Fall Church and Ministry courses at AMBS
Spiritual Practices Seminar: Voice and Identity CHM564
Occasional — Two credit hours — Allan Rudy-Froese
Building students’ confidence in their voices will be the main focus of this course. Through various exercises and activities, students will practice good vocal health, explore the range of their voices, and experiment with using their voices in various settings. The connection between voice, identity, and Christian vocation will be considered throughout the course.
Pastoral Care Case Colloquium CHM528
Annual — One hour per semester — Daniel Schipani
The course is designed as a setting for presentation and analysis of pastoral care situations in the manner of “case consultation.” The focus of the case can be a personal, family, or congregational crisis, or counseling challenges such as those related to loss, conflict, discernment, and guidance. Special attention is given to enhancing both caregiving skills and pastoral-theological reflection. Students in the MDiv PCC concentration will have priority registering for this colloquium, followed by those enrolled in the Pastoral Ministry Program. Prerequisite: a Pastoral Care course or having had supervised pastoral ministry experience, or permission from the professor.
Mission Colloquium CHM529
Each semester — One hour — Ted Koontz
An informal setting open to members of the AMBS community interested in working through intercultural issues. The agenda is set by the participants with emphasis in the Fall on the overseas setting, and in Spring on the North American setting. Students must register to receive credit, but students
may attend without registering. (This colloquium may run jointly with the Peace Colloquium.)
Human Development and Christian Formation (on campus and online) CHM531 and 531E
Annual — Three hours — Andy Brubacher Kaethler and Rachel Miller Jacobs
This foundational course focuses on (1) understanding human development and spiritual formation in an interdisciplinary perspective, (2) exploring the role of spiritual disciplines in fostering spiritual growth, (3) reflecting theologically on spiritual formation and human development, and (4) considering the implications of spiritual formation and human development for oneself and for one’s ministry with others.
Mennonite Polity Colloquium CHM536
Biennial — One hour — Janeen Bertsche Johnson
This colloquium focuses on the structure, organizations, governance, found-ational documents, vision and goals, decision-making processes, leadership, and identity markers of Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA. Special attention will be given to the integration process (1995–2001) and recent developments, as well as to the relationship of area conferences and churches to the denominations.
Teaching the Bible in the Congregation CHM547
Biennial — Three hours — Mary Schertz & Rachel Miller Jacobs
Cross-listed with BIB505
In this course, participants will explore the role and function of teaching Scripture in the congregation. Issues include assessment of current approaches to and congregational attitudes toward the Bible; the real or perceived gap between scholarship and the church; effective teaching modules for various congregational settings; biblical illiteracy and biblical irrelevancy; and the role of the pastor and other congregational educators in teaching the Bible. This class is for those who want to nurture spiritual maturity by helping a congregation encounter the Living Word both informationally and formationally.
Spiritual Practices Seminar: Intentional Living in an Age of Diversions CHM599
Occasional — Two hours — Andy Brubacher Kaethler
Intentional Christian living requires regular practices of worship and prayer, fellowship and hospitality, work and reflection, Sabbath and rest, and holy play, practices which bring us into communion with God, into community with each other and into solidarity with creation. The 17th century French mathematician, philosopher and theologian Blaise Pascal lamented that much of modern human activity is diversionary, the figurative and literal turning of our gaze from God the Creator, from fellow creatures, and from creation. This course seeks to reclaim focused living by developing a pattern for daily life modeled after the life and practices of Jesus Christ. The course requires commitment to daily Christian practices, moderate reading and writing, and weekly group reflection.
CHM621 and CHM622 run consecutively. To register for both courses, consult the registrar’s office.
Christian Leadership in the 21st Century CHM621
Annual — Two or Three hours — David Miller
This course gives major attention to leadership dimensions of pastoral ministry. Participants will explore such themes as theology of ministry, leadership models, the person of the pastor, spirituality of ministry, pastoral/priestly role in worship, the mission of the church, congregational dynamics, and pastoral ethics.
Understanding and Managing Congregational Conflict CHM622
Annual — One hour — David Miller
Conflict is a characteristic dynamic of all human associations including the church. Skillful, transformative leadership can provide the insight and guidance essential to making situations of conflict opportunities for growth and learning rather than division and alienation. This course seeks to equip participants for such leadership through understanding their own conflict response and style, understanding congregations as cultures and emotional systems with identifiable conflict styles, and developing communication and conflict management skills.
CHM621 and CHM622 run consecutively. To register for both courses, consult the registrar’s office.
Pastoral Counseling Practicum: Advanced Theory and Practice CHM684
Three hours each semester — Daniel Schipani
This practicum provides opportunity for the practice of pastoral counseling under supervision and to further connect theory with experience. Students engage in the ministry of counseling by drawing on insights from the field of psychotherapy as they relate to pastoral care and by giving special attention to the unique resources of the gospel and the church for guidance, support, and healing. Theory and practice are integrated through focusing on particular problems, such as crises, loss, and abuse, and by learning specific counseling methods. Prerequisites: Human Development and Christian Formation; Principles of Pastoral Care; Religious and Psychological Assessment; and Pastoral Counseling and Theology.
Church and Ministry Practica CHM694
Two hours — Rachel Miller Jacobs
Over one or two semesters, students will gain supervised experience in worship, teaching, or faith formation in congregational, school, or specialized ministry settings. They will create learning goals appropriate for their level of experience and ministry site; receive regular supervision from a qualified pastor, teacher, or other supervisor; meet regularly with the faculty supervisor and an interdisciplinary practicum group; and complete written assignments reflecting on readings and/or specific ministry experiences. One semester involves 265 hours of work, which includes supervision and practicum group meetings. The course may be taken twice.
Spiritual Guidance Practicum CHM686
Biennial — Two hours each semester — Daniel Schrock
The first semester concentrates on the literature of spiritual guidance and initial steps in providing guidance. The second semester concentrates on supervised practice. Issues considered along the way include discerning the presence of God in multiple contexts, connecting guidance to the mission of God, shaping guidance in various ecclesial and ethnic contexts, and offering guidance across the adult lifespan. Prerequisites: Human Development and Christian Formation; a pastoral counseling course; a spiritual disciplines course or seminar; active local church involvement; regular practice of spiritual disciplines; experience in receiving spiritual direction for at least a year; and instructor’s permission. Other recommended prerequisite courses: Psalms; History of Christian Spirituality.
