03CO736 Counseling & the Local Church Fall 2018 Reformed Theological Seminary: Charlotte Instructor: Dr. Jim Newheiser, Associate Professor of Christian Counseling 760-518-5457 Office: Counseling offices/front of Chapel Office hours: by appointment TA/Assistant: COURSE DESCRIPTION This course shows how biblical counseling/soul-care fits into the ministry of the local church. COURSE OBJECTIVES By studying the materials presented in this course, listening to the lectures, and completing the assignments and assigned projects, the student will be able to: A. Articulate the basics of a theology of human experience as well as a theology of the church. Then, describe how the two relate in the care of people within the church. B. Apply this theory by describing techniques for counseling C. Articulate practical procedures of accountability and protection for the vulnerable within the context of the local church COURSE MATERIALS Required: Kellemen, Robert & Kevin Carson, eds. Biblical Counseling & the Local Church. 480pp. Newheiser, Help! I Need a Church. 30 pp Powlison, Must Reads on Counseling in the Church (digital) 98 pp https://www.ccef.org/resources/books/jbc-must-reads-counseling-church Reju, Deepak. On Guard. 224pp. Reju and Pierre, The Pastor and Counseling, 135 pp IBCD Care and Discipleship Curriculum (scan only) Available in the library or in the counseling office. For extra credit Marshall, Colin & Tony Payne, The Vine Project. 340pp. The expectation is that students will read these books (with the exception of the IBCD curriculum which must be scanned) with care for each page to receive full reading credit. Students will be graded based on their self-reporting according to the following rubric: Percentage of the book read the book word-for-word Percentage of the book skimmed Completed by due date? (Yes/No)
Please complete the form attached to Canvas entitled Reading Report and upload in the appropriate portal. ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS This course is entirely electronic in its submitting of assignments. Each assignment will be uploaded to Canvas in the appropriate portal. 1. Reading Reports Students are to turn in a report at the end of the semester stating the percentage of each book. No summaries are required on this page. Please fill out the form attached under Files on Canvas in the appropriate portal. 2. Church Child Protection Policy Review This is a practically oriented assignment. Thus, it will take shape according to your context. Basically, if your church has a child protection policy, you will be writing an evaluation of it. If your church does not have one, you will be writing it for them. For churches with an existing Child Protection Policy. Write a 5-6 page evaluation of the policy according to the framework provided in Reju s On Guard. Apply this to your context, considering governance, size, and structure of your church. For churches without an existing Child Protection Policy. Write a 5-6 page policy according to the framework provided in Reju s On Guard. Apply this to your context, considering governance, size, and structure of your church. You will find specific instructions regarding how to craft your evaluation on Canvas under the Files section. The document is quite naturally titled Child Protection Policy Instructions. 3. Plan to implement biblical soul care in your local church Write a 4 page summary of how you would plan to build and strengthen biblical soul care, either in your present church or in a future church context. 4. Mid-term and final Both the mid-term and final may be comprised of case studies and questions from the lectures and reading. 5. Class Attendance and Participation Come to class, pay attention, and engage. Simple enough. COURSE GRADING Reading Report 15% Church Child Protection Policy Review 20% Plan to implement biblical soul-care 15% Mid-term 20% Attendance and Participation 10% Final 20 %
Late Work Assignments are due as listed in the Course Schedule. Assignments not submitted at this time are considered late and are penalized. Classroom Policies 1. All classroom policies at RTS Charlotte are expected to be followed. 2. Guidelines for papers submitted in this course can be found as a separate document on Canvas. 3. Laptops are welcome in class for note taking only. Only word processing programs may be open during class; no browsers, email programs, social media feeds, or any other program is to be used. Please silence cell phones and do not text, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, or whatever else desperately beckons for your attention during class. Class schedule (subject to change) 8/29 The biblical necessity of counseling in the local church Reading Assignment: Help! I Need the Church plus The Pastor and Counseling (Not considered late if done by 9/12) 9/5 History of soul care (N. Brooks) Reading assignment: Kelleman chapters 1-4,23 9/12 Church membership, soul care and discipline Reading assignment: Kelleman chapters 5-10 9/19 Building a counseling ministry in the local church (including discipleship and women s ministry C Newheiser.). Reading assignment: Kelleman chapters 11-17 9/26 How your counseling/soul care ministry can affect those beyond your local church. Reading assignment: Kelleman chapters 18-22 plus conclusion 10/3 Counseling and End of Life Issues Grace period to catch up on reading assignments 10/10 No Class -- Fall Break 10/17 Protecting your church from sexual predators Reading assignment: On Guard Mid-term available 10/17-10/31 10/24 Counseling children and women who are victims of sexual abuse (C. Newheiser) 10/31 Legal issues in Church based counseling ministry (Dewart) Mid-term due before class begins
11/7 Helping local churches deal with cases of abuse (Moles) 11/14 Helping families with special needs autism, disability, etc. Assignment Due: Church Child Protection Policy 11/21 No class Thanksgiving break 11/28 Observation Video, catch-up and/or case studies Reading assignment: Powlison 12/6 Reading report due 12/6-11 Final exams
Course Objectives Related to MACC Student Learning Outcomes Course: Counseling in the Local Church Professor: Dr. Jim Newheiser Campus: Charlotte Date: Fall 2018 MACC Student Learning Outcomes In order to measure the success of the MACC curriculum, RTS has defined the following as the intended outcomes of the student learning process. Each course contributes to these overall outcomes. This rubric shows the contribution of this course to the MAC outcomes. COUNSELING KNOWLEDGE Demonstrate knowledge of counseling theories and modern anthropology. COUNSELING SKILL Ability to apply biblical truths and common grace insights in a variety of counseling settings. SCRIPTURE Significant knowledge of the original meaning of Scripture and ability to apply to modern counseling circumstances. REFORMED THEOLOGY Significant knowledge of Reformed theology and practice and ability to apply to modern counseling circumstances. SANCTIFICATION Demonstrates a love for the Triune God that aids the student s sanctification. WINSOMELY REFORMED Embraces a winsomely Reformed ethos. Rubric Moderate Minimal None Moderate Moderate Mini Justification Course emphasizes the nature of the church as the place for pastoral care and counsel. This directly attaches to anthropology as the mechanism for care is the church in God s plan. Special attention is given to the development of lay counseling leaders within a church context imparting skills beyond the paid pastoral staff. Scripture is consistently presented as the tool of the Holy Spirit by which change is effected in the human heart. A strong ecclesiology is emphasized with reference to the primacy of the Word, the means of grace, and the nature of God s covenant people. This course emphasizes the importance of the means of grace afforded to all believers through the Word and the church. Course addresses reformed concepts of ecclesiology and anthropology in a winsome manner.