Practical Theology Area

HD879 Women of Color as Public Theologians

Riggs In this seminar students study the lives and writings of women of color from the nineteenth through the twenty-first centuries. The lives and writings of these women are explored as models for faithful discipleship and doing public theology (constructive ethical reflection) on issues of social justice and public policy. Students complete a social media project to disseminate their public theologies. 3 credits

HD882 Doing Theology Amid Religious Pluralism

Moore-Keish Explores Christian constructive theological responses to situations of religious diversity from the early church to the present, with an emphasis on contemporary voices. Inspired by the work of Diana Eck and the Pluralism Project, the approach to “pluralism” will emphasize appreciation for the variety of religious traditions, with attention to difference as well as commonality. Enables students to see that religious pluralism is not a new situation, but one that Christians have been addressing since the period of the New Testament. Students will engage several perspectives on religious pluralism, with the goal of developing their own theological interpretations, and with attention to navigating religious diversity in their specific ministry contexts. Online. 3 credits

Faculty: Kathy Dawson, Anna Carter Florence, J. William Harkins, Christine Hong, Sue Kim Park, Melinda McGarrah Sharp, Jacob Myers, Rebecca Spurrier, Jeffery Tribble, Chanequa Walker-Barnes, Ralph Watkins, Lisa Weaver

P150 Scripture Reading Practicum

Florence Prepares students to be liturgists and oral interpreters of scripture by offering a performance and proclamation theology for Reformed worship. Required of MDiv students in the first semester as a prerequisite to P530. 0 credits

P500 Introduction to Practical Theology

Dawson, McGarrah Sharp This required course in the Master of Arts in Practical Theology (MAPT) degree program introduces the student to the basic vocabulary, understandings, and methods in the field of practical theology. Incorporating a wide variety of teaching methods, this course seeks to show the foundation upon which each of the four areas of concentration rests. This course meets as a one-week intensive course in August of each year with three follow-up sessions set by the course participants during the fall semester that directly follows it. 3 credits

P501 Introduction to the Theory and Practice of Christian Education

Dawson, Hong Examining understandings of God, mission, and education, students learn basic educational concepts, analyze contemporary theories and practices, and develop approaches to Christian education. Meets the Christian Education Distribution Requirement. 3 credits

P502 Faith and Human Development

Dawson Surveys the field of human development and explores the developmental theories and methods that inform current education practice. Faith interviews with children, youth, and adults are used to analyze and critique developmental psychology. Fulfills the educator certification requirements in human development for PC(USA) students. Meets the Christian Education Distribution Requirement. 3 credits

P504 Global Christian Spiritualities

Hong Christianity no longer holds sway over the American imagination. This calls us to reexamine the reasons and methods for gospel proclamation. Drawing upon theological, philosophical, and sociological materials, this course examines new ways of thinking about the preaching task in light of the shifts that are taking place in the world today. Meets the Christian Education Distribution Requirement. Online. 3 credits

P506 Teaching Bible Through Liberative Pedagogy

Hong The bible and biblical hermeneutics have shaped the lives of Christians everywhere and in every time. The bible has been harnessed to oppress and to liberate. It has been cited to exclude and include. It has been used to justify the isolation of some Christian communities and the expansion of others. This course will explore how the bible has been used for the formation of Christian and their communities, in different contexts. The course will explore how we might teach the study the bible through liberative pedagogy by utilizing creative educational tools and by incorporating the understanding of developmental theories. Meets the Christian Education Distribution Requirement. 3 credits

P510 Introduction to Christian Leadership

McDonald (adjunct) This course is an introduction to the theories and practices of Christian leadership. The course will explore such topics as leadership development, systems theory and practice, financial administration, and missional church development examining how Christian leaders exercise legitimate authority by directing, influencing, coordinating, or otherwise guiding the thoughts and behaviors of persons and groups. The course seeks to create a space to discern and develop our unique qualities, characteristics, and expertise of Christian leadership with others through critical reflection and integration of course material. Meets the Christian Leadership Distribution Requirement. 3 credits

