Church and Ministry Courses (Spring 2012)

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.

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.

Foundations of Worship and Preaching (CHM511)

Four hours — Rebecca Slough and Allan Rudy-Froese
This course teaches students skills for preaching as well as planning and leading in congregational worship. Various actions and elements of worship 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 participates in a preaching and worship lab.

Turnaround Strategies for Churches (CHM527E online)

Three hours — Gerald Shenk
Churches must change, in order to be vital and continue to grow, but change is often feared or resisted.  Many of today’s seminary graduates will minister and participate in congregations that are not currently in the peak stages of vitality.  This course examines dynamics of church renewal, with strategies for change that seek to be true to the Gospel and to the congregational context.  Effective leaders will discern forward-facing choices, cherish resources of the heritage and respond to current real needs.  The course pays special attention to rural and small churches.  Student research will be guided to examine cases of effective church revitalization.  As an online course, we also anticipate that participant will bring a diverse range of local cultural contexts into review and reflection, using the vantage of current ministry challenges as opportunities for scrutiny and discernment.

Mennonite Polity Colloquium (CHM536)

One hour — Janeen Bertsche Johnson
This colloquium focuses on the structure, organizations, governance, foundational 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.

Principles of Youth Ministry (CHM544) - Cancelled

Three hours — Andy Brubacher Kaethler
This class will explore seven key aspects of ministry with youth. Attention will be given to the emergence and state of youth ministry; navigating between relationships and programs; spiritual, moral, and confessional growth within stages of development; critical reflection and nonaccommodating engagement with media, culture, and society; leadership development; and self-care and spiritual health for the adult who ministers with youth.

Issues in Youth Ministry (CHM548) - Cancelled

One hour
A short study on an “issue in youth ministry,” offered on a weekend or other concentrated schedule. This course may be repeated up to seven times (with different issues) in the MDiv program.

Thinking Mission—An Introduction (CHM551) - Cancelled

Three hours — Walter Sawatsky
Based on the assumption that Christianity is by nature missional, and that mission and church history should not be separated, this course seeks to show that thinking seriously about holistic mission entails the classic disciplines of biblical studies, history, theology, and the social and practical sciences. Half of the course will be devoted to the history of mission and the history of mission thinking. Readings (and some case studies) will focus on major missiologists who worked in one of those disciplines. Special attention will be given to the place of mission in Anabaptist-Mennonite life and thought outside of North America.

Primal and Folk Religion and New Religious Movements (CHM554) - Cancelled

Three hours — James Krabill
A study of primal and folk religious institutions and worldviews, with attention to rituals, spirits, ancestors, magic, divination, shamanism, and other phenomena. The course also examines new religious movements, including their causes and characteristics. The course includes a field trip. Avenues for effective Christian interaction and witness are explored.

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.

Understanding the Church’s Contexts (CHM569) - Cancelled

Three hours — Lois Barrett
This course assumes an intrinsic and positive relationship between spirituality and active peacemaking. This relationship will be explored through encounters with people who have connected spirituality with social engagement, through theological reflection and discussion, and through the practice of spiritual disciplines.

Christian Spirituality and Peacemaking (CHM608)

Three hours — Ted Koontz     Cross-listed with HTE652
This course assumes an intrinsic and positive relationship between spirituality and active peacemaking. This relationship will be explored through encounters with people who have connected spirituality with social engagement, through theological reflection and discussion, and through the practice of spiritual disciplines.

Pastoral Ministry and Leadership (CHM621)

Three hours — David B. 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.

Pastoral Counseling and Theology (CHM635)

Three hours — Daniel Schipani
This course focuses on pastoral counseling as a ministry of the church and as a special setting for practical theology. It considers the practical questions of content, goals, and process in pastoral counseling aimed at discernment and guidance, nurture and support, and reconciliation and healing. Special attention is given to the task of integrating theological and psychological perspectives. Prerequisites: Human Development and Christian Formation, and Principles of Pastoral Care.

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 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.

Mission/Evangelization 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)

Two hours each semester — 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, 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)

Three 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 for every three credit hours. Ministry 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.