Fall 2019/Fuller Online

WS519

Eldridge

WS519: WORSHIP MINISTRY AND THE SEASONS OF LIFE (4 Units: 160 Hours). Dr. Michael Eldridge.

---

DESCRIPTION: This course will explore the theory and practice of pastoral ministry. It will do so through the five-fold pattern of pastoral care as outlined by Eugene Peterson, but will focus in particular on how this is done through corporate worship and pastoral rites. To do so, this course will explore both the practical and theoretical dimensions of worship leadership. It will examine issues relating to the planning and implementing of worship on the feasts, fasts, and other commemorations of a church’s calendar across various Christian traditions. It will also explore the creation and use of pastoral rites throughout the life cycle. This course will focus on ways Christian worship can be adjusted and adapted to specific times in the life of a church and the life of its people. Special attention will be paid both to ecclesial tradition and the particular context of a congregation.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: After successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

(1) identify and describe pastoral care in the context of church life and ministry in particular liturgical ministry through a calendar year and the life cycle;

(2) demonstrate an understanding of the pastoral dimensions of liturgical ministry in pastoral rites;

(3) reflect upon the practice of self-care and create a plan for self-development;

(4) articulate and apply a praxis-theory-praxis methodology for pastoral and liturgical ministry; and

(5) will have completed an approved online course in mandated reporting.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will introduce students to one or more strategies for culturally and contextually appropriate pastoral ministry, in particularly through the worship ministry of the local church or institutional chaplaincy, which is consistent with the SOT/SIS PLO “Students will have demonstrated capacities to cultivate a theologically reflective practice of Christian discipleship.” (MDiv, MAT, MATM, MAICS). The emphasis on self-care this course provides introduction to the related outcome the students will “(d)esign a set of practices that embody and sustain God’s call. This course will also contribute to the outcome “Students will have demonstrated capacities for being theologically reflective practitioners for Christian ministries.” (MDiv, MATM).

COURSE FORMAT: This course meets ten weeks online for a total of 40 instructional hours. Student 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. Fuller’s learning management system for all online courses is CANVAS.

REQUIRED READING: 1135 pp. required.

Course Reader. Found on eReserves though CANVAS. Occasionally a reading will be found directly on the CANVAS page for that week.

Anderson, Herbert, and Edward Foley. Mighty Stories, Dangerous Rituals. Fortress Press, 2019. ISBN: 978-1506454795, Pub. Price $18.99 (Kindle $15.03). Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [187 pp. assigned]

Caccamo, James, Todd Johnson, and Lester Ruth. Living Worship. Brazos Press, 2010. Available through CANVAS for this course.

Jones, Kirk Byron. Rest in the Storm: Self-Care Strategies for Clergy and Other Caregivers. Judson Press, 2001. ISBN:978-0817013936. Pub. Price $11.81 (Kindle $8.49). [126 pp. assigned]

Peterson, Eugene. Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work. Eerdmanns, 1992. ISBN: 978-0802806604, Pub. Price $16.15 (Kindle $9.99). [240 pp. assigned]

Smith, Susan M. Caring Liturgies: The Pastoral Power of Christian Ritual. Fortress Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0800697365, Pub. Price $18.00 (Kindle $9.99). Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [138 pp. assigned]

Stookey, Lawrence. Calendar: Christ’s Time in the Church. Abingdon, 1996. ISBN: 978-0687011360, Pub. Price $23.99. [136 pp. assigned]

Westerhoff, J. H., and W. H. Willimon. Liturgy and Learning Through the Life Cycle. OSL Publications, 1994. ISBN: 978-1878009210 (there may be a newer edition available when course begins) Pub. Price $14.95. [158 pp. assigned]

A book of worship and/or a minister’s manual that could be used in the student’s tradition.

Students will choose one book from the following choices:

Lartey, Emmanuel Y. Pastoral Theology in an Intercultural World. Wipf & Stock, 2013. ISBN: 978-1620329733, Pub. Price $22.00. [150 pp.]

OR

Montilla, R. Esteban. Pastoral Care And Counseling With Latino/as. Fortress Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-0800638207 Pub. Price $16.00 (Kindle $10.99). [160 pp.]

OR

Wimberly, Edward P. African American Pastoral Care: Revised Edition. Abingdon, 2008. ISBN: 978-0687649495, Pub. Price $19.99 [151 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Bradshaw, Paul. Two Ways of Praying. OSL Publications, 2008.

Chilton, Bruce. Redeeming Time. Baker Academic, 2002.

Evans, Abigail. Healing Liturgies for the Seasons of Life. Westminster John Knox, 2004.

Hynes, Mary Ellen. Companion to the Calendar. LTP, 1993.

Macy, Gary and Bernard Cooke. Christian Symbol and Ritual: An Introduction. Oxford, 2005.

Willimon, William. Worship as Pastoral Care. Abingdon Press, 1982.

ASSIGNMENTS & ASSESSMENT:

(1) Completion of assigned readings, participation in our class discussions and on-line class activities including making a weekly post of a question or comment about the material being presented that week (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4]. [10 hours lecture + 65 hours (1135 pages) reading + 15 hours viewing (LIVING WORSHIP) = 90 hours].

(2) Develop a plan for and engage in spiritual practices and self-care throughout the quarter (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [10 hours].

(3) Complete a group exercise in active listening. This will demonstrate the capacity to be an active listener in a pastoral conversation. A two-page reflection paper will be submitted to complete the requirement for this assignment. [5%]. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [10 hours].

(4) Write a 500-word assessment of the “culture” of Ravenswood Church and the appropriate pastoral and liturgical approaches to caring for that community. Offer a 250-word response to a classmate’s post. (5%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 1, 2, 4.] [4 hours].

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

(6) Write a 500-word reflection on your elective book on pastoral ministry and culture. Write a 250-word response from the perspective of the book you read. (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-4]. [3 hours].

(7) Plan worship services and pastoral rites in response to case studies given in class. The students will submit three of these: Palm Sunday, the first Sunday in Christmas, an initiation rite for mother and child, a wedding, or a funeral. At least one worship service and one pastoral rite must be submitted. (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2 and 4]. [20 hours].

(8) Write a 500-word reflection on the theories and practices of Christian Initiation in your tradition evaluating them in terms of pastoral efficacy. Write a 250-word response to a fellow student comparing your tradition to the tradition you are responding to. (5%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 1, 2, 4.] [3 hours].

(9) After visiting a funeral home, interviewing a funeral director about how their ministry interfaces with the pastoral care of pastors, as well reviewing the “show room” of the funeral home, write a 500-word reflection on how ministry at the time of death interfaces with the funeral industry and the theological, liturgical, and pastoral implications of that relationship. Post a 250-word response to one other student comparing their experience and conclusions to yours. (5%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 1, 2, 4.] [5 hours].

(10) Signature Assignment: Plan a pastoral rite for a specific person/family/community. In a 2,500-word essay, the student will give reasons for her or his choices and will be graded on both the pastoral and theoretical dimension of their work using the signature assignment rubric for Pastoral Ministry. (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 4]. [10 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the PC or PM requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets 144 MDiv core requirement in General Ministry & Spirituality (MIN 1).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.