P514 Turnaround Congregations through Evangelism & Community

Watkins Many of us will be called to congregations that have witnessed a decline over the years or are in need of missional realignment. These congregations are referred to as “turnaround” churches. In this course we address what a turnaround church is and how one might lead a congregation in the process of missional realignment via evangelism and community engagement. Meets the Christian Leadership Distribution Requirement. 3 credits

P518 Evangelism and Congregational Development

Watkins The integration of evangelism, spiritual formation, and community building are the central themes upon which this course is built. We explore the need to share the gospel in innovative ways and as growth occurs the task of building a strong faith community must be done simultaneously. The whys and how to both share the gospel and build community are addressed in this course. Meets the Christian Leadership Distribution Requirement. 3 credits

P520 Introduction to Pastoral Care

McGarrah Sharp, Walker-Barnes An introduction to the fundamentals of pastoral care, including how to respond in common pastoral situations (including individual, premarital, couples, family, and crisis situations). Students develop a biblical and theological framework for understanding their own pastoral identity, the meaning of care of persons, and the pastoral role of Christian community. Attention is given to professional ethics, gender and intercultural sensitivity, making appropriate referrals, and the spiritual importance of self-care and boundaries. 3 credits

P530 Preaching and Public Proclamation

Florence, Myers This course prepares students to proclaim the good news of the gospel in and beyond the pulpit. Students of every level of experience will learn and sharpen the skills necessary for the preparation and delivery of sermons that are faithful, creative, and transformative. The course explores theories and practices of preaching with particular emphases on the interpretation of texts and contexts, theologies of proclamation, and listener engagement. Includes the preaching of sermons and the delivery of public addresses in small workshop groups. Prerequisite: P150 Scripture Reading Practicum. 3 credits

P540 Introduction to Christian Worship

Weaver Christian worship has taken various forms from the earliest days of the Church. This course will survey the diversity of liturgical expression in the Western church throughout the centuries and in our own time, while also considering the common elements that all Christian worshipers share. Special attention will be given to the theology and practice of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Students will also explore themes such as the Christian year, liturgical space, music and the arts. Meets Worship Distribution Requirement. 3 credits

P544 Worship through the Phases of Life: Occasional Services

Weaver This course will consider the theological, liturgical, and homiletical aspects of occasional services in the life of the church: weddings, funerals, services of healing and wholeness, ordination, and other rites related to baptism. Students will explore cultural attitudes and sociological analyses regarding rites of passage in the church, consider those rites theologically, and examine liturgies associated with those rites. Meets Worship Distribution Requirement. 3 credits

P546 Christian Worship, Human Difference, and Divine Justice

Spurrier Christian Worship unifies human bodies in love and praise of the God who makes this worship possible. At the same time, God-given and culturally inscribed human differences contest the possibility of a unity of persons and communities gathered before God. In this course, we consider the hope and challenge of Christian worship through the work of scholars and theologians who analyze the marks of gender, ability, race, class, and nationality as these affect worshiping bodies of Christians. How can we understand divine justice in relationship to the human differences manifest and hidden in the church’s prayer and praise? How might churches and communities engage and desire human difference? Meets Worship Distribution Requirement. 3 credits

P549 African American Worship and Preaching

Weaver This course surveys the African American worship experience. Examining worship, students will develop awareness of worship content and meaning by engaging multiple African American traditions, preaching in class, and constructing a theological and practical analysis of African American worship practices. 3 credits

P550 MAPT Capstone Course in Practical Theology

McGarrah Sharp This course is designed for Master of Arts in Practical Theology degree students in their final spring semester. Building on formative understandings developed in P500 Introduction to Practical Theology, students will continue to explore different models and issues within the field. A particular emphasis on vocations within Practical Theology will form a distinctive portion of this course. 3 credits

P602 Intercultural and Inter-religious Intelligences: Learning and Teaching a Posture of Openness

Hong What does it mean to live, teach, and minister in a world or a neighborhood that is both intercultural and inter-religious? How do we learn how foster intercultural and inter-religiously open postures in communities and in ministries that have yet to embrace diversity and difference? What are the skills and capacities needed to co-create understanding between people of different cultures and religious traditions? This course will explore these questions and more through readings, spiritual practices, group projects, site visits, guest speakers, media, and seminar style discussion. Students are encouraged to share their own experiences and interests in intercultural and inter-religious engagement as part of their course participation. 3 credits

