Spring 2013/Houston

PM507

Self

PM507: THE EQUIPPING PASTOR. David Self.

DESCRIPTION: As the church and culture are in a state of transition, so is the role of pastor. The ministry of the whole people of God remains a goal of pastoral leadership, and ways of reflecting, planning and working toward that goal are the substance of this course.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: How one understands the role of pastor in leading a congregation is crucial for both pastor and congregation. For pastors, the formation of their theological identity goes hand-in-hand with the development of skills in equipping their congregations.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will (1) have gained a clearer understanding of the biblical roles of pastor and laity and how they complement each other in building healthy churches; (2) be better equipped on how to widen ministry participation in the church, (3) learn practical skills in team building and other skills related to the pastoral ministry, (4) develop a practical theological model of reflection on and initiating change in the practice of ministry.

COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet once a week for discussion, group interaction, and lecture.

REQUIRED READING:

Anderson, Ray. Ministry on the Fireline. IVP, 1993. 0960263888. $15.60. (235 pp).

Bonem, Mike and Furr, James and Herrington, Jim. Leading Congregational Change (workbook), Jassop-Boss, 2000. 0787948853. $13.45. (128 pp).

Branson, Mark Lau, Memories, Hopes, and Conversations: Appreciative Inquiry and Congregational Change. Albans Institute, 2004. 1566992885. $18.00. (156 pp.).

Collins, Jim. Good to Great and the Social Sectors, HarperCollins, 2005. 0977326403. $9.56. (monograph; 42 pp.).

Gibbs, Eddie. ChurchNext: Quantum Changes in How We Do Ministry, IVP, 2001. 0830822615 . $10.88. (260 pp).

Kotter, John. Leading Change. HBS Press, 1996. 0875847471. $18.45. (186 pp).

Self, David. Church Work Rules!, Crossbooks, 2011, 2011924315, $9.95 (84 pp).

RECOMMENDED READING:

Anderson, Leith. A Church for the 21st Century. 1556612311. $3.44. Bethany, 1992.

Guder, Darrell, ed. Missional Church. Eerdmans, 1998. 0802843506. $18.48

Hammett, Edward H. Making the Church Work, Smyth & Helwys, 1997. 157312320X. $13.80.

Hestenes, Roberta. Turning Committees into Communities. NavPress, 1991. 0891093028. $4.99.

Malphurs, Aubrey. Pouring New Wine into Old Wineskins. Baker, 1993. 0801063019. $6.11.

Mead, Loren. The Once and Future Church. The Alban Institute, 1991. 1566990505. $12.00.

Ogden, Greg. Discipleship Essentials. InterVarsity Press, 1998. 0830810870. $11.56.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Regular attendance and participation in all aspects of the course. 10%

  2. Completion of a spiritual gifts assessment and personality inventory. In conversation with Anderson, Kotter, and Gibbs, write a paper describing your sense of pastoral identity and ways in which you intend to develop a method to reflect theologically on your ministry experience in order to implement personal and systemic change (8 pp.). 30%

  3. In conversation with Bonem, Furr and Herrington, and Collins, and in light of assignment #2, define a new project for implementation in your congregation, draw up a plan for identifying and equipping members to lead the project, and describe how you will evaluate it theologically and practically. (8 pp.). 30%

  4. In conversation with Branson and other class readings and discussion, write a case study from your ministry experience utilizing change principles and identifying fundamental theological issues at work (8 pp.). 30%

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets Min 1 core requirement for M.Div. MA elective.


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.