any topics nice job keep it up !!!

[speech writer]

Wow Impressive!
Your blog is very informative. However, it is pretty hard task but your post and experience serve and teach me how to handle and make it more simple and manageable.
Thanks for the tips… Best regards.
speech writing

[Custom Essay]

Hi,
Really nice work! Your article is unique, informative, interesting and is captivating attention of the readers. You have emphasized on a good point.

[Dissertation Service]

Hi,
This is really a great stuff for sharing. Keep it up .Thanks for sharing.

[dissertation online]

Hi,
Interesting topic! Hope you will elaborate more on it in future posts.

[A level coursework]

Hi,
This is inspiring; I am very pleased by this post. Nice info at this post thanks!!! I really like it

[moxomor1]

Thanks a lot for the topic just about this post! I heard that the paper writing service will suggest the essay writing. Moreover, that’s the best possibility to buy pre written essays and custom essays just about this good topic.