Church and Ministry Courses (Fall 2011)

Mission Colloquium (CHM529)

One hour — Walter Sawatsky
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.)

The Gospel and Western Culture (CHM525)

Two hours — David Miller
Modern culture has pushed religion to the margins. This course will survey the main features of modern culture and explore what is involved in approaching this culture from a missionary perspective. The cross-cultural missions model will be used as a starting point in thinking missiologically about the encounter between the gospel and contemporary culture.

Pastoral Care Case Colloquium (CHM528)

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. Pastoral ministers of both Indiana-Michigan and Central District conferences will be especially invited to make case presentations. Students in the MDiv PCC concentration will have priority registering for this colloquim, followed by those enrolled in the Pastoral Ministry (formerly "Primary") Program. Pre-requisite: a Pastoral Care course or having had supervised pastoral ministry experience, or permission from the professor.

Human Development and Christian Formation (CHM531)

Three hours —Andy Brubacher Kaethler and TBA
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.

Principles of Pastoral Care (CHM532)

Three hours — Daniel Schipani
This course begins with a biblical and historical survey of pastoral care. It explores theory and practice and encourages students to develop their own theological understandings of this field and a model of pastoral care. Pastoral care is considered in various circumstances and contexts. Attention is paid to communication and listening skills, interpersonal relationships, helping relationships, and interventions that facilitate healing and growth.

Teaching the Bible in the Congregation (CHM547)

Three hours — Mary Schertz and Daniel Schipani   Cross-listed with BIB505
In this course, students 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.

Mennonites in Mission (CHM560)

Three hours — Walter Sawatsky   Cross listed with HTE511
This course seeks to offer comparative historical surveys, to familiarize the student with the best accessible bibliography, plus present a missiological analysis of the phases or stages of development of mission theory. It will necessarily have a stronger focus on the north American work of Mennonites and Brethren in Christ, including MCC and the smaller conferences, but will also devote units to comparing and contrasting Russian and west European Mennonite mission and service programs, and ending with the issues and vision for the newly established Global Mission Council of Mennonite World Conference.

Ensemble (CHM565)

One hour — Rebecca Slough
Ensemble is open to any person related to the seminary community who wishes to increase his or her skill and enjoyment of group singing. Regular attendance at Ensemble rehearsals is expected along with openness to sing a wide variety of musical styles.

Missional Preaching: Weaving the pastoral and the prophetic (CHM618)

Three hours — Allan Rudy-Froese
In this course students will develop a critical appreciation of the similarities and differences between pastoral and prophetic preaching. Missional preaching will be explored as a novel way of weaving the pastoral and the prophetic in the context of God’s reconciling mission. Ancillary subjects treated throughout this class include postmodernism, ecclesiology, sermon form and pastoral identity. The latter weeks of the course will be devoted to student sermons. Prerequisite: Foundations of Worship and Preaching.

Conflict, Communication, and Conciliation (CHM633)

Three hours — TBA
This course explores approaches to conflict management and conciliation skills from the perspective of communication theory and the dynamics of interpersonal and intra-group conflict. Training in basic mediation skills is included.

Supervised Practicum in Youth Ministry (CHM641)

Three hours — Andy Brubacher Kaethler
This supervised experience-based learning occurs in a youth ministry assignment involving 400 hours of work and reflection. The focus will be on developing skills for youth ministry while reflecting theologically on one’s pastoral identity and interventions. Attention will also be given to refining and integrating one’s theology of youth ministry. Students and supervisors will refer to the Youth Ministry Practicum Handbook. Prerequisites: two of Principles of Youth Ministry, Faith Formation and Spirituality of Youth and Young Adults, or Pastoral Care of Youth and Young Adults. Additionally for MDiv students, Ministry in Church and World is a prerequisite.

Teaching Practicum (CHM682)

Two hours each semester — Daniel Schipani
Congregational settings, such as Sunday school, youth programs, and Bible studies, as well as institutional settings, such as a Christian school or the Goshen College Department of Bible and Religion will be used as the context for supervised teaching ministries. In supervised sessions, teaching experiences will be evaluated by the learners, supervisors, and seminary peers. Hermeneutical, pedagogical, and other issues arising from individual learning objectives or emerging in the actual teaching experiences will be discussed. Prerequisite: Christian Formation in the Congregation, or another teaching ministry course.

Pastoral Counseling Practicum: Advanced Theory & 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.

Mission/Evangelism Practicum (CHM685)

Three to six hours — Walter Sawatsky
This practicum may be carried out in a congregational setting in North America or abroad. Students will be under the supervision of the director of the Mission Studies Center or mission professor and of a senior colleague on site. A reflective journal will be shared with both the Elkhart and field supervisors. Students will be responsible to give to and receive counsel from leaders in churches where they are serving.

Spiritual Guidance Practicum (CHM686)

Three to six hours — Marlene Kropf
The first semester concentrates on literature, understanding the church context of this ministry, and initial steps in providing guidance. The second semester concentrates on supervised practice. 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.

Ministry in Church and World (CHM687)

Three hours each semester — David B. Miller and Allan Rudy-Froese
This is a two-semester internship in the second year of study. Its purpose is to provide students with the opportunity to develop their ministerial identities and to refine their ministering skills in the context of the Christian congregation or community ministry. Students will spend eight to ten hours per week in active ministry, leading worship, preaching, teaching, evangelizing, and providing pastoral care in the congregation, or in activities of the ministry agency in which they work. They will be supervised in the congregation or at the ministry site, by a campus-based peer group and by a faculty supervisor.

Supervised Ministry Experience (CHM689)

Up to twelve hours — David B. Miller
This program provides opportunity for a supervised internship in a congregational or other ministry setting. In the ministry context, the student will explore and develop the range of his or her ministering skills and gifts. The period of time will normally be an intensive three-month summer or an extended seven or eight months, with the option of an entire calendar year. Students will spend approximately 400 hours in this internship. Ministry in Church and World is strongly recommended as a prerequisite.

Worship Practicum (CHM690)

Two hours each semester — TBA
Over the course of two semesters, students gain supervised experience in worship planning, leadership, and evaluation in a congregational or specialized ministry setting. They are expected to create learning goals appropriate for their level of experience and ministry site, receive regular supervision from a qualified pastor or worship leader, meet regularly with a practicum group or faculty supervisor, and complete written assignments reflecting on readings and/or specific ministry experiences. Prerequisite: Foundations of Worship and Preaching.