Church and Ministry Courses Spring 2010

CHM506 — Spiritual Disciplines Seminar: Family Spirituality

This seminar explores spirituality in the context of the Christian family. Themes include biblical understandings of covenant, family, and faith; the nurture of children’s faith; spiritual disciplines for couples and families; the relationship of sexuality and spirituality; grief and loss; and the role of ritual in family life and the seasons of the Christian year
Instructor: Rachel Miller Jacobs   Course category: Spirituality

CHM511 — Foundations of Worship & Preaching

This course teaches students skills for preaching as well as planning and leading in congregational worship. Various actions and elements of wor-ship are studied. Students develop a working theology of congregational worship. Half of the course focuses on sermon preparation—moving from biblical exegesis to the steps of sermon delivery. Each student should enroll in a preaching lab.
Instructors: Rebecca Slough and Joni Sancken   Course category: Spirituality

CHM524 — Leading Transformational Change

This course will help students understand change processes within systems and organizations and develop the skills, behaviors, and attitudes necessary for leading transformational (as opposed to incremental) change in congregations and other church groups.
Instructor: Lois Barrett   Course category: Mission, Evangelism, and Intercultural Studies

CHM541— Christian Formation in the Congregation

This course on the ministry of Christian formation in congregational life examines two central questions: How is faith nurtured to maturity in the midst of congregational life? And how are leaders equipped to guide the congregation in its growth? Focusing on three essential and interrelated arenas of congregational life—worship, community, and mission—the course explores key biblical-theological foundations for Christian formation and introduces practical leadership tools for stimulating and nurturing growth in faith.
Instructors: Marlene Kropf   Course category: The Teaching Ministry of the Church

CHM546 — Faith Formation & Spirituality of Youth and Young Adults

Faith formation and spiritual maturation in youth and young adults are connected with both developmental capabilities and the congregation’s ability to nurture growth. This multi-disciplinary course focuses on developing an understanding of adolescent and young adult faith formation and descriptions of their spirituality in order to nurture Christian faith more effectively and authentically..
Instructor: Andy Brubacher Kaethler   Course category: Youth Ministry

CHM565 — Ensemble

The 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.
Instructor: Rebecca Slough   Course category: Spirituality

CHM621 — Pastoral Ministry & Leadership

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.
Instructor: David Miller   Course category: Spirituality

CHM641 — Youth Ministry Practicum

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.
Instructor: Andy Brubacher Kaethler   Course category: Youth Ministry

CHM682 — Teaching Practicum

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.
Instructor: Daniel Schipani   Course category: The Teaching Ministry of the Church

CHM684 — Pastoral Counseling Practicum: Advanced Theory & Practice

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.
Instructor: Daniel Schipani   Course category: Pastoral Care and Counseling

CHM685 — Mission / Evangelization Practicum

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.
Instructor: Walter Sawatsky   Course category: Mission, Evangelism, and Intercultural Studies

CHM687 — Ministry in Church and World

This is a two-semester experientially based learning program in the middler year of study. The purpose of the course is to provide students with the opportunity to develop their pastoral identities and to refine their ministering skills in the context of the Christian congregation. Students will spend eight to ten hours per week in active congregational ministry, leading worship, preaching, teaching, evangelizing, and providing pastoral care. They will be supervised in the congregation, by a campus-based peer group, and by a faculty supervisor.
Instructors: David Miller   Course category: Spirituality

CHM689 — Supervised Ministry Experience

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.
Instructors: David Miller   Course category: Supervised Experience

CHM690 — Worship Practicum

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. This practicum is required for all students in the MACF: Worship Concentration.
Instructors: Rebecca Slough   Course category: Worship and Preaching