How to Lead a Non-Profit Organization Well

Tyndale University offers specialized DMin program to equip Christian leaders for Non-Profit Organizational Leadership

By Tyndale Communications  /  Thursday, April 22, 2021

Three students conversing outdoors

Starting in 2022, students can enroll in a new Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program focused on leading Christian non-profit organizations.

The DMin Leadership Track with a Concentration in Non-Profit Organizational Leadership will help students:

  • Address unique issues encountered by Christian leaders in non-profit organizations
  • Explore strategic development and performance measurements
  • Nurture a constituency with a compelling public, biblically grounded narrative
  • Use strategic planning to move beyond a “good idea” to implementation and execution
  • Explore foundational theoretical, practical and theological understandings with regard to organizational health
  • Encourage organizational imagination
  • Build strategies for organizational leadership
  • Gain insight to improve and transform organizational systems
  • Nurture skills to help leaders work effectively with a Board, staff and key stakeholders
  • Manage financial health, human resources and strategic growth
  • Create plans of action for addressing organizational and strategic challenges

Led by faculty who have had direct experience in non-profit leadership, the concentration is designed for students presently leading or moving into leadership at a Christian non-profit organization. Resource Leaders for this concentration are drawn from effective and successful NGO, business and ministry situations.

“There is currently a lack of resources to address the unique challenges facing leaders of Christian organizations today, and typically, seminaries have not equipped people for this level of managerial leadership. In this program, students will learn from a roster of experienced, knowledgeable instructors and from each other as they develop best practices and action plans that they can apply directly to their work in not-for-profit organizations.”

— Dr. Michael Krause

Instructors and resource leaders include:

Dr. Rupen Das

Dr. Rupen Das

Dr. Rupen Das, Executive Director of the Canadian Bible Society (CBS) since January 2018. Rupen has senior management experience both in Canada and internationally. He came to the CBS after a secondment with Canadian Baptist Ministries in Lebanon and Europe, and he was involved not only in the development and management of humanitarian response for refugees but also in theological education.

Dr. Gary Nelson

Dr. Gary Nelson

Dr. Gary Nelson, former President and Vice Chancellor of Tyndale University from 2010 to 2020. Before 2010, Gary served in various pastoral roles and as General Secretary of the Canadian Baptist Ministries. Gary is committed to helping organizations optimize their abilities and impact their local communities. His teaching and speaking have taken him around the world, focusing on themes of Missional Living as the church, urban missiology and innovative leadership in changing times.

Rev. Dr. John Pellowe

Rev. Dr. John Pellowe

Rev. Dr. John Pellowe, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities since 2003. The Council provides support services and education to more than 3300 member-registered charities. John has studied governance for non-profits at both Harvard Business School and the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Business. John’s publications include: The Church at Work: A manual for excellent church-agency relations; Serving as a Board Member; Stewardship Handbook for Christian Ministries Volume 1; and The Board’s Most Important Relationship.