Catalogue 2008 Book - Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

DEPARTMENT OF THE CHURCH’S MINISTRY
challenged to summon theological and caring resources in response to those perils. Readings
include patristic voices in the theological tradition, but focus primarily on understandings
of childhood since the Reformation. Additional readings are drawn from contemporary
pastoral theology and care. Figures include John Chrysostom, John Calvin, Menno Simons,
Horace Bushnell, Karl Barth, Karl Rahner, Andrew D. Lester, Donald Capps, and Bonnie
Miller-McLemore. Six credits. Messrs. Cole and Jensen
CM.363 PASTORAL CARE AND SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
Students draw on Christian traditions of spiritual guidance to examine the task of pastoral
care when the foci of the care receiver’s concerns are explicitly relationship with God, vocation,
and a life of worship, prayer, and service. Six credits. Mr. Cole
CM.375 FAMILIES IN PAIN
This course explores family loss and tragedies through the autobiographical perspective of a
family member. Key issues include suffering and regret, efforts to alleviate both, unanticipated
positive consequences of the experience, and religious convictions as means for coping. We
refl ect on the implications for pastoral ministry to suffering families affected by: accidental
death, suicide, alcoholism, homicide, mental illness, adoption, sexual identity disclosure,
and physical disability. Family systems and psychodynamic theories, as well as theological
and biblical perspectives, inform pastoral refl ection and practice. Prerequisite: CM.224 or
CM.226. Six credits. Mr. Cole
CM.379 PASTORAL CARE AND BEREAVEMENT
This course examines the issue of loss theologically, psychologically, and socioculturally,
providing resources for pastoral ministry. Emphasis is given to the minister’s own experience
with bereavement, to understanding various psychological theories of loss, and to providing
resources that may ameliorate grief (theological, literary, and psychotherapeutic). Attention
is given throughout to clarifying one’s theology of death as a precursor to providing pastoral
care involving death and dying. Children’s grief and pastoral resources for ministry with
children are also examined. Prerequisite: CM.224 or CM.226. Six credits. Mr. Cole
CM.385 HEALING AND HEALTH CARE MINISTRIES
This seminar examines healing as one of the classic functions of pastoral care in order to
assess the validity and viability of holistic healing ministry in the contemporary church and
in secular society. Through visitation to selected ministry settings, interviews and readings,
students acquire knowledge of a variety of models of healing ministry. Students refl ect on
theologies of prayer and construct their own theology of healing ministry. Prerequisite:
instructor’s permission. Six credits. Mr. Underwood
V. PREACHING AND WORSHIP
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
CM.122 THE CHURCH AS A WORSHIPING COMMUNITY
This course is designed to equip students to function responsibly in local congregations as
leaders of corporate worship. Students study the character and shape of the corporate worship
of congregations during various periods in the history of the church. In addition, students
investigate how liturgy and theology have been and continue to be related to each other in
the Christian movement. Then on the basis of this inquiry, which includes the examination
of various worship forms and expressions, the participants in the course are required to
produce in writing a theological rationale for the corporate worship of a particular church.
An examination of the place of music in corporate worship and of the role of the pastor as
a leader of worship on the occasions of funerals and weddings is an additional emphasis of
the course. Six credits. Mss. Lord and Sladine; Fall
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