P604 Youth Ministry

Hong Explores youth subculture and its implications for ministry, including the developmental challenges of youth, ministry with young people in crisis, changing family patterns, and emerging strategies in ministry with youth and their families. 3 credits

P605 The Spiritual Lives of Children

Dawson Focuses on the many facets of children`s ministry. The perception of children is explored theologically, developmentally, and educationally. Includes opportunity to refine skills in biblical storytelling and lesson planning, survey of resources for helping children to grow in faith, and field trips to sites that educate children. 3 credits

P606 Camp/Conference Program and Administration

Winchip (adjunct) This course will explore the many facets of camp, conference and retreat ministry. It will focus on the form and function of programming and how it relates to all aspects of site administration. Students will be introduced to the principles behind mission statements, program models, staffing and facility management, as well as trends and standards within this important field. 3 credits

P607D Curriculum Planning and Evaluation

Dawson An introduction to and analysis of instructional resources available from denominational and nondenominational publishers. Students will also design a curriculum resource on a topic of interest to them within the field of Christian Faith Formation. 1.5 credits

P608 Using Children’s & Adolescent’s Literature in Christian Faith Formation

Dawson This class will explore the rationale for using children's books and adolescent literature in Christian faith formation as well as the process and criteria for evaluating and selecting books to use. Students will have the opportunity to practice various storytelling techniques and to develop a bibliography of children’s or adolescents’ literature based on a topic or theme of interest to them. Special attention will be given to the genre of fantasy fiction as a means to have conversations of faith with these age groups. 1.5 credits

P609 Introduction to Recreation Ministry

Winchip (adjunct) This course will explore the use of recreation to address the developmental, educational, and spiritual needs of children, youth, and adults. Students will have hands-on opportunities to plan and lead recreational activities that could be used in a variety of ministry contexts. 3 credits

P609H Spirituality and the Arts

Hong Through a blending of religious art and group processing, this course probes various dynamics of the spirituality of creative education through the arts. Students will examine their spiritual grounding and imagination as educators and practitioners through the examination of art and the creation of art. Students will also create and present their artwork to one another as a way of practicing and sharing dialogically. Rev. Darci Jaret will be our guest art instructor for five sessions. The course requires students to purchase art supplies in lieu of books. Readings will be provided via Moodle. 3 credits

P612 Evangelism, Photography & Social Media

Watkins In this course students study what makes media social and theologically enriching. It focuses on the culture of sharing photos as a means of evangelism. Students will be taught what makes visually strong images that are shared / liked and how to make visually strong images that effectively share the Gospel. Students will do projects that engage blogs, Instagram, Twitter, Flickr, Facebook (and other photo sharing platforms) that are conducive for sharing the Gospel over the web. 3 credits

P613W Urban Evangelism and Social Justice

Watkins Jesus' ministry in the city was one of justice and inclusion and as result his following grew. What does it look like for a church in the city to be a justice minded church that takes into consideration the stratification and inequity in the city as a call to stand with the most marginalized. This class looks at the why, how and what of being a faith community committed to actively seeking social justice as the key ingredient for evangelism in the city. 3 credits

P614 Emergent to Missional: Shaping a 21st Century Church

Watkins In this course students will engage the emergent church and the missional church models as dialogical partners with established congregational life. This course deals with the tension and integration of the old and the new as the class seeks to uncover what God is doing in God's church as God leads us into the 21st Century. The class will ask and work at answering, what does the a 21st Century church look like as compared to a 20th Century church. 3 credits

P615 Theological Grounding and Development of the Virtual Church

Watkins This course addresses the theological issues surrounding the virtual dimension of faith as negotiated in cyberspace. This course will also explore the phenomena of virtual faith expressions and what their creation imply for the future of the church. Online. 3 credits

