DESCRIPTION: This is an introductory course on biblical, theological, and
practical matters in ecclesiology and leadership. The work of lay and clergy
leadership is explored in relationship to congregation formation, spiritual
formation, and mission formation. All participants in a church are to be formed
into an "interpretive community" that is engaged with God personally and
corporately in spiritual formation and in missional life. Working from a
praxis-theory-praxis perspective, the course will attend to topics as they are
integrated in a practical theology methodology.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Concepts: a practical theology
approach to the theological praxis of missional ecclesiology and leadership.
Skills: theological reflection and interpretive skills relevant to
congregational life & leadership. Conation: commitment and habits
fronting church development and redevelopment.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) Greater commitment to participating in congregational
life, worship, and mission. (2) Increased understanding of the tasks of
pastoral leadership. (3) Increased skills related to the work of a pastor. (4)
Increased clarity concerning one's own gifts and calling in relationship to
pastoral ministry.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet weekly (9 times) for 3-hour sessions, and
will include lectures, individual and group exercises, site visits, reflective
discussions of materials and experiences, and guest speakers. Each week
students and the professor will interact on Moodle concerning readings and
class presentations (minimum of 30 min/wk). Class will not meet on Jan 16 but
will meet on Mar 12 (during week 11).
REQUIRED READING: