DESCRIPTION:

This course will explore the practical areas of ministry in the local church. Students will examine the call to become a pastor and the disciplines sustaining that call, the theological nature of pastoral ministry, and the practical tasks of the pastoral ministry. Emphasis will be placed on the changing nature of culture and new ecclesial paradigms for the church. Subjects to be covered include:

• A theology of ministry (call, ordination, gift, and role);

• The missional nature of the church;

• The church as a worshipping community;

• Word and sacrament as shapers of the church;

• The business of the church: budgets, buildings, and bodies;

• Pastoral and congregational care;

• Pastoral leadership roles in the local congregation;

• Empowering the laity for ministry in and through the church;

• Ministry beyond the local congregation.

This core course in the Ministry Division is recommended for students who are pursuing a call to become a pastor or staff member in a local congregation. We will study biblical material and practical examples of life, ministry, and conflict in the church. Learning outcomes include a deeper appreciation of and hopefulness for the local church; a passion for engagement of church and world; a renewed sense of call to pastoral ministry; and new skills for serving the church in the pastoral role.

Classroom learning activities will include lectures, discussion of biblical texts, fieldwork, and analyses of assigned reading. Students will be evaluated not only on their written work, but also on their participation in classroom discussions. The class will meet once a week for three-hours.

Callahan, Kennon L. Effective Church Leadership. Harper & Row, 1990.

Easum, William M. and Thomas G. Bandy. Growing Spiritual Redwoods. Abingdon, 1997.

Frost, Michael and Alan Hirsch. The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st-Century Church. Hendrickson, 2003.

McLaren, Brian. A New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey. Jossey-Bass, 2001.

Willimon, William H. Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry. Abingdon, 2002.

1. Complete all assigned readings (10% of class grade).

2. Attendance in class is expected (10%).

3. Prepare an evaluation form for worship services and evaluate 3 diverse worship services (5 pp.) (10%).

4. Prepare an order of worship for the following: funeral service, wedding celebration, and communion service (15%).

5. Engage in and then write about a cultural immersion activity (3 pages) (10%).

6. View and write a reflection paper on Chocolat or Saved! (3 pages) (10%).

7. Write theological reflection on personal pastoral theology (10 pages) (25%).

8. Interview a pastor about the nature of pastoral ministry (3 pages) (10%).

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