Pastoral Theological Reflection on CPE

Rev. Dr. Ann L. Rosewall

847.638.7002 cell

Fall 2016

Saturdays September 24; October 15; 29; November 12

10a-12p & 1p-3p

Course Description:

The course is a companion to the CPE experience. Students will integrate their clinical learning with other disciplines (theology, worship and pastoral care) by means of presenting verbatim reports, designing rituals for occasions of illness and death, reflecting on God’s Trinitarian presence in times of crisis, and applicability of skills learned for other settings.

We will also clarify the role of the chaplain as it relates to the individual student’s call to ministry.

Course Objectives:

*understand the practical nature of pastoral theology.

* apply CPE learning to future ministry situations, and draw on these experiences as a resource for other seminary classes.

*apply clinical learning across cultural contexts as a means of dispelling discrimination and expanding theological perspectives

* receive seminary credit for the hours of practical work in a clinical setting.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Lead communities of faith with integrity, imagination and compassion.
  2. Perform the skills related to nurturing the life of faith (for self and others) including preaching, teaching, care-giving, leading public worship and public ministries.
  3. Work and worship with people from diverse backgrounds (racial, ethnic, religious) informed by knowledge from cross-cultural and anti-racist perspectives.
  4. Analyze social locations and cultural contexts in order to develop contextual forms of Christian ministry.
  5. Practice appropriate habits of spiritual formation and self-care and possess a growing, healthy sense of vocational identity.
  6. Articulate a point of view effectively and coherently in spoken and written communication.
  7. Demonstrate capacity to engage in cross-cultural ministries.

Primary Text

Professional Spiritual & Pastoral Care: A Practical Clergy And Chaplain’s HandbookStephen B. Roberts, Ed.

Woodstock, Vt: Skylight Paths Publishing, 2012

460 pp. Hardcover Edition, Second Printing

ISBN 978-1-59473-312-3

Approximate amount of work per week students can expect (reading, writing, etc.)

It is assumed that the bulk of time commitment is already accomplished with the completion of one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education – generally 350 contact hours of patient visits, group reflection, individual supervision and written verbatim reports.

This course will meet for four hours on four Saturdays in the Fall semester following summer intensive CPE. Reading will not exceed 100 pages per Saturday.

Course Outline

8 2-hour Saturday sessions:

Saturday, September 24, 10a-12noon

  1. General impressions
  2. CPE experience
  3. Reflection on future ministry/ effect on call to ministry

Saturday, September 24, 1p-3p

  1. Mock Verbatim report
  2. Opportunities missed
  3. Role of chaplain in care of the patient
  4. Applicable learnings across cultures
  5. Theological insights
  6. Intersection with other classes

Saturday, October 15, 10a-12noon

  1. Student verbatim reports to the class (see above outline for expected reflection)

Saturday, October 15, 1p-3p

  1. Know Thyself/ Know the Other
  2. Difference in these ways of knowing
  3. How to use this knowledge to improve ministry skills

Saturday, October 29, 10a-12noon

  1. Shared Experiences of CPE process
  2. With peers, supervisors, patients and clinical staff
  3. Reflect on issues: mutuality, support, authority, role clarification

Saturday, October 29, 1p-3p

  1. Student verbatim reports to the class (see outline from class session 2)

Saturday, November 12, 10a-12noon

  1. Illness, Death and the Pastoral Caregiver
  2. Impact of loss on the student and his/her ministry
  3. Completion of Advance Directives

Saturday, November 12, 1p-3p

  1. Pastoral Theology
  2. Turn in pastoral theological reflection on one ministry event
  3. Next steps in doing pastoral theology – praxis and beyond.

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