Horizon College and Seminary PASTORAL THEOLOGY

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1 Horizon College and Seminary PASTORAL THEOLOGY March 2011 John Drisner 3 Credit Hours I. Rationale for the Course To lead a local church requires preparation that informs, guides, and trains you in your personal life, your spiritual ministry, and your practical work as a pastor. Biblical principles are applicable to all aspect of pastoral leadership within the local church. As a pastor, you also need to be aware of the larger context within which your ministry functions. This context includes denominational associations, the broader church culture, rural and urban community, ethic and cultural differences, etc. The path to your effectiveness in vocational ministry will include a lifetime of growth in theoretical principles and practical experiences. The present course introduces you, as a pastor-in-training, to these arenas of awareness. We call the subject Pastoral Theology. Summarized another way, this course aims to offer theoretical and practical instruction so that men and women with a pastoral calling might know how to conduct themselves in the house of God (1 Timothy 3:14). II. Textbooks Primary Textbooks: (required) Anderson, Robert C. The Effective Pastor: A Practical Guide to the Ministry. Chicago: Moody Press, Cottrell, David. Monday Morning Choices: 12 Powerful ways to go from ordinary to extraordinary. New York: Collins, Pearlman, M. The Minister s Service Book. Springfield: Gospel Publishing, Peterson, Eugene H. The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction. Grand Rapids: Eerdman Publishing, Pastoral Theology Syllabus March 2011 Page 1 of 6

2 Handouts in Class supplemental fee paid at registration. III. Outline of Course Content This course will be designed around the primary relationships in a pastor s life; God, self, family, the church congregation, church leadership, denomination, and overall ministry. The pastor s responsibilities in each of these relationships will be will be the focus of this course. 1.0 The Pastor s Relationship to God, Self, and Family 1.1 Personal, spiritual, and family life 1.2 Understanding yourself 1.3 Transitions in ministry 1.4 Personal finances, budgeting 1.5 Staying healthy in ministry 2.0 The Pastor s Relationship to Church Congregation, Church Leadership, and Church Denomination. 2.1 Pastoral Leadership and Administration Church administration, finances, budget Governance and church structure PAOC credentialing process PAOC constitutions/bylaws, relationships of local,district, and international Planning/conducting business meetings Relationship with the Board Working with Staff Church Health and growth (Natural Church Development) Local Church Ministries Enhancing ministry through mentoring Working with volunteers Leadership training and small group ministry 2.2 Pastoral Care The pastor and his community The pastor as shepherd: pastoral care, visitation, etc The pastor as counselor Special events ministries [weddings, funerals, baby dedications, etc.] Pastoring children and youth Pastoral Theology Syllabus March 2011 Page 2 of 6

3 2.2.6 Church conflicts and splits Pastoring a Pentecostal church Altar ministry Field trip: visit to a funeral home 3.0 The Pastor s Relationship to Overall Ministry 3.1 The pastor as leader 3.2 The pastor as worship leader 3.3 Establishing vision and maintaining motivation 3.4 Legal issues 3.5 The call to ministry 3.6 Ethics and ministry 3.7 Church planting, rural and urban ministry, multi-site ministry 3.8 Pastoral conversation: effective one-on-one ministry. 3.9 Issues in ministry Many of these topics will be dealt with during class. Others will be dealt with through the reading of course textbooks and other assigned reading. The course will also include a number of presentations from guest teachers who have extensive practical experience. IV. Course Requirements 1. Reading a} Peterson written assignment due Thursday morning of module. b] Anderson and Cottrell you will be expected to read specific chapters in preparation for class. Daily reading and written assignments will be given. c] Packets of readings handed out during the module. 2. Written Assignments BEFORE THE MODULE. a] Read chapter 1 of Anderson and chapter 2 of Peterson. From your reading of these two chapters prepare a total of five questions regarding the pastor s character, calling, and spirituality to use in a Monday class discussion on this subject. These five questions should be type written on 8 ½ by 11 paper and handed in immediately following the Monday discussion. Do not use Anderson s questions at the end of chapter 1. b] Get as much of Peterson read before class as possible. Pastoral Theology Syllabus March 2011 Page 3 of 6

