Course of Study 524: “Theological Reflection on the Practice of Ministry”

The Mississippi Conference ~ The United Methodist Church

January 6-7& January 20-21, 2017

Instructor: Heather Hensarling

P. O. Box 629, Brookhaven, MS 39602

(228) 342-7575 ~

I. Course Goal: This course is the capstone to the student’s basic course of study. Its focus is the integration of the biblical, theological, and practical aspects of ministry. The ministry of the pastor as theologian and spiritual guide is carried out through preaching, teaching, pastoral counseling, and in living out one’s faith in the church and world. It comes to play also in the role of the pastor as administrator. The necessity of reflecting theologically on issues of faith, belief and action that arise for human beings falls upon all who are of the Body of Christ. It is therefore essential for pastors to equip themselves to guide their congregations in reflecting critically on these issues.

II. Course Objectives: that participants

  1. Articulate a Trinitarian theology for the practice of ministry;
  2. State clearly the nature and mission of the Church and its relation to pastoral ministry;
  3. Demonstrate the ability to reflect theologically;
  4. Develop a plan for lifelong theological reading, reflection, and growth

III. Texts: All texts listed below may be ordered through cokesbury.com or amazon.com. You can sometime get used copies at a reduced price through the latter. Please get these and begin reading them as soon as possible.

Required Reading:

  1. Vanhoozer, Kevin J., The Pastor as Public Theologian: Reclaiming a Lost Vision. Baker Academic, 2015.
  2. Cahalan, Kathleen. Introducing the Practice of Ministry. Collegeville, MNL Liturgical Press, 2010.
  3. Wood, Charles and Ellen Blue. Attentive to God: Thinking Theologically in Ministry. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2008.

Supplementary Reading:

  • Warner, Laceye and Ken Carder. The Grace to Lead: Practicing Leadership in the Wesleyan Tradition. Nashville: GBHEM, 2010.
  • Buechner, Frederick. The Sacred Journey: A Memoir of Early Days. New York: HarperOne, 1991.

IV. Course Requirements:

  1. Attendance at and participation in class sessions January 6-7and 20-21.
  2. Complete and submit all assignments on time:
  3. Pre-course assignment #1 (Wood & Blue)by January 2
  4. Pre-course assignment #2 (Calahan) by January 6. One must have completed these pre-course assignments to be admitted to class on January 7.
  5. Assignment #3 (Vanhoozer) by January 16.
  6. Optional: One rewrite of your choice due by January 27.
  7. Optional: Two-page synopsis and class presentation of salient points from Warner and Carder due by January 21.

Written assignments should either be sent to me by U. S. Mail at the above address or to by email at . Contact me by phone or email if you need clarification regarding any of these assignments.

V. Course Evaluation:

Academic standards are those expected in a course at Candler School of Theologyso that, when it is appropriate, seminary credit may be given. Good effort, good intention, and time spent on assignments, while welcome, are not the basis of grading.

The grade of “A” meansthat you have responded to your assignment on time, appropriately and accurately, that you have presented your thoughts clearly and coherently in your own words, and that you have given attention to good writing (for example, in spelling, grammar, and punctuation).

The grade of “B” means that you have succeeded in important ways. For example, you express your understanding of your reading clearly and meaningfully and show your grasp of the subject by demonstrating how it would apply to your life experience.

The grade of “C” means that you have met the minimum requirements of the assignment, but your work is lacking in important qualities.

The grade of “D” means that you have not met the minimum requirements of the assignment. Your paper has major problems.

Overall evaluation of the course will consider the quality of work on written assignments and also the quality of participation in class discussion. It is the quality of participation rather than the extent of participation that is valued. Your papers should be 12pt, double-spaced, one inch margins.

VI. Assignments:

  1. DUE JANUARY 2 – Read Wood and Blue’s book and write a four-page essay with the following components: 1) an analysis of how the authors define theology and why they believe it is essential to ministry; 2) an analysis of three of the cases the authors write about and how they make use of theological reflection in addressing the issues of each case; 3) a discussion of a situation you have had in your own appointment and how theological reflection helped or could have helped in your approach to addressing the issues of your case. Be prepared to be presented new “case studies” in class to discuss and respond to based on your reading.
  2. DUE JANUARY 6 – Upon arrival at class –Read Cahalan in its entirety. Select two chapters and write a synopsis of each including 1) your understanding of Cahalan’s intent in the chapter, and 2) what in this chapter resonates with you and your current ministry setting, and 3) why (or why not) the concepts presented in the chapter are important to the future of the United Methodist Church. Be prepared to work in teams to make an oral presentation to the class. Length: 6-8 pages.
  3. DUE JANUARY 16 – Read Vanhoozer and Strachan. Write, in your own words, a 5-8 page written analysis of their understanding of theology in the practice of ministry. Include at least one idea with which you agree and one idea with which you disagree. Be prepared to defend in class. Bring 3 questions or 3 areas of concern from the book for discussion in class on Jan 27-28.
  4. OPTIONAL WRITING ASSIGNMENT 1 DUE JANUARY 27 – If you would like an opportunity to improve your grade you may prepare a two-page synopsis and class presentation of the salient points found in the Warner and Carder book The Grace to Lead.
  5. OPTIONAL WRITING ASSIGNMENT 2 Due January 21 – If you would like an opportunity to improve your grade you may choose one paper to re-write and submit no later than Feb. 3.

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