Spring 2005/Southern California
Three weekend intensive
DP500
Kors
DP500: REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA POLITY. Cornelis Kors.
DESCRIPTION:
- The course is designed to give students preparing for ordination in
the Reformed Church in America a knowledge of the polity and governmental
practices of the RCA; an understanding of leadership in the reformed tradition;
and skills in church administration. The course will prepare students for
leadership in the local congregation and provide the information to
successfully complete the classis examination in governance and The Book of
Church Order.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- All ministers in the Reformed Church in America are expected to
have a working knowledge of the governance of the denomination in order to
administer effectively in the local church and within the structures of the
RCA.
COURSE FORMAT:
- The course will meet at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove
(Robert Schuller Center, Room 400) on three weekends (April 15-16, 29-30, and
May 20-21) with sessions on Friday evenings and all day Saturday. The course
will include lectures, case studies and discussion. A number of hours will also
be added by web-enhancement through our Cyber Learning Labs course management
software. As appropriate, denominational executives will be invited to
participate in the class. Major denominational issues, as presented in The
Church Herald and The Minutes of the General Synod will be dealt
with.
REQUIRED READING:
- The Book of Church Order. Reformed Church in America, latest
edition.
- Crumroy, Otto; Stan Kukawka, and Frank Witman. Church Administration and
Finance Manual: Resources for Leading the Local Church. Morehouse,
1998.
- DePree, Max. Called to Serve. Eerdmans, 2001.
- Janssen, Allan J. Constitutional Theology. Eerdmans, 2000.
- Meeter, Daniel. Meeting Each Other. Eerdmans, 1993.
- Robert's Rules of Order. Current edition.
- Tidwell, Charles A. Church Administration: Effective Leadership for
Ministry. Broadman & Holman, 1985.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Regular reading assignments in The Book of Church Order,
Minutes of the General Synod, and related materials, with book reports (20% of
final grade). Case studies will be utilized for written responses and class
discussion (40%), a Church Administration Project (20%) will be due at the end
of the quarter, and there will be a take-home written final examination
(20%).
PREREQUISITES:
- None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
- Meets the MDiv core requirement in Pastoral Ministry and Theology
(MIN 6). RCA Certificate of Fitness requirement.
FINAL EXAMINATION:
- Take-home written examination.