Pastoral Leadership Conference: Meet Robert!
Greetings Co-Workers in Christ
We are excited about planning the Pastoral Leadership Conference for July 2027 and wanted to introduce you all to the team! Today, we meet Dr. Robert McManus, our co-host for the conference planned for Muskingum University July 21-23, 2027.
Some of you may remember Robert from our 2025 workshop series on Leadership (you can find the two workshops here and here). And you can find his bio at the end of the article.
Robert’s scholarship focuses on two connected areas: leadership and ethics, and leadership and culture. One of Robert’s scholarly passions is “exploring how leadership is understood across cultures.” Currently, Robert’s energy is “devoted to developing the next generation of leadership practitioners and scholars through the programs I direct at Muskingum University: the Doctor of Organizational Leadership, Master of Organizational Leadership, and Master of Business Administration.”
I asked Robert, “What is your favorite or most rewarding achievement?” And he responded, “It’s funny! You’re the second or third person to ask me that in the past few weeks I think that it's a sign that I'm aging!” Robert is incredibly proud of the publishing of two of his books, but states, “But when I think about what has been most rewarding, I come back to my students.” Robert shares “We recently had our first doctoral student at Muskingum successfully defend his dissertation. He was also my student as an undergraduate 20 years ago, so seeing how much he has grown was especially meaningful.” Thinking back to similar stories of students who have grown to be, “thoughtful, generous, and kind people who contribute to their world,” Robert feels being a part of the lives of his students is his greatest achievement.
Robert is especially excited about co-hosting the Pastoral Leadership Conference with the Synod of the Covenant for, “Muskingum University has a rich history in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) tradition. As the University has grown and welcomed a broader community, it can be easy to lose sight of that history. This partnership gives the Synod and Muskingum an opportunity to reconnect with their shared roots and build a future.” Robert is excited to share his passion for leadership to help meet every day, practical challenges. Rober observes that “Many people are doing good work and care deeply about those they serve, but good intentions alone do not always lead to the outcomes they hope for. Training can give leaders a shared language and useful tools to help them work toward their goals.”
We are so grateful to have a thoughtful, kind, and generous co-host with Dr. McManus! The Assembly this October will give final approval of this conference at their meeting at the end of the month, so if you have any feedback, please share it with me before October 28. Thank you!
“Peace to you. The friends send you their greetings. Greet the friends there, each by name”
3 John 15
Tim Pollock
CRE Coordinator of the Synod of the Covenant
740-624-2351
Bio: Robert M. McManus, Ph.D., is the lead editor and author of Ethical Leadership: A Primer and co-author of Understanding Leadership: An Arts and Humanities Perspective. An award-winning professor and scholar specializing in leadership, he serves as Executive Director of Graduate Business and Organizational Leadership at Muskingum University. At Muskingum, he helped establish the Doctor of Organizational Leadership, Master of Organizational Leadership, and Master of Business Administration programs. He previously served as a faculty member and dean at the McDonough Center for Leadership and Business at Marietta College. A member of the International Leadership Association, McManus has travelled and led trips internationally to study the topic of leadership. He is also an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coaching Federation. He holds a Ph.D., an MBA, and a bachelor’s degree in communication.
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