P615W Being Church in the Age of Social Media

Watkins We are living in the age where people are living fully digitally integrated lives and the church must engage. How is the church to be the church in the age of media that is visual, social and digital? What means of ministry should the church engage to be a faithful and authentic in this present age? These and other questions guide this course. 3 credits

P616 Evangelism and Videography: Story as Witness and Outreach

Watkins In this course we study story structure and explore ways to share the Gospel via creative multi-media approaches. Students will do projects that engage the screen (computer, tablet and phone) by creating videos that effectively share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Students will be taught how to shoot and edit videos to be posted on Vimeo, YouTube, and Flickr or other appropriate platforms. 3 credits

P617 Reaching Young Adults in the Digital and Media Age: Foundations of Young Adult Ministry

Watkins Many of our churches are using methods and practices to communicate the gospel that were fitted for a previous generation that was a church-going population. This course is designed to help us think about why and how we can effectively share the gospel with young adults in a media/digital age by using technology as a resource to build community and transform lives while also addressing the foundations of young adult ministry. Online. 3 credits

P620W Mindfulness and Self-Care for the Helping Professions

Walker-Barnes Explores the relationship between vocational stress, mindfulness, and self-care among the helping professions, including pastors, chaplains, and therapists. Examines the causes and forms of stress that helping professionals experiences, with particular attention on trauma exposure response. Utilizes experiential exercises to explore self-care and mindfulness practices that sustain long-term careers and prevent burnout. 3 credits

P621 Death, Dying, & Grief: Intergenerational & Intercultural Perspectives

McGarrah Sharp This course will help equip ministry leaders to hone practicing attention to and remaining present in the midst of death, dying, illness, loss, and grief. The course places these dynamics of communal life in a narrative frame that attends to both theological and psychological aspects in intergenerational and intercultural perspectives. P520 preferred, not required. 3 credits

P622 Family Systems Theory for Ministry

Harkins Explores the basics of family systems theories as a basis for understanding dynamics at work within families and congregations. Enhances understanding of the student`s own family system and the impact of this system upon formation for ministry. Addresses issues relating to personal and professional boundaries. Online. 3 credits

P622W Spiritual Care for Black Women

Walker-Barnes Utilizes an intersectional and interdisciplinary framework to analyze how systemic oppression impacts the well-being of women and girls of African descent in the US, particularly health, relationships, education, and criminal justice involvement. Explores Black women’s coping strategies and models for culturally competent pastoral care and counseling practice. 3 credits

P623 Foundations of Marriage and Family Therapy

Harkins Explores systems of family evaluation and counseling, emphasizing theorists and clinicians such as Bowen, Minuchin, Satir, Nagy, and Haley. Hybrid. 3 credits

P624M Listening Practicum

McGarrah Sharp This listening practicum deepens skills of selfawareness and empathy through shared texts, whole class discussions, and three listening analysis practices: intersectional listening, collaborative listening mapping, and receiving and responding to generative feedback. The final project invites students to identify goals for growing in intersectional listening, to practice each of the three listening analysis skills in the student’s own context(s), and to propose an individualized listening growth plan. 1.5 credits

P625 Pastoral Imagination in a Violent World

McGarrah Sharp There is no question of the pervasive presence of violence in the world throughout human histories and into contemporary contexts. Building on a basic framework of moral discernment, students practice pastoral responses in the face of violence in a variety of intercultural contexts. Students focus pastoral imagination around three complex yet distinct Christian responses to violence: complicity, bystander, and resistance. Hybrid. 3 credits

P625B Healthy Boundaries, Harmful Borders

McGarrah Sharp What’s the difference between responsible boundaries and harmful borders? Students will probe this question from a pastoral theological perspective. Drawing on narratives of border life and policies around responsible pastoral practice, students will evaluate and construct pastoral theologies of borders and boundaries in the mission and cultures of communities of faith. 3 credits

P627 Pastoral Care of Couples and Families

Harkins Acquaints students with ways to think theoretically and theologically about the family, with the assumption that all Christian ministers have involvement with family dynamics and systems theory implications. Objectives are to develop appropriate pastoral /theological responses to family issues in congregational contexts; to gain familiarity with some major schools of family therapy; to be reminded of the importance of the pastor`s own family experience in the student's pastoral work; and to begin developing a theology of family life. 3 credits

