DESCRIPTION:

This course is a practical, hands-on approach to the use of artistic expression in pastoral care giving contexts. The integration of Christian use of the arts and rituals in spiritual practices and the use of expressive arts in various therapeutic environments will be explored. Participants will learn to incorporate music, movement, drama, visual arts, story-telling and writing into healing experiences. The focus is not technical skill or mastery, but exploring the dynamics of the creative engagement and healing in relationship to God, others and self. These integrative explorations will be grounded in theological, biblical and psychological foundations regarding the use of the arts in both spiritual and therapeutic practice.

The course provides a theological and psychological integrative foundation for use of the creative arts in various healing contexts for pastors, pastoral counselors, and church leaders. Through first-hand experience of using creative arts for self-exploration, participants will synthesize their personal experience with academic learning.

An interactive class, including lectures, small group work, experiential exercises and practical training. The development of skills and use of creative arts for self-exploration is integral to the course. Students are asked to be prepared for "hands-on" work and to provide appropriate materials for some of the course activities. The class will meet weekly for a three-hour session.

Gire, Ken. Windows of the Soul: Experiencing God in New Ways. Zondervan, 1996.

Viladesau, Richard. Theology and the Arts: Encountering God through Music, Art and Rhetoric. Paulist Press, 2000.

Willimon, William H. Worship as Pastoral Care. Abingdon, 1979.

Course Reader.

Adams, Doug and Diane Apostolos-Cappadona, eds. Dance as Religious Studies. Crossroad, 1990.

Cameron, Julia. The Artist's Way. 10th ed. New York: JP Tarcher, 2002.

Coleman, Earle J. Creativity and Spirituality: Bonds between Art and Religion. State University of New York Press, 1998.

DeSalvo, Louise. Writing as a Way of Healing. Boston: Beacon Press, 2000.

Dyrness, William A. Visual Faith: Art, Theology and Worship in Dialogue. Baker, 2001.

Malchiodi, Cathy A. The Art Therapy Sourcebook. Los Angeles: Lowell House, 1998.

Stairs, Jean. Listening for the Soul: Pastoral Care and Spiritual Direction. Fortress, 2000.

(1) Class attendance (students missing more than two class sessions will not receive a passing grade) and preparation for and participation in all class activities (25%). (2) Reading of 1000 pages (15%). (3) Daily Journal to be documented every two weeks (20%). (4) Individual or joint project using some aspect of the creative arts for healing in a ministry or counseling setting--topics to be mutually agreed between student(s) and professor (40%).

Projects will be presented in class for the last several class periods including the final examination week. Outline and bibliography of project/paper to be shared with all class members.