SPST Course Descriptions

This course explores the ministry of pastoral care and how clergy, spiritual directors, chaplains and other spiritual care providers can respond to various needs that arise in ministry settings. Students will engage in a theologically informed relational paradigm that supports a framework for conceptualizing pastoral care responses. Recognizing that pastoral care is an embodied and contextual practice, students will also examine how the self and community enact care as a vessel for mutual healing and justice.

Often worship and preaching have been seen as two separate components of the spiritual life of a congregation. This course will explore how the two must be connected for a more holistic and formative experience for a congregation. Students will examine the purposes of worship and its biblical, theological, and historical roots. It also focuses on evaluating current trends in worship, learning how to plan and lead worship, including overseeing the sacraments/ordinances, and planning weddings and funerals. Students will also be introduced to the theology of preaching and to the principles of sermon construction and delivery, as well as the various sermon types and communication techniques used to convey the timeless message of Scripture within a contemporary setting.

Administration and Communications (3 hours). Pastoral leaders are tasked with overseeing the administrative and accountability structures of a congregation. This course will explore the theological and philosophical foundations of church administration, as well as the principles and practices of administration for ministry organizations covering finances (including non-traditional revenue streams, planned giving, endowments, and donor relations), buildings, staff and personnel relations, legal and safety concerns, information and communication systems, management of daily operations, and elder/board relations.

Explores advanced topics related to ministry, culture, and the church.

A specially designed and individually tailored course of research involving in-depth study of a particular question, problem, or issue presented by the student. The student must make application for the study prior to registration for the semester in which the study will be carried out. The application must be approved by the faculty member overseeing the study and the departmental chair. Special arrangements for regular courses of study must be approved by the dean.