P627M Disaster Spiritual Care

McGarrah Sharp How does one prepare for responsible spiritual care when disasters interrupt the patterns of everyday life? What is a faithful response when a disaster arrives for which there was no precedent or preparation? Using theories and practices of disaster spiritual care and reviewing interfaith disaster spiritual care resources created in various historical settings including resources created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, students will develop a collaborative disaster spiritual care toolkit to use and share with other faith leaders. 1.5 credits

P628 Pastoral Counseling in the Parish

Harkins Explores the theory, methodology, and practice of the appropriate scope of counseling in the parish context. This includes accountability and consultation, confidentiality and boundaries, networking and referral, principles of psychological and theological diagnosis, and the theological rationale of pastoral counseling in the congregation. Hybrid. 3 credits

P628A Pastoral Care Across the Life Cycle

Harkins Explores phases of family development and their impact on those entering, living in, and leaving the family; also studies developmental, situation, and nodal (divorce, retirement, and geographical uprooting) crises and events faced by families. 3 credits

P629 The Art and Practice of Theological Reflection

Harkins This class will be of use for those whose “vocatio” calls upon and invites them to engage in theological reflection in a variety of settings-parish ministry, chaplaincy, and clinical venues-and in turn for those for whom they care, as this topic can then be taught in adult and other education settings (CPE, confirmation classes, etc.) contexts. Matters of formation, spiritual discipline and human development will be considered. 3 credits

P629W Couples, Families, and Cultural Change

Walker-Barnes Examines how diversity and changing cultural conditions influence family life. Discusses shifting cultural norms regarding gender identity, sexuality and sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, and religion impact family formation and dynamics in contemporary US culture. Promotes reflection upon how personal and religious beliefs about relationships affect pastoral and clinical care to diverse marriages, families, and relationships. 3 credits

P630 Contemporary Homiletical Theories and Theologies

Myers Preachers are charged with an impossible task, argued Karl Barth. With only human words at our disposal we are charged, somehow, to preach God’s Word. This seminar engages foundational traditions and texts that have sought to respond to the impossible possibility of preaching with eyes to the horizon of our ever-shifting contemporary contexts. 3 credits

P631 Post-Christian Proclamation: Seeking Resilience in God's Changing World

Myers Christianity no longer holds sway over the American imagination. This calls us to reexamine the reasons and methods for gospel proclamation. Drawing upon theological, philosophical, and sociological materials, this course examines new ways of thinking about the preaching task in light of the shifts that are taking place in the world today. 3 credits

P632C Preaching in Times of Disaster and Crisis

Florence How do preachers speak into a time of disaster and crisis? How do we find the words, strength, resources, wisdom, creativity, and support to preach sermons that will address the suffering of the people? What old and new imaginations do we need, to engage Scripture and its power to bring healing and hope? Through readings, sermon recordings, interviews, and art, students will explore these questions—particularly as they relate to preachers’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic—and create a plan for their own growth and preparation, for the future. Includes the preaching of sermons. 3 credits

P632F From Sanctuary to Screen: Adapting to Online Preaching and Worship Leadership

Florence Our recent experiences with remote worship have taught us: preaching in front of a camera instead of a live congregation calls for a different set of skills and sensitivities. This practicum gives students the opportunity to explore the pastoral dynamics, theological issues, and performative elements of remote preaching, and to prepare and record their own sermons for workshop discussion. Students will consider a wide range of resources and tools, including homiletical readings, drama class videos, interviews with pastors, and exercises actors use when making the transition from stage to screen. 3 credits

P635 Preaching and Worship through the Christian Year

Florence The Christian year enables the church to mark time in a profound way. In this course, students will walk through the seasons of the liturgical year -- from Advent to Epiphany to Lent to Pentecost to Ordinary Time -- to see how theological themes and metaphors of these seasons unfold and build layers of meaning for Christian communities. Drawing on these insights, students will then explore the possibilities for preaching and worship, creating their own sermons and liturgies. Attention will be given to the use of language, the role of music and other lively arts, and the well of resources, both ancient and contemporary, that is available to worship planners. No prerequisites. 3 credits

