DESCRIPTION:

The course seeks to develop an understanding in the students of the nature and forms of ministry. It will address a theology of church and ministry, and the practical areas of ministry, from the perspective of the Latino church.

The course will encourage the student to develop a solid theological foundation for church and ministry and to develop pastoral tools for ministry in the Latino community, according to the following objectives:

1. Reflect on the pastoral role in the life of the church.

2. Analyze the relationship between ecclesiology and the pastoral model.

3. Understand the practical and legal implications of being a pastor.

4. Develop a personal pastoral theology.

5. Prepare practical materials for pastoral ministry.

The course will be organized around class presentations, discussions, group activities and analysis of the required readings. Student participation will be part of the final evaluation. The class will meet twice a week for ninety-minute sessions.

Barrientos, Alberto. Principios y alternativas del trabajo pastoral. Miami: Editorial Caribe, 1989.

Castro, Emilio. Hacia una pastoral latinoamericana. Costa Rica: INDEF, 1974.

Driver, Juan. Imágenes de una iglesia en misión. Guatemala: Ediciones Semilla, 1998.

__________. "Los ministros en un pueblo de sacerdotes," pp. 42-55, en Contra corriente. Guatemala: Ediciones Semilla, 1998.

Figueroa, Inés. El proceso administrativo en la iglesia. Miami: Caribe, 1999.

Floristán, Casiano. Teología práctica. España: Ediciones Sígueme, 1998.

Manual de ministros/Ministers' Manual. (Use one from your own tradition.)

1. Interview a pastor from a tradition different from that of the student, asking the person about his/her vision of ministry, his/her call and her/his understanding of the pastor's role in the life of the church. (3-5 pages)

2. Develop a series of 4-6 sermons on the concept of a missional church using one of the biblical images of a church in mission presented in Driver (Imágenes de una iglesia ...).

3. Develop a program for each of the following special church activities: child presentations, baptisms, communion services, quinceañeras, weddings, and funerals.

4. Write a personal pastoral theology. How do I understand pastoral work and my role as a pastor in the Latino North American setting? Should include an understanding of ordination. (8-10 pages)

5. Analyze your church's liturgy using the format presented in class.

Spanish.

Meets the M.Div. Core requirement in Pastoral Ministry and Theology (MIN6).