Ministry (MIN)
MIN 593NE
The History and Discipline of The Wesleyan Church
Credits: 2
Through self-directed study and classroom discussion, students will investigate the pertinent historical, theological, and governmental documents of The Wesleyan Church. This course is designed to meet the ordination requirements for The Wesleyan Church. Taught by a denominationally-approved instructor.
MIN 594NE
Doctrine, History, and Polity of The United Methodist Church
Credits: 2
Through self-directed study and classroom discussion, students will investigate the pertinent historical, theological, and governmental documents of The United Methodist Church. This course is designed to meet the ordination requirements for The United Methodist Church. Taught by denominationally-approved instructor.
MIN 595NE
Lutheran Theology and Practice
Credits: 4
Through self-directed study and classroom discussion, students will investigate the pertinent historical, theological, and governmental documents of Lutheranism. This course is designed to meet the ordination requirements of the various branches of the Lutheran tradition (ECLA, MS, LCMC, etc.). Taught by denominationally-approved instructors.
MIN 596NE
History and Polity of the Free Methodist Church
Credits: 2
Through self-directed study and classroom discussion, students will investigate the pertinent historical, theological, and governmental documents of the Free Methodist Church of North America. This course is designed to meet the ordination requirements for the Free Methodist Church.
MIN 597NE
Doctrine, History, and Polity of the American Baptist Church
Credits: 2
Through self-directed study and classroom discussion, students will investigate the pertinent historical, theological, and governmental documents of the American Baptist Church. This course is designed to meet the ordination requirements of the American Baptist Church. Taught by a denominationally-approved instructor.
MIN 598NE
Doctrine, History, and Polity of the Nazarene Church
Credits: 2
Through self-directed study and classroom discussion, students will investigate the pertinent historical, theological, and governmental documents of the Nazarene Church. This course is designed to meet the ordination requirements of the Nazarene Church. Taught by a denominationally-approved instructor.
MIN 599NE
Doctrine, History, and Polity of the Presbyterian Church
Credits: 3-4
Through self-directed study and classroom discussion, students will investigate the pertinent historical, theological, and governmental documents of the Presbyterian Church, PC (USA). This course is designed to meet the ordination requirements of the Presbyterian Church. Taught by a denominationally-approved instructor.
MIN 620NE
Fundamentals of Transformational Leadership
Credits: 2-3
This course explores the process by which God calls and prepares people for leadership and gives attention to the development of the inner life and character of an effective leader. The course will contribute to the student’s self-understanding and the identification and appreciation of personal and professional strengths. In addition, attention will be given to clarifying personal leadership vulnerabilities and developing a plan for life-long growth as a leader. Students will clarify their personal ministry values and priorities and reflect on the nature of ethical decision making in leadership. Beyond self-leadership, students will consider the fundamentals of transformational leadership including the principles of communication and the constructive use of criticism and resistance. Transformational theory will be presented and illustrated through the use of case studies.
MIN 621NE
Worship Leadership
Credits: 2
This course examines the history, theology, and practice of Christian worship from an ecumenical perspective. It surveys major features of worship, including the Christian calendar, word and sacrament, the role of music, liturgical space, and occasional services. In addition to classical patterns, the course discusses contemporary trends in worship, including the liturgical renewal movement, charismatic and neo-Pentecostal influences, and the seeker-service movement. The aim of the course is to guide the student in building a foundation for the ministry of worship planning and leadership.
MIN 623NE
Church Administration
Credits: 2
Resting on the classical concepts of church administration as “administry,” this course seeks to develop pastoral competencies for stewardship of the Church’s human and temporal resources. The course explores the biblical, historical, and theological roots of pastoral leadership. Course participants work on the development of skills in the areas of organizational management, congregational development, equipping for ministry, and mission planning.