P636 Preaching, Politics and the Pursuit of Justice

Myers This course aims to analyze the challenges to preaching for justice vis-à-vis politics in contemporary American contexts. Students will study how preachers have pursued proclamatory justice in light of these challenges in the past, consider some contemporary proposals for continuing that work, and then extend the practice with sermons of their own. The course moves, then, from sociopolitical analysis to a history of practice to practical counsel to the practice of preaching. That movement—a kind of practical theological reflection—is itself one of the main things this course hopes to teach. The P530 Preaching course is recommended but not required as a prerequisite. Hybrid. 3 credits

P637 Postmodernism: Why it Matters for Preaching

Myers Postmodernism—along with its methodological cousin, deconstruction—has shaped the last fifty years of Western thought. As both a philosophical and cultural phenomenon, postmodernism calls for careful attention by any who would proclaim the gospel with theological awareness and contextual relevance. This intensive course will interrogate the central themes and theorists associated with postmodernism and discuss postmodernism’s implications for contemporary Christian preaching. 3 credits

P639 Back to the Text: 1st and 2nd Kings

Florence This course is a communal exercise in getting “back to the text” by reading and performing together an entire book of Scripture – in this case, the stories in 1 and 2 Kings. Students will read widely in biblical studies pertaining to 1 and 2 Kings, see how artists have interpreted its themes and characters in art, literature, film, and poetry, experiment with various ways of reading and rehearsing and improvising a Scriptural narrative, and finally create a group performance, which we will then offer to the community. This course happens annually in the spring with a different biblical text each year and is open to students in all degree programs. No prerequisites 3 credits

P640 Ritual Practices in the Church

Weaver In every social sphere, human beings are shaped by enacted, patterned activity often known as ritual. This course is designed to introduce students to ritual studies through an examination of human behavior, symbol, language, music, space, art, and time. Attention will also be given to anthropological and theological approaches to the study of ritual in order to analyze the meaning and importance of Christian ritual practices. 3 credits

P640P Worship Planning Practicum

Spurrier Good worship planning is an art form as well as a spiritual practice. Through a course focused on planning chapel services for the Columbia seminary community, students engage in collaborative worship planning and theological reflection. Using knowledge gained through worship and preaching courses as well as gaining new skills in ecumenical and intercultural worship planning, students learn practices for empowering churches and communities to plan worship together. 1.5 credits

P641 Womanist/Feminist Spirituality and Worship

Weaver This course explores emerging themes in women's engagement in worship with special attention to how women's spirituality shapes this engagement. Drawing from womanist/feminist/mujerista perspectives, issues of language, images of God, embodiment, space, symbols and worship leadership will be explored. 3 credits

P641P Worship and the Arts Practicum: Words and Images for Worship

Spurrier Words and images for worship have the power to give life or to harm, to facilitate or to hinder the prayer and praise of the people of God. In this course students compose and create words and images for worship for different services and occasions. Students develop a portfolio for use in a congregational or other context. 1.5 credits

P642D Disability and Ministry

Spurrier Disability is an important part of every Christian community, yet few churches are equipped to address ableism and thus transform their understandings of God, the human body, worship, ministry, and religious leadership. This course provides students with theological and practical tools to support congregations and communities in the work of disability justice. 1.5 credits

P647 Worship in the World

Weaver Every week, people throughout the world gather to worship God in their respective churches. They also gather in places beyond the walls of the church: in hospitals, prisons, juvenile detention centers, care facilities, retirement homes, camps, conference centers, and more. This course will explore particular issues relating to worship and chaplaincy in these contexts. Students will learn about the particularities of various parachurch contexts (people, facilities, resources, etc.), evaluate worship in these settings, and plan a worship service for three different settings. 3 credits

P647W We the People, the Body of Christ: Rights, Rites, and Identity Politics

Weaver This course will explore notions of belonging through the lenses of birth and baptism in colonial America. Particular attention will be given to the institution of slavery and the theological arguments for and against it within the church. In addition to the Bible, students will engage various primary sources (narratives of enslaved people of African descent, colonial law, congressional records, minutes from church meetings, correspondence) to understand the development of both theological and legal thought with respect to “who belongs” and how those thoughts are reflected in current political and ecclesial contexts. 3 credits

