Jesse C. Swanigan Scholars
The Swanigan Scholars program is a one year, educational fellowship program designed to nurture and support women and men of color in order that they might obtain mid-council executive leadership education in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
All costs associated with the program will be covered by the Synod of Mid-America.
The Swanigan Scholars program is named for Ruling Elder Jesse C. Swanigan, longtime commissioner to the SoMA from the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy. In 2014, Mr. Swanigan served the SoMA as it's Moderator. Mr. Swanigan has also served the broader church as President and Treasurer of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus.
Program Details
An announcement will be made when the new cycle of the Cohort will meet in 2024.
Session 1: The Identity of a Leader
Transformed leaders transform systems. Scholars will explore their own identity as leaders, including their natural personality tendencies and default leadership styles.
Session 2: Identifying Systems and Cultures
Scholars will explore the interrelated nature of organizational systems, the role a leader plays in a system, and how a leader's personality impacts a system's functioning.
Session 3: Developing a Theology and Praxis of Leadership
Scholars will write and present an in-depth case study for group discussion. The session will culminate with students writing an action plan for future leadership, including a description of their personal understanding of leadership.
Session 4: Catalyzing and Managing Change
Scholars will learn frameworks for instigating and shepherding a change process, while synthesizing lessons learned in previous sessions
Application