Catalogue 2008 Book - Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

DEPARTMENT OF THE CHURCH’S MINISTRY
addiction, sexual abuse and domestic violence, marriage and family relationships, crisis
intervention, and diversity. Six credits. Mr. Cole; Fall
CM.268 PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION
This course introduces students to the application of psychological theories and methods to
the study of religion, with particular emphasis on the works of James, Freud, Jung, Rizzuto,
Meissner, Otto, Erikson, Hopkins, Ulanov, Capps, and Kristeva. Attention is given throughout
to the relevance of the psychology of religion for pastoral theology and the task of pastoral
care. Six credits. Mr. Cole
CM.341 PASTORAL CARE AND THE LIFE CYCLE
This course explores life cycle theory as a foundation for pastoral care. Special attention is
given to Erik H. Erikson’s life cycle theory, its eight psychosocial stages, its schedule of virtues,
and his thoughts on identity, gender, minority status in American society, aging and old age,
and the place of religion in contemporary life. The work of those infl uenced by Erikson’s
thought and critical of it is examined, as is the relevance of life cycle theory for contemporary
pastoral care. Six credits. Mr. Cole
CM.343 PASTORAL CARE OF FAMILIES
This course explores theological, psychosocial, and cultural perspectives on family life and
development as these inform pastoral work with families. Biblical and theological resources
are placed in conversation with the human sciences as a means for refl ecting on and practicing
pastoral care and counseling with couples and families in contemporary contexts. Prerequisite:
CM.224 or CM.226. Six credits. Mr. Cole
CM.347 ADVANCED PASTORAL COUNSELING
This course provides advanced training in short-term pastoral counseling. Attention is given
to conceptualizing pastoral counseling as ministry, to developing counseling skills through
case study analysis, and to refl ecting on and evaluating counseling practice. Additional course
goals include enhancing the counselor’s knowledge of self and environment, and acquiring
more expertise in various pastoral and counseling perspectives, including psychodynamic,
systems, solution-focused, and narrative. Six credits. Prerequisite: CM.226. Mr. Cole
CM.349 MINISTRY WITH ANXIOUS PERSONS
This seminar explores what makes individuals anxious and how to support and nurture them
in ministry. Theological perspectives on personhood, relationship, and on what may prompt
and alleviate anxiety are considered, as are perspectives provided by the human arts and
sciences. Special attention is given to how the faith community may offer unique resources
for preventing and easing anxiety, how unexamined and unchecked anxiety is often linked
with confl ict, and how the minister’s own anxiety may be affected by ministry with anxious
persons. Resources for the minister’s self care are proposed and evaluated. Prerequisite: CM.224
or CM.226. Six credits. Mr. Cole
CM.359 PASTORAL CARE AND THE MEANS OF GRACE
The context for this course is the potential impact of liturgical renewal on the pastoral care
movement. In this seminar students refl ect pastorally and personally on the signifi cance of
ordinary means of grace. Prayer, Scripture, baptism, celebration of the eucharist, absolution,
and other means of grace in the life and ministry of Christians are analyzed and interpreted
with the aid of theological and psychological resources. Students explore the implications of
their insights on these topics for pastoral ministry. Six credits. Mr. Underwood
CM./TH.361 CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY AND CARE OF CHILDREN
This course explores several dimensions in the Christian theological understanding of children
and childhood with implications for pastoral care. Topics for examination include baptism,
childhood and the image of God, sin, the family, and Christian nurture. Students also pay
particular attention to the multiple threats to children’s lives in the present age and are
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