Course Description. Course Objectives

Transcription

1 CT 311-L Nurturing Our Call to Ministry Principles for Longevity Northern Seminary: Lawndale Winter 2016 Dr. Wayne Coach Gordon 4:00-6:40pm (773) ext. 113 Course Description This course will explore the means and methodologies to stay the course in ministry for a lifetime. Many people in ministry experience disappointment, discouragement, and burnout. The purpose of this course will be to study some of the key issues that arouse, discourage and detour people from staying and working in ministry. The purpose is to create patterns and habits that will carry the minister through the ups and downs of a lifetime in ministry and avoid burnout. Each student will study the traps and pitfalls that sabotage the pastor and often cause them to become disillusioned in ministry. It is the hope that every person in the class will be equipped to maintain a viable spiritual life that will carry them through a lifetime of service to Christ in His Kingdom. This course is uniquely designed to learn from others in ministry facing the same tensions and pressures. By discussion and oral presentations of fellow students each person will learn the principles of longevity first hand. Course Objectives Students will understand the possible entrapments and obstacles in daily pastoral ministry. Provide students with a Biblical framework and foundation for a long and prosperous ministry. Equip students to know themselves and their individual gifts, talents and strengths. Provide students opportunities for personal and practical interaction with current practitioners of pastoral ministry in order to learn about their practices and experiences related to longevity in ministry. Students will learn to recognize some of the signs of burnout and be equipped with action steps to avoid this experience and hindrance to vital life in ministry. The clear objective of this class is to prepare students be able to stay in the ministry that God has called them to for the long haul. 1

2 Course Requirements 1. Write one-two page critical and personal reflection on each book read for this class. Due on day of discussion. (10%) 2. Daily devotions that include, Bible reading, solitude, silence, journaling and prayer. A 3- page paper detailing and reflecting on this experience. (25%) 3. Taking online test to discover your strengths from the book titled Now Discover Your Strengths. Complete and bring a copy of five strengths to class on 1/20/2016 (10%) 4. One week assignment the week of January to discover what energizes you and what drains you. Bring to class on 2/3/2016 the results for discussion. (10%) 5. Project- Pick a struggle in ministry that you are already facing or that you might face in the future. 1. Read book on a subject (approved by the professor) and write a 3-page reflection paper. 2. Interview 3 pastors/christian workers on the subject. 3. Make a 15 minute oral presentation to the class discussing the problem and possible actions to avoid. (25%) 4. Submit that same oral presentation in writing with no more than 5-pages. Due on last day of class. (20%) Course Grading: See percentage next to course requirements Grading Scale: A = A- = B+ = B = B- = C+ = C = C- = D+ = D = D- = F = 59 and below Required Readings Buckingham, Marcus. Go Put Your Strengths to Work.. Free Press, (ISBN-13: ) $8.98 (267 pages) Entire Book to be read. ***Certificate students only read chapters 1-3 and the pages describing their five themes. 2

3 Buckingham, Marcus & Clifton, Donald. Now Discover your Strengths. Free Press,2001. (ISBN-13: ) $19.57 (272 pages) Entire Book to be read. McDonald, Gordon. Ordering Your Private World. Thomas Nelson Publishing, (ISBN-13: ) $13.68 (256 pages) *** Entire book to be read. McKenzie, Vashti. Not Without a Struggle: Leadership Development for African American Women in Ministry. United Church Press, (ISBN-13: ) $15.51 (134 pages) Entire Book to be read. Job, Reuben & Norman Shawchuck..A Guide to Prayer for Ministries and Other Servants. Upper Room Books, (ISBN-13: ) $15.55 (418 pages) *** Selected pages to be read. Certificate Requirements The requirements for certificate students are noted by ***. Also the written page expectation is cut in half. Class Sessions Each class session will present a combination of lecture, discussion and practical experience. 1/13/2016 Understanding my Call Deepening walk with God Solitude Silence Scripture Prayer Praise Journaling 1/20/2016 Understanding my talents and strengths How to utilize personal strengths Discuss Now Discover Your Strengths 1/27/2016 Bible Study that deepens our walk with Christ Nurture and growth Go put strengths to work exercise Discuss Go Put Your Strengths to Work 2/3/2016 Go over results from red cards and green cards 3

4 What energizes me? What drains me? Burdens and Burnout 2/10/2016 Living a holy and obedient life Accountability Dealing with boards and oversight 2/17/2016 The Sabbath Sabbaticals, study leave and time away Discuss Ordering Your Private World 2/24/2016 Parish ministry People struggle 3/2/2016 Integrity Family and ministry Confidentiality Sexual accountability 3/9/2016 Oral Presentations 3/16/2016 Oral Presentations POLICIES FOR ALL MASTERS CLASSES NOTE: All communications from the seminary will go to your seminary account. Contact ithelpdesk@seminary.edu if you need help forwarding your seminary address to your personal address. As a seminary community we hold integrity/hospitality as core values. Individuals are able to do their best work and thinking when their peers are fully present and engaged. We expect each person to both participate in class and carefully listen to others with the belief that everyone s 4

5 contribution is equally important. Therefore, the following policies have been established in order to provide clarity in regard to attendance expectations and relationships in the classroom. Diploma/Certificate Student Course Requirements The amount of work required of Diploma/Certificate students will be at the discretion of the professor. Students will be responsible for contacting the professor about what assignments are required. Class Attendance Policy It is expected that students will attend and participate in all class sessions. Failure to attend at least 80% of class sessions is grounds for automatic failure. A professor may set other attendance expectations. Students are always expected to communicate with a professor in advance if they will be absent. Attendance expectations are higher for online and intensive courses (see syllabus for specific requirements). Class Tardiness Policy The third time a student is late to the start of class, it will be counted as a class absence. It is also expected that students will return from a break by the time specified by the professor. Late Work Policy If a student cannot complete the work for a course by the due date listed on the syllabus, they must submit a Request for a Grade of Incomplete form to the Registrar by 4:30 of the last day of the term. The form must be signed by the instructor and Dean of Students. The professor may set stipulations and grade reductions. In the absence of a formal request form, the student will receive a grade based upon work completed by the last day of the term. Turabian Format All papers, including footnotes and bibliography, must be submitted in the correct format according to Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 8 th ed., Plagiarism Plagiarism is the act of passing off as one s own the words or ideas of someone else without providing proper acknowledgement or documentation. See the Academic Honesty Policy in the Seminary Catalog for more information on plagiarism and how to avoid it. Electronic Format Unless otherwise specified by the professor, all work submitted electronically must be in a Word document format (.doc,.docx). Technology Use in the Classroom Unless it is directly tied to note-taking or research for the class, students are expected to refrain from using cell phones, laptops, or other electronic devices during class. Course Evaluation in Moodle Students must complete an online course evaluation using the seminary Moodle system at The evaluation will be open at the end of the course. If you need assistance connecting to Moodle or accessing the evaluation, please send an to moodlehelp@seminary.edu. 5