Dr. Robert Martin

United Methodist Church (UMC), Ordained Elder

Discipline or Specialty

Congregational Leadership is a point of integration by which the mission, purpose, and entire curriculum of theological education meets its ultimate intention: to build up the Body of Christ by preparing leadership for churches. Leadership is not only exercised by individuals but also by faith communities and other ecclesial groups as they live out the Gospel in witness to and transformation of the world. As a professor in congregational leadership, I am concerned to assist both lay and clerical students to develop personal capacities for leadership, to identify, cultivate, and promote leadership in their communities of faith, and, above all, to exercise ecclesial leadership as a mode of enthusiastic yet humble discipleship.

Representative Courses Taught

Recent Publications

"Being in Youth Ministry: The Imperative of Incarnational Leadership," in Loving God, Loving Neighbor: Ministry with Seaching Youth, Sondra Matthaei, ed. (Philadelphia: XLibris Press, 2008).

"Leadership and Serendipitous Discipleship: A Case Study of Congregational Transformation," in Redemptive Transformation in Practical Theology: Essays in Honor of James E. Loder Jr., Dana R. Wright and John D. Kuentzel, eds. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishers, 2004).

"'Mind the Gap:' Closing the Distance Between Theological Method, Theological Education, and Practical Theology for Religious Leadership" and "Dwelling in the Divine Life: The Transformative Dimension of Leadership and Practical Theology," Journal of Religious Leadership 3:1-2 (Spring/Fall 2004).

"Education and the Liturgical Life of the Church," Religious Education Vol. 98, No. 1 (Winter 2003).

"Encountering God in the Image of Christ: Iconic Leadership," Journal of Religious LeadershipVol.1, No. 2 (Fall 2002), 83-100.