MIN 624NE
Pastoral Care
Credits: 2
This course surveys the history, theology, and practice of the care of souls in the Christian tradition. Employing the analogy of a physician’s care for the physical body, the course seeks to develop proficiencies necessary in the pastor’s responsibility to care for the spiritual person. Among the issues explored, specific attention is given to pastoral visitation, spiritual direction, pastoral counsel, crisis ministries, care of the dying, and development of Christian community.
MIN 625NE
Evangelism and Discipleship
Credits: 2
This course explores the theory, strategy, and methodology of the Church’s ministry of evangelism and discipleship. The course seeks to develop an approach to evangelism that is a natural expression of the Christian faith, appropriate to its cultural context, and rooted in the truth of Scripture. Both Church systems and individual practices of evangelism and discipleship will be discussed in light of foundational theological truths.
MIN 626NE
Leadership Development
Credits: 2
Rooted in a Christological model of biblical servanthood, this course examines the pastoral role in the development of congregational leadership. Topics of study include personal leadership, team building, the development of reproducible systems, board and staff development, and the identification, training, empowering, and nurturing of the laity for ministry. The course explores strategies for achieving both missional faithfulness and organizational effectiveness in the life of the local congregation.
MIN 627NE
Interpreting the Scriptures
Credits: 2
Within the Holy Scriptures, we find the primary written witness to the revelation of God. Hence the Scriptures have, since the beginning of the Church, been read in public worship, studied in private devotion, and employed as the final authority in theological debate. This course will explore the place of the Scriptures in the life of the Church in several regards: as the primary written source of divine revelation, the methodologies employed by the historic Church and in modern critical studies, and the contemporary appropriation of the Scriptures in the life of the Church and of the Christian.
MIN 628NE
Teaching Doctrine
Credits: 2
This course introduces students to the teaching of doctrine in the pastoral work. Students will consider catechesis in various ecclesial settings: historical (the classical catechisms) and contemporary; children and adult; as well as in evangelism, membership, and nurture.
MIN 629NE
Lectionary Preaching
Credits: 3
The Lectionary, which follows the church year, is a helpful tool for both personal study and sermon preparation, covering a major portion of the Bible over a three-year period. This course will focus on using the Lectionary to the best advantage, understanding both its benefits and pitfalls. This course will address how to speak through the Lectionary to relevant topics in the culture and the Church. The act of preaching in the congregation lies at the core of what defines a pastor; therefore, pastors should continually seek ways to expand their preaching repertoire and develop their preaching skills. Each student will have the opportunity to preach at least once from Lectionary passages corresponding to the week he/she is assigned to preach. The focus will be placed on: sermon preparation and delivery; faithfulness to the biblical text(s); and relevancy in preaching.
MIN 630NE
Expository Preaching
Credits: 3
Expository preaching seeks to present sermons which are true to the message and form of a biblical passage, drawing their ideas from the biblical text itself; expository preachers typically work consecutively through a biblical book or section of a book. This course will trace the move from text to sermon and aid students in the study, shaping, and presentation of sermons which follow Scripture. Each student will preach at least once in class. The beginning stages of the class will examine the spiritual life of the minister, with a particular focus on prayer, and then move to the study and exegesis of individual biblical passages. The class will then study the transition from text to sermon, with special attention to the sermon having a form which fits the form of the biblical passage. The class will conclude with work on effective public presentation.
MIN 632NE
Chaplaincy Seminar
Credits: 2
This course provides students with an overview of the complexities of the specialized role of chaplains within a variety of contexts including: healthcare and correctional facilities, schools, fire and police departments and the military. Students will consider topics such as the history of the profession and the professional identity of chaplains, ministry within complex institutional systems, assessing individual spiritual needs, expanding cultural competence, faith as it relates to ethical decision-making, and providing pastoral and emotional/spiritual support to others, as well as caring for staff and caregivers. In addition, students will be introduced to the various competencies expected of board-certified chaplains and will explore the regulations related to healthcare privacy. Students will have the opportunity to expand their understanding of the importance of research in ministry and the need to develop self-care practices. The course will include presentations from chaplains serving in a variety of setting and will enable the student to compare the uniqueness and commonalities of ministry within each context.
