Summer 2015/Fuller Online

PM559

Baker

PM559: FUNDAMENTALS OF CHAPLAINCY (4 Units: 160 hours). Alan T. Baker.

DESCRIPTION: This course provides an overview of the nature and history of institutional ministry, including the chaplaincy’s identity, purpose, and functional roles. You will examine the biblical and theological foundations of a ministry of presence, which often comprises the core of chaplaincy ministry. You also will review the various types of chaplaincy and explore the commonalities, distinctives and expectations of military, health care, public safety, correctional, sports, campus and disaster relief chaplains. Additionally, the course will develop a professional comprehensive range of biblical-theological knowledge, skills and abilities for ministry leadership in chaplaincy. Supplemental areas of expertise will be introduced at a basic level focusing on specialized skills in pastoral, caregiver and emotional/spiritual support for a chaplain. The emphasis is to develop a basic understanding of how chaplaincy impacts organizations with the Gospel message in military, institutional and organizational communities.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will: (1) logically communicate a Christ centered theology of chaplaincy based on Biblical-theological principles and engage in theological reflection on the praxis of pastoral care; (2) clearly articulate the nature of chaplaincy ministry with respect to its origin (history), identity, purpose, and expectations for leadership; (3) define calling, nature, character of chaplaincy, chaplains as ministry professionals, ministry of presence, servant leadership and visionary leadership; (4) define and explain pastoral care in chaplaincy and develop an understanding of pastoral care to individuals, families, and institutions in the contexts of worship, community life, and daily chaplaincy routines; (5) know and explain the constitutional and legal mandates governing chaplaincy and understand the rules of mandated reporting; (6) define and explain the chaplain as the moral conscience of the institution/organization and empathize with people to whom you minister; (7) define and become more committed to self-development, chaplain self care, personal boundaries, and safety issues; (8) identify, define, describe and understand specific affinity areas of chaplaincy as it pertains to culture, customs, ethos, setting, and education and training requirements.

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning. The class will include lectures, and small group discussions. Faculty will provide short video segments along with related reading content for certain aspects of the course. Each of these modules would include (a) a video portion where the professor discussed the key issues, (b) a set of readings that covered the chaplaincy and psychological issues, the pastoral issues, and the theological issues, and (c) a case study to which the students would respond.

REQUIRED READING:1,081 total number of pages required.

Barnes, Craig. The Pastor as Minor Poet: Texts and Subtexts in the Ministerial Life. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2008. ISBN: 978-0802829627, Pub. Price $20.00 [154 pp.].

DeGroat, Chuck. Toughest People to Love: How to Understand, Lead and Love the Difficult People in Your Life. Wm. B. Eerdmans Co., 2014. ISBN 978-0802871435, Pub. Price $14.00 [183 pp.].

MacDonald, Gordon. Building Below the Waterline: Shoring Up the Foundations of Leadership. Hendrickson Publishing, 2011. ISBN: 978-1598566697, Pub. Price $21.95 [250 pp.].

Nouwen, Henri. In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership. The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1989. ISBN: 978-0824512590, Pub. Price $14.95 [107 pp.].

Paget, Naomi K. and McCormack, Janet R. The Work of the Chaplain. Judson Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-0817014995, Pub. Price $12.00 [136 pp.].

Peterson, Eugene. Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1992. ISBN 978-0802806604, Pub. Price $20.00 [251 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Bergen, Doris L. The Sword of the Lord: Military Chaplains from the First to the Twenty-First Century. University of Notre Dame Press, 2004. ISBN: 978-0268021764, Pub. Price $18.00 [298 pp.].

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together. HarperOne, 2009. ISBN: 978-0060608521, Pub Price $14.00.

Crick, Robert. Outside the Gates: The Need for Theology, History, and Practice of Chaplaincy Ministries. Higherlife Publishing, 2011. ISBN: 978-1935245575, Pub. Price $16.99 [230 pp.].

Gibbs, Eddie. The Journey of Ministry: Insights from a Life of Practice. IVP Books, 2012. ISBN: 978-0830837915, Pub. Price $15.00.

Lee, Cameron and Kurt Fredrickson. That Their Work Will Be a Joy: Understanding and Coping with the Challenges of Pastoral Ministry. Wipf & Stock, 2012. ISBN: 978-1608997626, Pub. Price $31.00.

Nouwen, Henri. In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership. Crossroad Publishing, 1992. ISBN: 978-0824512590, Pub. Price $14.95.

_________. Wounded Healer. Image Books, 1979. ISBN: 978-0385148030, Pub. Price $12.99.

Patterson, Kerry. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High. McGraw Hill, 2012. ISBN: 978-0071771320, Pub. Price $18.00 [244 pp.].

Peterson, Eugene. The Pastor: A Memoir. HarperOne, 2011. ISBN: 978-0061988219, Pub. Price $17.00.

_________. Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness. Eerdmans,

1994. ISBN: 978-0802808486, Pub Price $20.00.

Stone, Charles. People-Pleasing Pastors: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Approval-Motivated Leadership. IVP Books, 2012. ISBN: 978-0830841097, Pub. Price $16.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Instructional hours (video lectures). [20 hours].

  2. 1,081 pages of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-5] [63 hours].

  3. Online weekly forum posts and interaction: Opening post (250 words) and two response posts (150 words/each) (25% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 2,4,5] [27 hours total].

  4. Students are required to submit three book reviews selecting three books from the textbook list of required reading. 2 pages, 500-words per each book review – (25% of grade) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 5,8] [9 hours total].

  5. Theology of Chaplaincy research paper: 8 pages, 2000-words (25% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1,6,7] [20 hours total].

  6. Interview Integration & Reflections paper: 8 pages, 2000-words (25% of grade: 12.5% research and 12.5% reflections & integration). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 3,4,6,7] [21 hours total].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective. Meets a requirement in the Military Chaplaincy Area of Emphasis. Option to meet the PC requirement in the 120 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.

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