Leadership Exchange Presents Speaker

The newly formed Leadership Exchange of the Christian Reformed Church in North America is joining with the Department of Congregational and Ministry Studies of Calvin College to present a discussion on what it takes to lead an organization or team through change.

Set for Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Calvin Theological Seminary Auditorium in Grand Rapids, MI, the event will feature Peter G. Northouse, a communication professor at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. His talk is entitled "Leading through Change: Principles for Effective Leadership."

Admission to the event is free. RSVPs are requested but not required. For more information, contact Sarah Boonstra-Boer at 616-224-0800.

Northouse is the first of many speakers that the CRC Leadership Exchange plans to make available to discuss issues related to leadership.

"We are serious about partnering with other agencies/organizations to bring about awareness and create dialogue and 'exchanges' about principles and practices of Christian (Kingdom, transformational) leadership," says Chris Pullenayegem, director of the leadership exchange.

"We hope that Peter would be able to facilitate dialogue, discussion and speak into what it takes to be a leader in times of change, such as we face as a denomination, internally and externally."

Northouse has taught leadership and interpersonal and organizational communication for more than 20 years at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The author of several books and articles on the topic of leadership, Northouse’s interests include models of leadership, leadership assessment, ethical leadership, and leadership and group dynamics.

Northouse has worked as a consultant in a variety of areas, including leadership development, leadership education, conflict management, and health communication. He holds a doctorate in speech communication from the University of Denver. He earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in communication education from Michigan State University.

In a news article published by WMU News, the official news site of Western Michigan University, Northouse is quoted as saying leadership information and theory needs to be scholarly and yet made accessible by clarifying leadership theories for a wide range of people and institutions.

"My purpose is to explore how an understanding of leadership theory can inform and direct the way leadership is practiced," Northouse says.

As part of the CRC's 150th anniversary, Synod 2007 issued a mandate for the CRC to develop a Leadership Institute, later changed to Leadership Exchange.

The purpose of the Leadership Exchange, synod said, is to help prepare leaders by "coordinating leadership training resources offered by other institutions and to supplement such training resources as needed through providing seminars in various places, tutoring, mentoring and encouragement."

Last year, Chris Pullenayegem was named the first director of the Leadership Exchange by the executive committee of the CRC's Board of Trustees. Before that, he worked as a church renewal and ministry specialist for CRC Home Missions.