P670 Pastoral Care and the Experience of Crisis and Trauma

Harkins Explores experiences of crisis and trauma, and considerations of pastoral theological responses needed to assist in the care of mind, body and spirit. Emphasis will be given to widening the circle of care in response to these experiences, and to the extant resources available. Samples a range of crisis experiences through readings, video and podcasts, and homiletic and other texts. Explores ways of deepening understanding of crisis and trauma, some of the theological anthropolog(ies) available, and pastoral theological resources. A sub-text in the narrative is resilience—bouncing back and flourishing in the new normal—and the concomitant strategies for cultivating resilience. Drawing upon a variety of resources, and one another, engagse the experiences of crisis and trauma from a broad range of clinical, pastoral, psychological and theological perspectives. Online. 3 credits

P674 Intercultural & Interfaith Pastoral Care and Counseling

Harkins This course is designed to develop competence, imagination, and self-and-other awareness in intercultural and interfaith pastoral care and counseling. Students will develop in-depth disciplines of awareness and reflection upon the questions of history, ethnicity, gender, power, sexual orientation, race, and class that have shaped the nature of therapeutic and pastoral encounters. The course will explore the pastoral counseling, pastoral care, and clinical pastoral education applications of the deepening awareness in the field for interfaith, intercultural competence, practices, and ethical and clinical reflection. The course will include experiential components, and CPE, SM510, or other significant ministry/contextual experience is preferred. 3 credits

P676 Psychopathology and Pastoral Counseling

Harkins Psychopathology is the scientific study of mental disorders, including efforts to understand their genetic, biological, psychological, and social-cultural etiology; effective classification schemes; across all stages of development; manifestations; and treatment. Special attention will be given to the theological hermeneutics of the human condition as appropriate to the topic and goals of the course, such as the existential nature of anxiety, and so on. The word psychopathology has a Greek origin: ‘psyche’ meaning “soul”, ‘pathos’ is defined as “suffering”, and ‘-ology’ is “the study of.” Wholly, Psychopathology is defined as the origin of mental disorders, how they develop, and the symptoms they might produce in a person. The religious, cultural, and theoretical assumptions of “normalcy” will also be addressed. This course is among the clinical course options required for Associate Licensure in Georgia. Please refer to the Georgia Composite Board for full requirement details. Prerequisite: P520 Introduction to Pastoral Care. Online. 3 credits

P682 Prophetic, Imaginative Preaching for God’s Changing World

Myers Imagination “empowered by the Spirit” is the lifeblood of prophetic preaching. Drawing upon traditional and contemporary approaches to preaching, this course will lead students to innovate upon said styles and to incorporate preaching styles across cultures and denominations. Particular attention will be paid to inductive, narrative, performative, and poetic preaching styles. Limit of 5 master level students; Prerequisite P530. 3 credits

P686 Preaching, Creativity and the Arts

Myers This course presupposes that the rhythms of God’s creative work can and should inform the preaching life. Drawing upon the work of cultural creatives (e.g., slam-poets, comedians, actors, and novelists), students will explore ways of expanding creativity in sermon development and delivery. In-class exercises and peer feedback will invite life-long participation in God’s redemptive rhythms in service of the church and the world God loves. Prerequisite P530. 3 credits

P693 Independent Study in Practical Theology and Counseling

Harkins, McGarrah Sharp 3 credits

P694 Independent Study in Worship

Spurrier, Weaver 3 credits

P695 Independent Study in Preaching

Florence, Myers 3 credits

P697 Independent Study in Spirituality

Staff 3 credits

P698 Independent Study in Ministry and Administration

Tribble 3 credits

P699 Independent Study in New Church Development

Staff 3 credits

P702 ThM Thesis Research Practical Theology Area

Staff This class focuses on the research and initial writing stage for the student’s thesis project, supervised by the advisor and in conjunction with the ThM director. 3 credits

