Syllabi, lectures, presentations, and other items from courses taught by APT members related to practical theology and related disciplines.
ED101 – Introduction to the Teaching Ministry
How do people come to the Christian faith? By what practices do they become established and mature in the faith? In what ways do people live out their Christian faith in the various activities of life? These questions have been at the heart of the church’s educational ministry through the ages. This course provides an orientation to Christian education by exploring the theoretical, historical, and practical dimensions of this crucial ministry of the church. The course begins with a consideration of several ways to answer the question, “What is Christian education?” It then moves into an extended exploration of the rich history of educational ministry not only as legacy, but also as resource for educational ministry today. With this rich fund of theoretical and historical perspectives in mind, the latter section of the course focuses on practical considerations related to the complex tasks of helping people of all ages and stages come to the faith, grow in the faith, and live out the faith.
ED295 – Trinitarian Practical Theology of Christian Formation
Many theologians today make the case that the doctrine of the Trinity – properly conceived – is thoroughly and utterly practical in character. This means that the doctrine of the Trinity carries profound implications for forming individuals and communities in the Christian faith. This course will explore a range of ways in which the practical character of the doctrine of the Trinity might be construed. The practical dimensions of the doctrine of the Trinity will be explored specifically in relation to practices of ecclesial pedagogy. Course participants will read assigned texts not only as theological treatises, but also as educational documents. Participants will consider the possible contributions the assigned texts might make to such crucial educational issues as the aims of education, the shape of the curriculum, methods of teaching, and the role of the teacher.
PC501 – Introduction to Pastoral Care
This course introduces students to theories and methods of general pastoral care in congregations (as distinguished from extended pastoral counseling). Emphasis is on the pastor’s identity and work as caregiver and leader in a community of faith. Therefore general methods, theories, and principles are considered as means of enhancing the quality of congregational life as a caring community, and it is assumed that care is mediated through acts of pastoral leadership, liturgy, preaching, and the forming of congregational life and program as well as through individual conversation and counseling. Specific personal and interpersonal issues that often come to a pastor’s attention are of course also considered in some depth, including illness, death, grief, marriage, family, addiction, violence, and sexuality.
PC603 – Contemporary Issues in Pastoral Care
The general purpose of this course is to broaden and deepen the student’s knowledge of selected issues in contemporary pastoral care, building on basic understandings developed in the introductory course, PC-501. The course combines study of one major contemporary text that provides an advanced theoretical understanding of pastoral care (Larry Kent Graham’s Care of Persons—Care of Worlds) with attention to a variety of specific topics, especially matters of current importance or interest. It also includes a brief, preliminary study of pastoral communication and relationship intended to extend the student’s knowledge of this topic gained in PC-501. However, much of the course is designed to enable students to pursue issues in pastoral care of greatest interest to them, and a considerable expectation is placed on the student for identifying, studying, and reporting on such areas, including developing relevant and appropriate bibliographies. In addition to informal lectures and discussions on the Graham text, class time includes a number of days devoted to role plays and pastoral care reports, and to reports of student research. Regular student attendance, preparation, and participation are therefore expected.
PC615 – Theological Dimensions of Pastoral Care
The course is designed to help you develop your ability to relate theology in practical and profound ways to your ministry of pastoral care, and to develop your own theology of pastoral care in dialogue with a few of the important theologies of our time. A major emphasis is given to the theological analysis of pastoral caregiving events in lecture, classroom presentations and discussions and in your written work. Attention is also given to ways in which the experiences and challenges of pastoral ministry “talk back” to theology and help us rethink our faith by posing the great questions of human existence related to such issues as the nature and meaning of life and death, illness, tragedy, grief, guilt, shame, failure, love, work, sexuality, community, joy, despair, anxiety, hatred, forgiveness, the quest for meaning and healing, religious experience, gender and cultural difference, social injustice, oppression, and violence.