4 DURING THE MODULE a] A written report on Peterson is due Thursday morning of the module and should include; An introduction that interacts with Peterson s perspective on pastoring. A minimum of six quotes or principles from Peterson that challenged you as you contemplated pastoral ministry. Each quote or principle should give clear reference to the page or pages being referred to. After each quote or principle you should explain the significance of this quote or principle in your present understanding of pastoral ministry and share how you would see this principle or quote applying to your own ministry. A clear conclusion. This paper shall be between 800 and 1000 words in length. Format: typed, double spaced, 1 margins, 12 point font. Evaluaton: D you have marginally dealt with the assignment. C you have adequately covered the assignment with personal, reflective thoughts that go beyond simply summarizing the content. B you have added value to the material by expanding your personal interaction with the chapters, showing me how the material resonates with the actual work of the ministry. A you have given me a creative and stimulating interaction with the assignment. b] Read chapter 10 of Anderson, chapter 10 of Peterson, and chapter 9 from Cottrell. From your reading of these three chapters prepare five questions about the pastor s relationships with the church family to use in a Tuesday class discussion on this subject. These questions should be type written on 8 ½ by 11 paper and handed in following the Tuesday discussion. Do not use Anderson s questions at the end of chapter 10. c] Read chapter 2 of Anderson and chapter 4 of Peterson. From your reading of these two chapters prepare five questions about the pastor s pulpit ministry church family to use in a Thursday class discussion on this subject. These questions should be type written on 8 ½ by 11 paper and handed in following the Thursday discussion. Do not use Anderson s questions at the end of chapter 2.

5 FOLLOWING THE MODULE Pastoral Theology Syllabus March 2011 Page 4 of 6 Course paper Prepare a written paper between 2750 and 3000 words in response to and interaction with the material in the Peterson and Cottrell texts to describe their impact on your understanding of what ministry is all about and how to do ministry. Your paper should: 1. Discuss Cottrell s principles in such a way to demonstrate your understanding of: The essential points he is making through the 12 principles, and The value of Cottrell s work for your life and ministry. 2. Discuss Peterson s attempt to redefine the meaning of pastor in a way that demonstrates your understanding of; His use of three strengthening adjectives unbusy, subversive, and apocalyptic. Pastoral Ministry and Spiritual direction between Sundays. 3. Interaction with the Apostle Paul s teaching in 1 and 2 Timothy and the book of Titus. 4. Interaction and quotes (including footnotes) from a minimum of three other authors who have written about pastoral theology. These works should be cited in your Bibliography. 5. Material from an interview you conducted with a pastor who has more than fifteen years of pastoral experience. In this interview (which can be done in person, by phone, or by ) you should ask the pastor to share with you the five most important lessons they have learned about pastoral ministry. If this paper does not include a discussion of all five lessons it should include a footnote where these five lessons are all clearly outlined and the pastor s name and present ministry position. 5. A concluding section of not less than 800 words that addresses the question How does someone called by God to pastor a local church find a path for effective ministry in the 21 st century? This concluding section should clearly indicate a personal philosophy of pastoral ministry and show significant proof of interaction with course teaching and class discussions, the writings of the Apostle Paul on pastoral ministry, the writings of Peterson, Cottrell, and Anderson, material from other authors you have read in preparing for this paper, and information from your personal interview with a pastor who has more than fifteen years of pastoral experience. Horizon - Pastoral Theology Syllabus.doc Format: typed, double spaced, 1 margins, 12 point font. Evaluaton: D you have marginally dealt with the assignment

6 Pastoral Theology Syllabus March 2011 Page 5 of 6 C you have adequately covered the assignment with personal, reflective thoughts that go beyond simply summarizing the content. B you have added value to the material by expanding your personal interaction with the chapters, showing me how the material resonates with the actual work of the ministry. A you have given me a creative and stimulating interaction with the assignment Due Date: Friday, April 8 th. V Evaluation Summary 10% - Class Participation 10% - Class Discussion Question Assignment 20% - Written Report on Peterson 60% - Course Paper VI Bibliography The college library has an extensive collection of resources related to pastoral theology. Using the online LEX system, you can browse these resources at your leisure. Also, there is a broad range of materials available on the internet through web searches using relevant key words.

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The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky : Methods and Models of Expository Preaching January Term, 2005.

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky 80314: Methods and Models of Expository Preaching January Term, 2005 Dr. Robert A. Vogel Professor of Christian Preaching Office: Norton 272