P703 ThM Literature Review Practical Theology Area

Staff In this independent study, a student works with the primary advisor to develop a reading list in the area of research interest and writes a literature review of the sources in preparation for the thesis writing. This course is supervised by the student’s primary advisor with the assistance of the instructor of the ThM Research Seminar. 3 credits

P704 ThM Thesis Writing Practical Theology Area

Staff Required of all ThM students, leading to the completion of the ThM thesis. 3 credits

P770 DEdMin Introductory Seminar

Dawson, Hong This course is the introductory seminar for those persons beginning the Doctor of Educational Ministry degree program and therefore provides an overview of the program, a survey of the various disciplines to be studied in the program, and enables the student to relate their study to their context for educational ministry. The course is framed by the tasks of practical theology as they lead to Christian formation in congregational settings. 6 credits

P771 Teaching and Learning Theory

Dawson Provides for advanced study in teaching and learning as Christian formation. Particular attention is given to various teaching theories with an emphasis on faith formation. Various teaching methods will be explored with a practicum component in the course enabling students to practice, evaluate, and hone their skills as a teacher and a teacher of teachers. Hybrid. 3 credits

P772 Advanced Study in Faith and Human Development

Dawson A core course for the DEdMin degree. This seminar assumes that participants are familiar with a basic understanding of the classic developmental theories such as Piaget, Kohlberg, Fowler, Freud, Erikson, and Gilligan. Students focus in the area of faith, spiritual, and religious development, looking at different ways of conceptualizing the Christian life from historical and current theorists. Emphasis is placed on child and adolescent spirituality in particular in the exploration of best practices for presenting the gospel at different ages. 6 credits

P773 Advanced Study in Curriculum Theory

Hong A core course for the DEdMin degree. Students think beyond curriculum as a lesson plan or resource and explore the history of curriculum theory in the church and world. Special emphasis is placed on obtaining a multicultural and interfaith perspective on this issue as well as comparing the course of public education in the U.S. to Christian education. 3 credits

P774 DEdMin Educational Care Resources

Hong This course is a seminar-style class that aims to help DEdMin students develop educational care resources for communities with histories of conflict, trauma, and pain. Discussions and explorations in assessment, self-care, dialogical exercises, and understanding minoritized communities will undergird the course. Students are invited to bring their own contexts and ministries to bear in the course. 3 credits

P775 Development of a Curriculum Design

Hong Informed by their learning in P773, the student will create and implement an original curriculum design on a topic most often related to their project. Online. 3 credits

P779 DEdMin Doctoral Project

Dawson, Hong Required of all DEdMin students. 6 credits

P804 Global Christian Spiritualities

Hong Christianity no longer holds sway over the American imagination. This calls us to reexamine the reasons and methods for gospel proclamation. Drawing upon theological, philosophical, and sociological materials, this course examines new ways of thinking about the preaching task in light of the shifts that are taking place in the world today. 3 credits

P813 21st Century Church: Church in the Networked World

Watkins How are we to be Church in a networked world? The triple revolution of the internet, social networking and mobile devices will serve as the center pieces of conversation around which this course revolves as we ask how does the church integrate this new reality into the life of it’s ministry? In the midst of this revolution how is the church to reinvent itself while also being faithful to the past ways we have been church? Participants will be invited to see the future now as we seek to be the church in the present age. 3 credits

P822 Pastoral Imagination in a Violent World

McGarrah Sharp There is no question of the pervasive presence of violence in the world throughout human histories and into contemporary contexts. Building on a basic framework of moral discernment, students practice pastoral responses in the face of violence in a variety of intercultural contexts. Students focus pastoral imagination around three complex yet distinct Christian responses to violence: complicity, bystander, and resistance. Hybrid. 3 credits

P835 Novel Preaching

Myers Creativity, empowered by the Spirit, is the lifeblood of strong preaching. Drawing upon techniques employed by fiction writers and other cultural creatives, this course will immerse students in the creative writing process for sermon development. Particular attention will be paid to narrative, prophetic, and oral/aural styles of writing. This course will operate like a writing or sermon development group, wherein students will read one another’s original work and offer constructive and critical feedback. 3 credits