MIN 633NE
Ministry in a Multifaith World
Credits: 2
This course explores the global character of the church and the practice of ministry in the multifaith and multicultural context of contemporary society. Attention is given to the wide diversity of religious traditions present in the potential ministry settings and considers how the church can serve with faithfulness and respect in a religiously pluralistic culture. Students will have the opportunity to develop their theological convictions in dialog with other religious traditions and gain skills in interfaith engagement as an expression of their Christian discipleship. This course is cross-listed as THE 633NE.
MIN 634NE
Introduction to Military Chaplaincy
Credits: 2
This course will introduce the student to the military culture, its customs, and their importance for ministry. Within this context, the students will learn how to integrate their ministry into their assigned unit’s mission along with the Chaplain’s Military School Training. In particular, the student will learn the importance of the Commander’s Master Religion Program (CMRP) and how to complete it for the Commander’s approval. A spiritual assessment will be introduced to assist the student/Chaplain to ascertain the needs of the Soldiers. Resiliency Training will also be provided along with approved marriage programs such as the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP).
MIN 635NE
Moral Injury
Credits: 2
Moral injury is a term used to describe extreme and unprecedented life experience including the harmful aftermath of exposure to such events. In the Armed Forces, it focuses on the trauma of those who experience deep inner wounds created by an incongruity between their actions and convictions of right and wrong. This course will examine the differences between moral injury and PTSD and other frequent diagnoses related to trauma experienced in the military. Focus will then be given to the nature and devastating effects of moral injury along with ways to identify and enter its brokenness in order to move toward health and wholeness.
MIN 641NE
Topics in Contemporary Ministries
Credits: 2 or 3
This course will be offered periodically focusing on a variety of topics relevant to ministry in the 21st century. In addition, students may attend any number of national or regional church seminars with prior faculty approval. Students attending church seminars will contact a faculty member and do additional independent or classroom study to earn graduate credits. Prior approval required.
[Prerequisite: by petition through advisor]
MIN 642NE
The Black Church and Community (Contemporary Perspectives)
Credits: 2
Students are introduced to the state and status of the contemporary Black Church in relation to its history, the African American community, and its social institutions. The course will consider the changed role of the Black Church since the Civil Rights movement, and the developmental issues faced by the Black Church at the beginning of the 21st century. Students will explore the potential benefit of grafting practices of the Black Church into the social and worship life of European American congregations.
MIN 645NE
Nurturing Healthy Families
Credits: 2
This course focuses on understanding and ministering to families using a developmental life-cycle perspective. A model for ministry to families across the developmental life cycle will be constructed. Case studies will be examined and discussed in several class sessions. Attention will be focused on fostering healthy Christian families. Students will develop skills in mapping and analyzing families using genograms and home visitations. They will formulate strategies for ministering to families with common variations such as single parent, blended, and elderly families.
MIN 646NE
Disability Awareness for Christian Ministers and Laypersons
Credits: 2
This course will focus on the diverse needs of individuals living with disabilities, with an emphasis on how to improve awareness, accessibility, and inclusion at the local church or ministry level. Barriers which have their roots in historical, societal, and religious perceptions of inferiority will be analyzed for their intended or unintended consequences in society-at-large and particularly, within the Church. Topics will include: sensory impairments, mobility challenges, Christian education for individuals with different needs, ministering to those with mental illness, supporting parents of children with disabilities, and disability etiquette. Students will have the opportunity to analyze their own ministry setting for accessibility and write a feasible plan of improvement for at least one area of recognized need.
