Fall 2013/Pasadena

PM503

Fredrickson

PM503: PASTORAL THEOLOGY. Kurt Fredrickson.

DESCRIPTION: This course will explore the practical areas of ministry in the local church. Students will examine the call to become a pastor and the disciplines sustaining that call, the theological nature of pastoral ministry, and the practical tasks of the pastoral ministry. Emphasis will be placed on the changing nature of culture and new ecclesial paradigms for the church. Subjects to be covered include the following: a theology of the church and ministry, pastoral identity, the missional nature of the local congregation, the church as a worshipping community, church practices, the business of church: budgets, buildings, and bodies, pastoral and congregational care, pastoral leadership roles in the local congregation, empowering the laity for ministry in and through the church, ministry beyond the local congregation, and change and renewal of the church.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: This core course in the Ministry Division is recommended for students who are pursuing a call to become a pastor or staff member in a local congregation. We will study biblical material and practical examples of life, ministry, and conflict in the church.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: After successful completion of this course, students will demonstrate (1) a deeper appreciation of and hopefulness for the local church; (2) a passion for engagement of church and world; (3) a renewed sense of call to pastoral ministry; and (4) new skills for serving the church in the pastoral role.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet weekly for three-and-a-half hour sessions.Classroom learning activities will include lectures, guest lecturers, discussion of biblical texts, fieldwork, small group discussions, and analyses of assigned reading. Students will be evaluated not only on their written work, but also on their participation in classroom discussions.

REQUIRED READING:

Daniel, Lillian, and Martin B. Copenhaver. This Odd and Wondrous Calling: The Public and Private Lives of Two Ministers. Eerdmans, 2009. ISBN: 978-0802864758, Pub. Price $16.00 [254 pp.].

Lee, Cameron and Kurt Fredrickson. That Their Work Will Be a Joy: Understanding and Coping with the Challenges of Pastoral Ministry. Wipf & Stock, 2012. ISBN: 978-1608997626, Pub. Price $31.00

[264 pp.].

Roxburgh, Alan, and Fred Romanuk. The Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World. Jossey-Bass, 2006. ISBN: 978-0787983253, Pub. Price $23.95 [240 pp.].

Willimon, William. Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry. Abingdon Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0687045327, Pub. Price $29.00 [392 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together. HarperOne, 2009. ISBN: 978-0060608521 Pub Price $14.00 [128 pp.].

Daniels, Lillian. When “Spiritual but Not Religious” Is Not Enough: Seeing God in Surprising Places, Even the Church. Jericho Books, 2013. ISBN: 978-1455523085 Pub. Price $20.00 [224 pp.].

Eclov, Lee. Pastoral Graces: Reflections on the Care of Souls. Moody Publishers, 2012. ISBN: 978-0802405678 Pub. Price $14.00 [176 pp.].

Gibbs, Eddie. They Journey of Ministry: Insights from a Life of Practice. IVP Books, 2012. ISBN: 978-0830837915 Pub Price $15.00 [182 pp.].

Hansen, David. The Art of Pastoring: Ministry Without All the Answers. IVP Books, 2012. ISBN: 978-0830841042 Pub. Price $16.00 [224 pp.].

Neuhaus, Richard. Freedom for Ministry. Eerdmans, 1993. ISBN: 978-0802806222 Pub. Price $27.50

[271 pp.].

Nouwen, Henri. In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership. Crossroad Publishing, 1992. ISBN: 978-0824512590, Pub. Price $14.95 [107 pp.].

Osterhaus, James P. Thriving through Ministry Conflict: A Parable on How Resistance Can Be Your Ally. Zondervan, 2009. ISBN: 978-0310324669 Pub. Price $17.00 [160 pp.].

Peterson, Eugene. The Pastor: A Memoir. HarperOne, 2011. ISBN: 978-0061988219, Pub. Price $17.00 [336 pp.].

Peterson, Eugene. Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness. Eerdmans, 1994. ISBN: 978-0802808486. Pub Price $20.00 [206 pp.].

Rohrer, David. The Sacred Wilderness of Pastoral Ministry: Preparing a People for the Presence of the Lord. IVP Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0830838240 Pub. Price $15.00 [180 pp.].

Taylor, Barbara Brown. Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith. HarperOne, 2007. ISBN: 978-0060872632, Pub. Price $14.99 [272 pp.].

Weborg, C. John. Made Healthy in Ministry for Ministry. Pickwick Publications, 2011. ISBN: 978-1608998630 Pub Price $17.00 [134 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Students will write a 750-word paper analyzing a church’s worship service (20%).

  2. Students will attend and participate in class, and through online interactions (15%).

  3. Students will write an order of service for: a baptism, the Lord’s Supper, a wedding, and a funeral (25%).

  4. Students will write a 2500-word paper developing their theology of vocational ministry, and personal ministry practices and self-care (40%).

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Pastoral Ministry and Theology (MIN 6), or the requirement in Ministry Foundations (MIN F) for other master’s degrees.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.


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.