Winter 2011/Pasadena
DP505
Cortés-Fuentes
DP505: POLÍTICA Y ADORACIÓN PRESBITERIANA [Presbyterian Polity
and Worship].
David Cortés-Fuentes.
DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to give students preparing for ordination
in the Presbyterian Church (USA) a thorough knowledge of the polity of the
PCUSA as contained in its Constitution. The course will assist students
preparing for the Standard Ordination Examinations in Polity and Worship. Time
will also be spent covering the basics of parliamentary procedure as used in
the PCUSA.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: A working understanding of Presbyterian
polity is required for ordination in the Presbyterian Church (USA). The
knowledge and role of the government and polity of the church is integral to
one's functioning effectively as an ordained Presbyterian minister both in the
local congregation and throughout the governing bodies of the church. This
course is designed to enable the students to identify polity issues and become
aware of the implications of polity for one's decisions and functioning in the
life of the church.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: There are four objectives for the course in Presbyterian
polity: (1) students will gain an increased appreciation of the polity of the
Presbyterian Church (USA). (2) Students will be introduced to and familiarized
with the common dilemmas of pastoral ministry and as a result be able to
conduct their own ministries in accordance with Presbyterian law. (3) Students
completing this course will gain an understanding of Presbyterian law in the
larger context of the Great Ends of the Church. (4) Students upon
completion of this course will be able to pass their ordination exam in
Presbyterian Church (USA) polity.
COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet once each week for three-hour sessions for
lectures, presentations, and group discussions of case studies related to the
life and polity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
REQUIRED READING:
- Iglesia Presbiteriana (USA). Libro de Adoración.
ISBN: 978-0-664-50241-6; price $11.20. Available at http://store.pcusa.org/9780664502416?sc=9&category=5769.
- Iglesia Presbiteriona (USA). La Constitución de la Iglesia
Presbiteriana (USA), Parte II: El libro de Orden 2009-2011. Available (free
of charge) as a PDF
at http://oga.pcusa.org/constitution.htm.
- Stake, Donald W. Manual sobre la adoración para oficiales y
líderes de la Iglesia. Presbyterian Publishing House, 1990. (ISBN
and price not currently available.)
- Gray, Joan S., and Joyce C. Tucker. Presbyterian Polity for Church
Officers. 3rd ed. Westminster John Knox, 1999. ISBN: 0-664-50018-8; Amazon
price: $13.57.
- Wolfe, Marianne L. Procesos parlamentarios en la Iglesia Presbiteriana
(E.U.A.). Available (free of charge)
at http://www.pc-biz.org/Resource.aspx or can be ordered from the General
Assembly Office.
- Polity Course Syllabus and Reader.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
- Regular reading assignments and readiness to discuss in class the course
syllabus case studies.
- Regular attendance in order to participate in assigned teams which prepare
and present case studies to the class.
- Three presentations designed to apply the Constitution to congregational
and relevant church settings
- Great Ends team assignment
- An objective type midterm exam (similar to the Standard Ordination Exams)
given at the end of the first week.
- Essay question, open-book final exam, given in class to simulate the
Standard Ordination Exam in Polity.
PREREQUISITES: Spanish.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: MDiv core requirement in Pastoral Ministry &
Theology (MIN 6).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes. Essay questions, open-book.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (corrected November 15, 2010)