MIN 647NE
Ministry to the Dying and Bereaved
Credits: 2
This course seeks to develop pastoral leadership skills to provide spiritual care to those experiencing loss and grief. The course focuses on the role of the minister in providing understanding, guidance, and support to children and young, middle, and senior adults. Strategies for helping people of all ages cope with loss and grief will be discussed. Cultural practices relative to funerals, graveside services, viewing, cremation, and hospital visitation will be explored. Participants will develop listening skills and the ability to interpret and use Scripture appropriately within the context of loss.
MIN 648NE
Leadership for Church Growth
Credits: 2
This course provides an understanding of how to lead churches according to size. The focus is on learning how small, middle-sized, and large churches operate, and how an effective leader functions in each of these settings. The topics studied include: the five levels of leadership; barriers to growth faced by small, middle-sized, and large churches and how to adjust one’s leadership style as the church grows. The process of implementing change according to church size is also addressed. This course is designed to help a pastor grow as an effective leader as the church grows.
MIN 649NE
Contemporary Ethical Issues
Credits: 2
This course is designed to help those in, or entering, ministry to understand better their own ethical perspective and apply it to significant ethical questions facing society today. Issues to be covered include: approaches to ethical decision-making (both general and explicitly Christian), bioethical issues (reproductive technology, genetic screening, and physician-assisted suicide), social issues (pornography, sexual harassment), and business issues (job discrimination, capitalism). This course is cross-listed as SOC 649NE.
MIN 650NE
Bioethics and Ministry in the 21st Century
Credits: 2
Human cloning is very near. Healthcare rationing is an increasing reality. Comfort care for the dying increasingly hastens death. This course is designed to help those currently in, or entering, ministry to understand better their own ethical perspective (their own general approach to ethical decision-making) and how this perspective applies to bioethical tensions such as those mentioned above. Students will have the opportunity to prepare and present a detailed analysis of an ethical issue they perceive to be of particular social significance. This course is cross-listed as SOC 650NE.
MIN 651NE
Seeker-Sensitive Ministry: Evangelism in a Postmodern Culture
Credits: 2
The course will focus on how to reach people for Jesus Christ in a postmodern, pre-Christian culture using culturally relevant biblical techniques that are working in cutting edge churches around the country. The three primary objectives of the course will be (1) learning what a culturally relevant ministry looks like, (2) learning the cultural tendencies of postmodern pre-Christians, and (3) learning how to take a church into a plan that is culturally relevant without killing the church in the process. The course will work on being unusually practical with direct ministry application immediately possible. The theme is that God wants the Church to be effective in the manner read about in the book of Acts. Many churches are, but many more can be.
MIN 652NE
Navigating the Minefield of the Parish: Conflict in the Local Church
Credits: 2
How should church leaders respond when a member, a sub-group, or the entire congregation “gets mad” at them? What should they do when members of the church or the staff are fighting among themselves? What can leaders do when the congregation gets upset with the ecclesiastical hierarchy outside the local church? The church leader’s role as referee, mediator, and conciliator will be examined in this seminar, as well as their personal involvement as participant or bystander, and (most importantly) as a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.
MIN 653NE
Developing Christian Community through Small Groups
Credits: 2
Rooted in a biblical understanding of koinonia, this course examines the role of small groups in the local church today. Topics of study include the biblical foundations, the mission and philosophy, and the leading and organization of small groups. This course explores strategies for developing authentic community and empowering leaders through effective small groups in the local congregation.
MIN 654NE
The Fundamentals of Finance for Ministers and Churches
Credits: 2
This course is designed to help church administrators and those currently in (or entering) ministry understand the fundamentals of finance, an area of vulnerability for many ministers and churches. The process of developing personal and church budgets will be discussed. Proper procedures will be identified for handling monies, record keeping, controlling expenditures, and auditing. Available resources and tools for the management of both personal and church finances will be introduced. Students will be taught how to read and interpret financial statements. Each student will examine in-depth a specific ministry to understand the challenges of managing it financially and creating a financial plan and “balance sheet” for that ministry.
