Pastoral Ministry (PMGR)

PMGR 6510. Theology of Ministry. (3 Credits)

This course treats ministry as a culturally complex and theologically significant practice. Starting from contemporary concerns, we ask where ministry comes from, what it can be today, and where it might go. We focus on developing responsible and relevant accounts of ministry that enrich practice today.

Attribute: PSNM.

PMGR 6600. Religion & Criminal Justice. (3 Credits)

What are the various goals and aims of criminal justice ministry? What do or how might religious beliefs or practices shape or guide different approaches to ministry? How might we respond to critiques of criminal justice ministry as supporting practices of domination and punishment? This course will explore theories, theologies, and practices of criminal justice ministry in an age of mass incarceration. We will investigate religious and faith-based responses to the needs of those impacted by the criminal justice system as well as responses to the crisis of mass incarceration. This includes examining approaches to ministry with or by people living in incarceration as well as preventative, post-incarceration, decarceration, and abolitionist ministries.

PMGR 6612. Ministry with Latinxs. (3 Credits)

This course presents a comprehensive introduction to the principal issues related to U.S. Latinx Christianities from an ecumenical perspective. The course is divided into three parts: The Landscape of Latinxs in the U.S., Latinxs and the Churches, and Hispanic Ministries. Among the topics covered are: the history of the principal Latinx groups in the U.S. (Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Dominicans, and Central Americans), the churches’ responses to Latinxs, parish ministry, youth ministry, the sacraments, popular religiosity, and an introduction to U.S. Latinx/Hispanic theology.

PMGR 6613. U.S. Latinx Theology. (3 Credits)

PMGR 6616. Latinx Preaching. (3 Credits)

A practicum in preaching to Latinx congregations with review of the pertinent literature on different preaching styles and Latinx audiences. Facility in Spanish required.

PMGR 6617. Latinx Spirituality. (3 Credits)

This course presents an introduction to the way Latinos and Latinas live out their relationship or faith in God or spirituality. While the focus of the course will be on Latinx Christian spirituality—both Catholic and Protestant—attention will also be paid to non-Christian Latinx spiritualities, especially Santería. We begin with an overview of the variety of spiritualities practiced by Latinos and Latinas and then proceed topically looking at popular Catholicism, the Latinx celebration of the sacraments, Marian devotion (especially to Our Lady of Guadalupe), New Ecclesial Movements (especially the Charismatic Renewal and the Neo-Catechumenal Way), Mainline Latinx Protestant spirituality, and Latinx Pentecostalism.

Attribute: CSGE.

PMGR 6618. Hisp Family Ministry & Catechesis. (3 Credits)

Latinxs are deeply religious, and their way of experiencing God and life is often different from that the U.S. mainstream culture. This course will study the lived reality of U.S. Hispanic families. It will challenge participants to critically reflect, analyze, and articulate in what ways family ministry and family catechesis is embodied in families and faith communities today; to explore what helps or hinders religious development within families, and the responsibility of church and society to foster growth in faith; to explore experientially based frameworks for ministering with Latinx communities; and to nuance their role as religious educators. Our conversation partners will include the writings of U.S. Hispanic theologians and religious educators.

PMGR 6621. Women & Ministry. (3 Credits)

Women have contributed much to ministry throughout its history. However, their leadership and contributions have rarely been free from controversy. This course will look closely at biblical hermeneutics, church traditions, practical applications, and emerging developments in U.S. women’s ministry. Some of the questions we will deliberate on at length include: How are women involved in ministry today—and how did we get here? What makes women’s ministries successful? How do we reenvision and revitalize women’s current models of women’s ministries? How can diversity be an asset to women’s ministries?.

PMGR 6650. Ethics in Pastoral Ministry. (3 Credits)

Ethics in Pastoral Ministry is an online course that addresses ethical conduct in ministry for professionals working in a supervisory or leadership capacity with emphasis on legal issues and moral decision-making. The course will focus on the formation of conscience as it relates to the self, ministry, and society. It includes case studies and the application of ethical principles to real-life situations as well as the study of theory. It is theoretical, establishing a theological basis for ethical conduct and moral decision-making, and practical, giving students skills and resources to deal with the various issues they may encounter in ministry .

PMGR 6688. Issues in Pastoral Studies. (3 Credits)

This is a special issues course in pastoral studies. Each time the course runs it will be focused on a unique and current aspect of ministry. Please see the course book for the term in question to find a description of the course as it will run each time it is given.

PMGR 7713. U.S. Latinx Theology. (3 Credits)

This course presents an introduction to the theological output of U.S. Latinx theologians from an ecumenical perspective. We begin with an overview of U.S. Latinx theology as a contextual theology. We then proceed topically, looking at U.S. Latinx Catholic theology, U.S. Latina feminist theology, and U.S. Latinx Protestant theology. This course is for Doctor of Ministry students only, and it will require doctoral-level participation and additional research/writing elements.

PMGR 7721. Women & Ministry. (3 Credits)

Women have contributed much to ministry throughout its history. However, their leadership and contributions have rarely been free from controversy. This course will look closely at biblical hermeneutics, church traditions, practical applications, and emerging developments in U.S. women’s ministry. Some of the questions we will deliberate on include: How are women involved in ministry today—and how did we get here? What makes women’s ministries successful? How do we reenvision and revitalize women’s current models of women’s ministries? How can diversity be an asset to women’s ministries?.

PMGR 8030. M.A. Integrating Seminar. (3 Credits)

Integration is the goal of the Pastoral Studies and Religious Education programs, as well as a capacity that is important for holistic educational and ministerial practice. This course facilitates consolidating what students have learned through their studies in a way that serves their practice, while also teaching ways of integration that help students’ practice beyond the course. Students will gather their learning throughout their degree program into five “coordinates” of integration, in a way that pays attention to the dynamic relationship between the past, present and future of their practice, leading to an Integrating Project.

PMGR 8530. Evangelization: Faith & Culture. (3 Credits)

This course is a theological exploration that treats evangelization as an important stake in Christian tradition that involves Christian practice with practices of contemporary society. We look continually to the real-world contexts of students and to an intensive consideration of what evangelization entails in a culturally, religiously diverse world.

Attribute: PSNM.

PMGR 8628. Pastoral and Practical Theology. (3 Credits)

This is a class about the foundations and formations of practice-minded theologies, especially as those theologies inform and enrich the practice of pastoral professionals. Fundamental questions about the relationship between religious tradition and contemporary practice are explored.

PMGR 8632. Research Seminar: Pastoral Theology and Practice. (3 Credits)

This seminar prepares D.Min. students to write their doctoral thesis. We explore some fundamental approaches to conducting research into pastorally significant experience today, so as to deepen students' research competence and facilitate readiness for conducting ministry-relevant research. Students will generate a sound draft of a proposal for their D.Min. thesis.

PMGR 8650. Ethics in Pastoral Ministry. (3 Credits)

This course is for doctoral students only. It addresses ethical conduct in ministry for professionals working in a supervisory or leadership capacity, with an emphasis on legal issues and moral decision-making. The course will focus on the formation of conscience as it relates to the self, ministry, and society. It includes case studies and the application of ethical principles to real-life situations as well as the study of theory. It is both theoretical, establishing a theological basis for ethical conduct and moral decision-making, and practical, giving students skills and resources to deal with the various issues they may encounter in ministry.

PMGR 9999. ST Tutorial-Pastoral Ministry. (3 Credits)

This course is reserved for students pursuing a special research topic in Pastoral Ministry with the approval of the area faculty and Dean.