DESCRIPTION:

This course focuses on the person of the pastor as a central organizing concept. We are created by God in our particularity as well as our common humanity, and the course will emphasize the importance of understanding both, and the implications of those understandings for ministry--
for how one does ministry, for living as a pastor, for serving in a specific church and denominational context. The second focus of the course is on the theological implications of these understandings, as applied to the practice of ministry. Students will be asked to participate in the process of theological reflection around each of the topics of the course.

The course is designed to encourage an integration of the personal, experiential, theological, and spiritual for the practice of ministry.

The class will meet weekly for a three-hour session. Class will be a combination of lecture/discussion and individual and small group exercises.

Herrington, Jim; Robert Creech; and Trisha Taylor. The Leader's Journey: Accepting the Call to Personal and Congregational Transformation. Jossey-Bass, 2003.

Howatch, Susan. Glittering Images. Random House, 1996.

Oswald, Roy. Clergy Self-Care: Finding a Balance for Effective Ministry. Alban Institute, 1991.

Friedman, Edwin. Generation to Generation. Guilford Press, 1985.

Hart, Archibald. Unmasking Male Depression. Word, 2003.

OR Hart-Weber, Catherine. Unveiling Depression in Women: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Overcoming Depression. Fleming H. Revell, 2002.

Rutter, Peter. Sex in the Forbidden Zone. Fawcett, 1991.

Tavris, Carol. Anger: The Misunderstood Emotion. Simon & Schuster, 1982.

Attendance and participation are required, two papers (4-6 pages and 8-12 pages) which apply course topics to student's specific ministry issues; occasional in-class projects. Grading is 40% class attendance/participation, 20% first paper and 40% second paper.

At least one year of ministry-related experience; at least one year of seminary. Highly recommended for senior year students.

Meets M. Div. core requirement in Pastoral Ministry and Theology (MIN 6).

None.