Practice of Christian Ministries Syllabus

Transcription

1 Practice of Christian Ministries Syllabus I. General Information Course Title: Practice of Christian Ministries Class Schedule: Monday 6:00 p.m. 10 p.m. Lecture Hours: 4 Credit Hours: 3 Quarter: Spring Phone: tom913@hotmail.com Instructor: Professor Tom Zile II. Text Books Toler, S., (2011). Practical Guide for Pastoral Ministry Real Help for Real Pastors. Indianapolis: Indiana. Wesleyan Publishing House. ISBN 13: Wright, H.N. (2006) Recovering from Losses in Life. Michigan: Grand Rapids. Baker Publishing Group. ISBN 13: III. Course Description This course is the teaching of practical skills used in the ministry of the church. The course will consist of reading the text books as well as other materials provided by the instructor. The student will be asked to do a written assignment weekly. As a general guide, students should devote about 6 hours per week to this course, i.e. about an hour a day. Students who work steadily for an hour or so each day on this course should have no difficulty in getting a good grade. Students who make a habit of leaving the week s work for an overnighter on Friday s will probably not do very well. Those who have difficulty keeping to an orderly routine of study, or who lack selfdiscipline when faced with conflicting priorities, will probably have some difficulty with this class. IV. Objectives of the Course To enable the student: 1. To gain an understanding of the skills needed to be successful in ministry. 2. To understand how to conduct a funeral. 3. To understand how to conduct a wedding. 4. To understand how to make a hospital call. 5. To understand the importance of the call into ministry and integrity. 6. To understand the importance of keeping a balance in ministry and life. 7. To have a general understanding of what ministry is all about. 1

2 V. Student Expectations Students area expected to read both texts as assigned by the syllabus, to be present at each class, and to complete the assigned homework. VI. Academic Dishonesty Will not be tolerated. The penalty for a breach of academic integrity will be a grade of F for the course. For the purposes of this class, plagiarism will be defined as: Turning in someone else s work as your own Copying word or ideas from someone else without giving credit Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit Copying so many word or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not. If a student is found to have plagiarized material in a written assignment, the following consequences will occur 1. The student will fail the assignment and redo it for no grade. 2. The students name will be shared with the NMDC director and with the credentials board. 3. If the student has another incident in this class or any other class, it will result in the loss of credit for the coursework. 4. The second incident will also be reported to the credentials board and may affect the students licensing as a minister. VII. Instructor Contact Information The instructor is available to meet with any student regarding any matter, The instructor will be available before or after class upon request, and at other times by appointment. Students may contact the instructor by phone. Home phone: , or cell phone: , texts are also accepted. You may to: tom913@hotmail.com. VIII. Student Evaluation Students in this course will be evaluated by the University's standard grading system. You should refer to the University Catalog for further details. The criteria for determining that grade will be as follows: 1. (35%) Completion of assigned exercises and reading (see Student Assignments for exact assignments). 2. (25%) Participation in class discussion and group activities. The criteria will be the quantity and quality of the contribution to the group. 3. (40%) Take Home Final. Take Home Finals are due one week after the last class. Any Take Home Final late will result in a major penalty on the grade for this paper. 2

3 IX. Take Home Final Each student must complete a Take Home Final. Students may use any material from any source while developing the Take Home Final, but every word (unless expressly quoted with appropriate credits given) must be that of the student submitting the paper. Students will write a page reaction paper on H. Norman Wright s, Recovering from Losses in Life. Baker Publishing Group, (ISBN ). The paper must demonstrate comprehension of the content and must be written in APA format. Students will do more than simply rewrite or quote what the author has written. Reactions should be an analysis of the material (what makes it helpful or not) plus an evaluation (criticisms of the book, both positive and negative). Other course materials can be used to compare and contrast Wright s book. The Take Home Final is to be submitted in typewritten (word-processing), doublespaced form on one side of white paper. A cover sheet should indicate the student's name, course number, instructor's name and the date submitted. Answer the following thoroughly. 1. What material is new to the reader? 2. What questions that you have are left unanswered? 3. What suggestions would you make to Dr. Wright to strengthen his book? 4. How does the material fit (or not fit) with your theology? 5. Based on the Toler book s focus on communication, how can you use the healing of losses in your own life to minister to others? GRADING EXPLANATION The Take Home Final will be graded on the following criteria: 1. 5% for submitting the paper on time. The student will lose 1% a day for being late % for correct spelling and proper grammar % for style. Is the paper double-spaced, typewritten, on one side of the sheet, on white paper? Is there a cover sheet with pertinent information? 4. 30% for demonstrating knowledge of the book % for the quality of responses to questions 1, 2 and 3 above % for theological reflections (question 4). X. Anticipated Schedule of Class Work June 1 st 1. Read Toler, pages Write a questionnaire with 20 questions that you may have about pastoral ministry. Interview 2 pastors using one copy of the questionnaire for each pastor as your guide. Write responses directly on the questionnaires. The questionnaire must include at least 3 or 4 questions from each of the 3

