Fall 2017/Fuller Online

PM504

Poit

PM504: PASTORAL MINISTRY (4 Units: 160 hours). James C. Poit.

DESCRIPTION: PM504 is a survey of pastoral ministry, focusing on the ideas, skills, and personal development necessary for a student to learn various aspects of pastoral care. This is not a course in pastoral counseling. The course prepares students to give care both in congregational contexts and in contexts that go beyond the congregation (e.g. nonprofit organizations).

LEARNING OUTCOMES: After successful completion of this course, students will be able to (1) describe pastoral care in the context of church life and ministry including pastoral triage; (2) demonstrate a sense of empathy and active listening skills; (3) reflect upon the practice of self-care and develop a plan for self-development; (4) demonstrate skills for theological reflection on the praxis of pastoral ministry; and (5) will have completed an approved online course in mandated reporting.

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.

REQUIRED READING: ~1250 pages

I. Read All:

Barnes, Craig. The Pastor as Minor Poet: Texts and Subtexts in the Ministerial Life. Eerdmans, 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. Eerdmans, 2014. ISBN: 978-0802871435, Pub. Price $14.00 [183 pp.].

Packard, Josh, and Ashleigh Hope. Church Refugees: Sociologists Reveal Why People are Done with Church but not Their Faith. Group Publishing, Inc., 2015. ISBN: 978-1470725921, Pub. Price $14.99 [143 pp.].

Peterson, Eugene. Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work. Eerdmans, 1992. ISBN: 978-0802806604, Pub. Price $21.00 [251 pp.].

Willimon, William. Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry. Abingdon Press, 2016. ISBN: 978-1501804908, Pub. Price $29.99. [392 pp.].

II. Read One:

Bolz-Weber, Nadia. Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint. Jericho Books, 2013. ISBN: 978-1455527083, Pub. Price $16.00 [224 pp.]. OR

Daniel, Lillian. When “Spiritual but Not Religious” is Not Enough: Seeing God in Surprising Places, Even the Church. Jericho Books, 2014. ISBN: 978-1455523092, Pub. Price $16.00 [224 pp.]. OR

Daniel, Lillian and Martin B Copenhaver. This Odd and Wondrous Calling: The Public and Private Lives of Two Ministers. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009. ISBN: 978-0802864758, Pub. Price $16.00 [254 pp.].

III. Read One:

Lartey, Emmanuel Y. Pastoral Theology in an Intercultural World. Wipf & Stock, 2013. ISBN: 978-1620329733, Pub Price $22.00 [174 pp.]. OR

Montilla, R. Esteban. Pastoral Care And Counseling With Latino/as. Fortress Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-0800638207, Pub. Price $17.00 [164 pp.]. OR

Wimberly, Edward P. African American Pastoral Care: Revised Edition. Abingdon, 2008. ISBN: 978-0687649495, Pub. Price $18.99 [151 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Anderson, Ray S. The Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering Ministry with Theological Praxis. IVP Academic, 2001. ISBN: 978-0830815593, Pub. Price $27.00.

_________. Ministry on the Fireline: A Practical Theology for an Empowered Church. Fuller Seminary, 1998. ISBN: 978-0960263882, Pub. Price $15.00.

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

Brown, Warren S. and Brad D. Strawn. The Physical Nature of Christian Life: Neuroscience, Psychology, and the Church. Cambridge University Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0521734219, Pub. Price $28.99.

Cooper-White, Pamela. Shared Wisdom. Augsburg Books, 2004. ISBN: 978-0800634544, Pub. Price $25.00.

Hammam, Jaco J. Becoming a Pastor: Forming Self and Soul for Ministry. Pilgrim Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-0829819960, Pub. Price $22.00.

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

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.

Patton, John. Pastoral Care: An Essential Guide. Abingdon Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0687053223, Pub. Price $19.99.

Scazzero, Peter. The Emotionally Healthy Church: A Strategy for Discipleship That Actually Changes Lives. Zondervan, 2010. ISBN: 978-0310293354, Pub. Price $18.99.

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

Willimon, William. Worship as Pastoral Care. Abingdon Press, 1982. ISBN: 978-0687463886, Pub. Price $25.99.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Participate in 20 instructional hours via video lectures, reading and responding to online articles, online research, etc. Write 250-word weekly forum posts and 250-word weekly forum responses (15% of the grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2, #3, #4]. [40 hours]

2. Write a 1000-word autobiographical paper that connects the student’s upbringing with their practice of pastoral ministry. This paper will also include a section on practices for self-care (20% of the grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2, #3, #4] [8 hours].

3. Write a 750-word report on an interview with a pastor related to matters of call and congregational care (20% of the grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2, #3, #4] [6 hours].

4. Write a 2,500-word paper (30%) Students will write a theologically reflective essay responding to a case, its context, and options for pastoral praxis.  [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 3, and 4] [30 hours].

5. Engage in spiritual formation practices throughout the quarter (10% of the grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3] [10 hours].

6. Complete the online trainings for mandated reporting (5% of the grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #5] [5 hours].

7. Complete 1250 pages of reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #3, #4] [62 hours].

8. Complete exercise in active listening. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2].

PREREQUISITES: IS500 and IS502 are highly recommended but not required.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the PM requirement in the MDiv Program (2017). Option to meet the PC requirement in the 120 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.