MIN 656NE
Engaging the Mass Media: Strategies for Advancing Christian Perspectives
Credits: 2
Are the news media unfair to Christians? Are reporters hostile to faith? Can men and women of God represent Christian values to readers, listeners, and viewers through communications media that are often viewed as secular and humanistic? This course seeks to guide the student in an understanding of news-media values and how Christians can gainfully represent their beliefs and actions through this critical medium. Students will learn skills in preparing for news-media engagements including editorial articles, media appearances, and one-on-one interviews. Designed to combine theory and practice, the course will focus on the development of a media-messaging strategy that effectively engages postmodern culture while advancing the priorities and principles of the Kingdom of God.
MIN 657NE
Sacred Texts, Sacred Music
Credits: 2
Well chosen songs and hymns for Christian worship make Scripture memorable, teach doctrine, interpret biblical texts, and provide a vocabulary of feeling for human religious experience. Choices for worship should emphasize the words which are sung rather than focusing primarily on details of musical style. This course provides a survey of Scripture and doctrine in texts for use in church singing in a variety of settings (classical, traditional, and contemporary) in light of the theology of worship. Examples also will illustrate theological considerations such as matching the text and music to the place of worship; maximizing participation in worship; using sacred music in spiritual formation, both for personal devotions and group study; and finding and incorporating lost resources in contemporary worship.
MIN 658NE
Emerging and Postmodern Church
Credits: 2
This course examines and evaluates the effects of the nebulous cultural mood/movement known as postmodernism on contemporary church life in general and the emerging church movement in particular. Students are given the opportunity to read major postmodern theorists (e.g., Derrida, Lyotard, Foucault, and Baudrillard) and assess the impact of their thought on well known ‘emerging’ authors (e.g., John Caputo, James K.A. Smith, Tony Jones, etc). Attention is given particularly to questions of truth, consumerism, doxology and mission.
MIN 659NE
Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings
Credits: 2
At the beginning of the 21st century, Tolkien’s works are enjoying renewed popularity. This course will examine The Lord of the Ringsin light of other texts by Tolkien such as The Silmarillion; The Tolkien Reader; and Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien as well as secondary texts such as Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter; and Tolkien: Man and Myth by Joseph Pearce. The students will consider themes of good, evil, temptation, mercy, and redemption in Tolkien’s writing, as well as biblical and mythological influences on his texts.
MIN 660NE
Church Planting
Credits: 2
Starting a new church isn’t as simple as hanging a sign on the front of a building that says, “New church meets here: everyone is welcome!” The starting of a church that is truly effective requires a successful progression through well established stages of development (much like the child development process in the womb) and the careful development of key strategies and systems that allow the church to start and stay healthy. The course will provide a comprehensive primer on the preparation, the personnel, the principles, and the process of planting a church as well as examining what to expect and prepare for in the early years of the church. The course is not only vital for those considering involvement in or the starting of a new church, but it will help anyone desiring to restart or bring renewal to an established church.
MIN 662NE
Effective Youth Ministry
Credits: 2
This course will explore the foundations for building an effective youth ministry. Course material will address both the theoretical and practical issues involved in the construction of relevant, contemporary youth ministries. These include a theological understanding of youth ministry, the dynamics of cultural and congregational systems, and an overview of adolescence and faith development. Students will also consider the topics of meaningful youth programs, service learning as faith in action, resources for the journey, and care for the youth worker.
MIN 663NE
Faith-Based Community and Economic Development
Credits: 2
This course is designed to help ordained ministers, lay leaders, or those currently in (or entering) ministry understand the fundamentals of faith-based community and economic development. This is an arena of both opportunity and vulnerability for many ministers and churches. The process of developing nonprofit organizations will be discussed. Proper procedures will be identified for developing collaborative relationships with local, state, and federal organizations. Available resources and tools for establishing community development corporations will be introduced. Students will be taught how to create and manage resources from diverse funding sources. Each student will examine a specific ministry in-depth to understand the challenges of managing it, and to create a strategic and tactical plan for that church, ministry, or organization.