4 following topics: 1. Personal Growth, 2. Family Life, 3. Ministry, 4. Leadership, and 5. Coaching and Communication. Upon completion of the 2 interviews, write a 1-page reaction paper about the interviews. The 2 questionnaires and 1-page reaction paper will be turned for the first class. Points will be deducted if not completed. 3. Read pages of H. Norman Wright s book. 4. Complete the Personality Profile. Make 2 copies of the result sheet one to be turned in and one to keep for class discussion. Go to: and take the test. June 8 th 1. Read: Toler, Be prepared to discuss the material. 2. Written assignment #1 to be submitted: Students will answer the following: 1. How do you feel about unexpected guests? 2. What would you do if an important parishioner criticized the way you care for your home? 3. How would you react to an unexpected parsonage inspection by a church committee? 4. What would you do about parishioners who want your time during family activities and events? 5. What would you do if you caught someone peaking into your closet or snooping through you dresser drawers? 6. Would you be willing to talk to a parishioner during a TV show that you really wanted to watch? 7. If you were provided a parsonage and it was poorly maintained by the church, would you tell the church leaders about it? 8. If your child wanted to go to a friend s home to spend the night and he/she missed the youth group activity, how would you handle a criticism about the way that you handle your family? 3. Written assignment #2 to be turned in: Students will list emotional and psychological boundaries that they currently have and rate their effectiveness on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being healthy or effective. Include each of the following: time alone, eating regularly, number of hours of sleep, number of close friends, hobbies, exercise, time with friends, time with family, number of hours of work, number of hours invested in education per week, ability to say no to people who want your time when you do not have time to give, and turning off the cell phone while eating with the family. Be prepared to discuss. 4. Written assignment #3 to be turned in: Students will find a Credit Card Payment Calculator online and determine how much interest a person pays to a credit card company for a debt of $5,000. How long will it take 4

5 to pay off this debt? Also, list three things that you would do with the total interest money if you were handed a check for that amount now. Be prepared to discuss this. It is to be submitted for credit. Also, look up the Principle of 72 and describe it. (How long does it take to double a person s money at different interest rates?) Be prepared to discuss this in class. 5. Identify and write down the names of 3 people who have affirmed you at some point in your life. Type at least a paragraph about each one on the way that they affirmed you. Give an example of each. Bring to class for discussion. It is to be submitted for credit. 6. List (write down) at least 5 things that irritate you when you are trying to talk with someone about something that is important. Bring the list with you to class for discussion. It is to be submitted for credit. 7. Read approximately 40 to 50 pages from H. Norman Wright s book for the Take Home Final. June 15 th Read: Toler, pages Interview two funeral directors and ask them what advice they would give a beginning pastor. Ask about problems that they have had with pastors as well as examples of good pastoral care. Write a 2 to 3 page reflection paper (double-spaced) and submit for credit. Write a funeral sermon that is to be submitted for credit. Include the text, a 3-point sermon that relates directly to the text. Have one example for each of the 3 points. The sermon should offer comfort and hope. Conclude with a brief prayer. Read approximately 40 to 50 pages from H. Norman Wright s book for the Take Home Final. The paper is due one week after the last class. June 22 nd Read: Toler, Read: From the New Testament, read the book of Titus and write a 2-page reaction paper to Paul s admonition to this pastor. What were the key points that Paul was stressing to Titus about pastoral ministry. Write and submit: Identify 3 to 5 people that you consider as true leaders, regardless of their job status. With each person, list all the obvious traits that you see in these individuals. Students are encouraged to read approximately 40 to 50 pages from Wright s text. The Take Home Final is due on the Week Five of class. June 29 th Reading: Toler, Pages including the Afterward Be prepared for a quiz over the 3-Ds of organizing one s work. Be able to explain them adequately (more than a one or two word answer). 5

6 Students will submit a sermon outline. The student will identify a text, identify three points that are to be addressed and for each point give one complete sermon illustration that relates to the text. The Take Home Final is due one week after the last class (July 6 th ). Late papers will be subject to major penalties. 6