Catalogue 2008 Book - Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

THE PRACTICE OF MINISTRY
evangelism, stewardship, church administration, ministry with the elderly,
institutional chaplaincy, campus ministry, social action and service, pastoral care,
worship, children’s work, and youth ministry. The opportunity to take part in such
elective supervised practice of ministry must be arranged in advance through the
Offi ce of Supervised Practice of Ministry. Ordinarily students are permitted to register
for no more than six credits of elective SPM in any given fall, January, or spring term.
Students wishing to earn Supervised Practice of Ministry credit must participate
in SPM orientation, which is conducted prior to the beginning of each fall term,
and must work out the plan of study in conversation with the director of SPM. All
projected supervised practice of ministry placements are subject to the approval of
the SPM director and the academic dean.
ALTERNATIVE SETTINGS FOR MINISTRY: OUTPATIENT REHABILITATION
PROGRAM FOR CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY
Students enrolled in this course learn about addiction and the twelve-step recovery
process of Alcoholics Anonymous by means of required reading and lectures. They
also explore the dynamics of chemical dependency with a medical professional, a
family therapist and a spiritual director, and with persons affected by the disease.
Students prepare a fi nal project in which they refl ect theologically upon their learning
experience. Six credits.. January
CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION
Austin Seminary, through various clinical settings, offers clinical pastoral education
as a part of its program of study. In this specialized program, students clarify
and increase their understanding of the resources, methods, and meaning of the
Christian faith as expressed in pastoral care and develop skills critical for the practice
of ministry. This educational experience is clinical in setting and interdisciplinary
in character, and is conducted under the supervision of a certifi ed clinical pastoral
educator. Clinical pastoral education is ordinarily taken during the middler or
senior year for a period of at least ten weeks in the summer, but also may be taken
concurrently with other course work. Twelve credits are awarded for a basic unit of
clinical pastoral education. Ordinarily, clinical pastoral education cannot be used
to meet the supervised practice of ministry requirement.
Opportunities for clinical pastoral education are available in centers accredited
by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. The Southwest offers a variety
of training centers in general hospitals, mental health institutions, and local
congregations. Information is available through the Offi ce of Supervised Practice
of Ministry. Arrangements for clinical pastoral education are initiated through the
SPM offi ce in conversation with the SPM director.
PASTORAL CARE IN A HOSPITAL SETTING I
This seminar introduces the student to pastoral care in a hospital setting through
practice of ministry, group verbatim conferences, individual supervisory conferences,
and written evaluations of student performance and growth. Particular attention is
focused on church ordinances, theological concepts, and biblical interpretation as
resources for pastoral care. Prerequisite: second year standing. Six credits. January
PASTORAL CARE IN A HOSPITAL SETTING II
In this course students gain experience in hospital visitation and in practical training
for ethical issues arising in health care, and actively contribute as members of the
72