MIN 664NE
Multicultural Worship
Credits: 2
This course contains an in-depth look at the current trend of praise and worship which has crossed denominational and cultural boundaries in the body of Christ. It will review its theological and historical foundations, as well as its usefulness in multi-cultural worship settings. The course will provide training for effective worship leadership and for planning the praise and worship portion of the worship service. It will review the role of music in the worship service and provide practical worship experiences.
MIN 665NE
Building a Leadership Legacy: Finishing Well from the Start
Credits: 2
This course will explore the deep, positive influence of legacy on the Christian leader’s ministry, from the start and through the transitions that will naturally follow. It will examine several examples in Scripture of how a legacy was cultivated, the essentials and dynamics of legacy today, and the development of strategies that will foster a vibrant legacy appropriate to each student’s ministry.
MIN 667NE
The Fantasy Literature of Tolkien and Lewis
Credits: 3
This course will look at fantasy works by both authors, and Tolkien’s essay “On Fairy-Stories” will provide the critical context and language for the discussion of these works. Among Tolkien’s works that will be examined are The Fellowship of the Ring; Smith of Wootton Major; and Farmer Giles of Ham. Among Lewis’s works that will be studied are The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Great Divorce; and Till We Have Faces. The students will examine the relationship between the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches during the first half of the 20th century and will consider themes of good and evil, temptation, mercy, and redemption in Tolkien’s and Lewis’s writings as well as biblical and mythological influences on their texts.
MIN 668NE
Willow Creek Leadership Summit
Credits: 2
Through attendance at the annual Willow Creek Leadership Summit Conference and post-summit class meetings, this course will provide exposure to core, cutting edge principles of leadership being practiced in modern culture and will facilitate a biblical and theological examination of each. Course reading assignments, instruction and dialog with the professor, and a major final paper will enable the students to critique current leadership styles and discern their appropriateness in Christian life and ministry.
[Note: Willow Creek conference is usually scheduled in August, but students register for it as a fall course; registration at both Summit and NES required.]
MIN 669NE
Globalization and the Mission of the Local Church
Credits: 2
There are dramatic changes in our world by way of the forces of secularization and especially pluralization in the West, and the forces of urbanization and multi-directional globalization and the resulting dynamics of “glocalization” worldwide. These forces are impacting our very definition of mission in terms of being a “missional” church even in our own context (versus merely having some missions “over there”), as well as impacting the nature, focus, and strategies of sending and receiving points of mission and in terms of the call to be a thorough-going multicultural church in true partnership globally and locally. This course in as an exploration of all these dynamics, including especially the biblical foundations for a theology of unity-in-diversity, along with the missiological; category of contextualization and the practical implications for ministry at the level of the local church in our new context.
MIN 670NE
Prison Ministries
Credits: 2
The main focus of this course will be on people confined to penal institutions. Specific attention will be given to the psychological and spiritual impact of incarceration. There will be a strong emphasis on the various approaches to and opportunities for ministry within the jail/prison setting, and to families who have a member in jail. Students also will explore what it means to do a partnering ministry, personally or as a team, with the body of Christ “behind the gates.”
MIN 671NE
Equipping the Laity
Credits: 2
One of the primary roles of church leaders is “to prepare God’s people for works of service” (Ephesians 4:12). The involvement of lay people in ministry is a crucial component in discipleship and should be a primary objective for ordained ministers. However, the reality is that pastors often find themselves overworked and frustrated by the lack of ministry involvement by their parishioners. On the other hand, many parishioners find themselves wishing they had more meaningful ministry opportunities. This course will work at developing a biblical view of ministry, a historical perspective on the roles of clergy and laity, and a contemporary approach to equipping the laity in the church. The goal is to help both ordained ministers and lay leaders recapture the rich and rewarding heritage of ministry that utilizes all God’s people.
MIN 672NE
Strategic Planning for Churches and Nonprofit Organizations
Credits: 2
This course reviews the reasons why churches and nonprofit organizations should embrace strategic planning as a way of improving their performance. It presents an effective strategic planning process that has been successfully used by leaders of nonprofit organizations. The course is comprised of a set of concepts, procedures, and tools that can help leaders enhance organizational achievement. Overall, the course is based on the premise that leaders of churches and nonprofit organizations must be effective strategists in order to fulfill their missions.
MIN 673NE
Human Sexuality
Credits: 2
This course is designed to help church leaders understand more fully normal and abnormal human sexual behavior and attitudes. The course will include both personal and ministerial applications. From a Christian psychological perspective the course will address individual sexuality, sexual addictions and temptations, homosexuality, and the theological implications of sexuality.
MIN 674NE
Marriage and Family Counseling
Credits: 2
This course will assist pastoral and lay leaders to identify counseling strategies that address marital and family conflict. Appropriate intervention includes learning the scope of clergy responsibilities and how to network with trusted and specialized community resources. Topics include: promoting newly married and step-family adjustment; dealing with adultery and divorce; recognizing and responding to domestic violence; treating addictions to drugs, alcohol and pornography; and coping with traumatic memories and loss.
MIN 675NE
Congregational Renewal
Credits: 2
This course explores steps that pastors can take to lead a congregation from maintenance to a missional focus. The course pre-supposes that renewal is a personal and corporate spiritual journey that leaders and congregations undertake in order to realize their full potential in God’s redemptive work. The outlined approach to experiencing renewal is biblical, systematic, and intentional. The course will cover topics such as clarifying a missional theology, developing a corporate identity, assessing organizational preparedness for change, cultivating a healthy congregational climate, building supportive relationships among leaders, focusing on redemptive outreach, preparing for change, and celebrating God’s faithfulness.
The course will explore the current research on the status of the American church, noting commonly held variables among declining congregations and among those congregations that have experienced renewal. This compare and contrast approach will enable students to develop their own strategic plan to bring congregational members together for more effective outreach to their community.
MIN 676NE
Pastoral Counseling
Credits: 2
This course is designed for those engaged in counseling within a congregational setting or other ministry setting. It will explore the theological foundation for counseling, differences and similarities to clinical counseling, methodologies for change, goal setting and problem solving. Strategies for active listening, engaging special populations, and setting boundaries will also be investigated. The course’s overall goal is to provide basic counseling skills and equip pastors in various settings that will give guidelines for conducting “helping interviews.” In learning to counsel others, ministers will also be sensitized to their own woundedness and dependence on Christ for wholeness and healing.
MIN 677NE
The Gospel and Our Culture: The Acts of the Apostles and the 21st Century Church
Credits: 2
This course examines the book of Acts with particular application to ministry in the diverse populations of a contemporary urban center. The course begins with a focus on the words of Christ just prior to his ascension and their implication for the task of the Church. Guest ministers from the cities of Rochester and Buffalo, New York participate in panel discussion formats to focus the biblical text on the specific challenges of being the body of Christ and "making disciples" in the multicultural, international, spiritual populations of a contemporary North American urban context. While the focus of the course is on urban ministries, the readings have broad implications for ministry in any setting.
MIN 691NE
MA Leadership Integration Seminar
Credits: 2
This course serves as the capstone experience for the M.A. in Transformational Leadership program. Students will synthesize and apply what they have learned in the program by developing a comprehensive leadership strategy for their ministry settings. This strategy statement will include such key areas as theological foundations for leadership, self-leadership, strategic planning, leading change, team building and resource allocation. The presentation and discussion of these leadership documents will provide a collaborative learning experience at the culmination of the course.
MIN 695NE
Independent Study in Christian Ministry
Credits: 1—3
Under the guidance of a faculty member, the student is given the opportunity to investigate additional areas of Christian ministry – current and historical.
[Prerequisite: advisor and faculty approval required and a GPA of 3.0]
MIN 696NE
Independent Study in Chaplaincy
Credits: 1—3
Under the guidance of a faculty member, the student is given the opportunity to investigate particular areas of focus in the history, theory, or practice of chaplaincy.
[Prerequisite: advisor and faculty approval required and a GPA of 3.0]
MIN 699NE
M.A. Thesis in Ministry Studies
Credits: 3
This course is a research option for M.A. students in the field of ministry studies. Students wishing to pursue thesis work must file a written petition with academic services formally requesting this degree completion method prior to registering for the course. (Students who have not completed the thesis project by the end of the semester will automatically be registered for RES 799NE-Continuation of Registration for Master’s Thesis, and charged a $250 fee every subsequent semester until the completion of the master’s thesis.)
[Prerequisite: faculty approval] [Corequisite: must be taken in conjunction with RES 690NE]
MIN 723NE
Advanced Seminar in Biblical Preaching
Credits: 2
This course is intended to enhance the communication skills of students who have had some experience in preaching. Topics of study include the development of sermons that are both biblical and relevant, creativity and clarity in preaching, effective delivery, special occasion preaching, and the life of the preacher. Designed as a practicum experience, this course will provide the student with opportunities for in-class presentation and critique.
[Prerequisite: MIN 629NE or MIN 630NE]
MIN 731NE, 732NE, 733NE, 734NE
Field Education
Credits: 3
This sequence of four courses will provide the student with hands-on professional training from capable practitioners and educators. Students will develop professional understanding and competence in ministry. Each course provides time for on-site training, personal and peer-reflection, and classroom instruction. Personal and spiritual formation (faith-sharing groups) is a continuing aspect of field education. M.Div. students take all four courses (twelve credits) and are expected to complete placements in both a parish and non-parish setting. M.A. students take one (three credits) and choose a placement best suited for their intended ministry.
MIN 735NE
Cross-Cultural Social Work Course in China
Credits: 3
In conjunction with the social work division of Roberts Wesleyan College, this course can be taken for 3 hours of credit or used for one unit of the field education requirement. During the 2-week trip to China, students will be ministering to orphaned children in a government run orphanage for a 5-day period, and then will go to Beijing to an American managed foster home. The goal of the course is learning about the plight of orphaned children in China, recognizing that the needs of orphaned children exceed the bounds of the United States. This is a life changing course in which classes bond together in Christian fellowship as they meet daily for devotions and debriefing. Students will be responsible for all additional travel costs and should plan accordingly through financial aid and/or personal means.
MIN 736
International Field Education
Credits: 3
This course is designed to accommodate students who wish to participate in an independent mission’s trip or ministry tour and utilize the experience for field education credit. Trips must be approved by the director of field education who will assign additional readings and course assignments to be completed prior to travel. The student is responsible for all travel costs and fees in addition to the tuition for this course. To register for MIN 736, the student must complete the Application for Credit for Non-Classroom Course form.
MIN 790NE
M.Div. Integration Seminar
Credits: 3
This course is designed to serve as the capstone to the M.Div. degree. The goal is to conduct a review of the student’s learning experience in the Core curriculum, required and elective courses, PSF program, and field education. The student’s reflections and analysis are integrated into the preparation of a written ministry plan and professional portfolio. Additional goals: provide written and oral defense of the student’s theological approach to identified ecclesiastical and ministerial concerns and issues; reflect on current and future financial planning; identify conflict management styles and learn adaptive methodology; reflect on personal and professional growth in the areas of community building, spiritual formation, and engagement with culture.
MIN 799NE
M.Div. Thesis
Credits: 3
This course is a research option for M.Div. students. When approved by NES faculty, it takes the place of M.Div. electives. Students will design a research project in some area of Christian ministry.
[Prerequisites: faculty permission; offered in the third year of the M.Div. by petition only] [Corequisite: must be taken in conjunction with RES 690NE]