Pastoral Theology Courses for the 2012 Winter Session

Introduction to the art and science of preaching. Topics: exegesis and hermeneutics for the purpose of preaching, techniques of sermon preparation, structure and delivery. Written assignments, small groups, one sermon.

This course will provide an overview to education ministry and to faith formation. It will examine the purpose, context, and content of CE and examine basic learning theory and curriculum resources. Students will also read a spiritual memoir and reflect on transformation in the Christian life. Practical skills for educational ministry will include evaluating curricula, contextual analysis of an educational site, and designing and facilitating a workshop. Intercultural challenges for CE will be discussed. Aspects of age-related ministry will include resources for children, youth and adults. In addition, education at different life stages will be studied as moments for formation of individuals and families as well as the community (baptism and confirmation). Students are encouraged to research a historical or contemporary practice of CE/formation and develop a paper on that topic. Students will read Tye, Pazmino, McClaren, Miles and Winner. Evaluation: Participation, 10%; site visit paper, 30%; research proposal, 10%; workshop, 10%; final paper or portfolio, 30%.

This course explores the theology and practice of ministry within the Reformed tradition and how this relates to the students' emerging pastoral identity.

This course will continue to focus on building critical thinking skills to assess issues in International Development from a historical and theoretical perspective as well as from a Christian worldview and missions perspective. It will also provide an overview of a range of topics in development such as gender, the environment, health and economic development. Weekly classes will include lecture and discussion. Evaluation will be based on class participation, reflection papers and final essay. Restricted to Wycliffe College students. Prerequisite: WYP1615HF (Poverty, Development & Transformation Part 1)

This course will explore the definitions of practical theological/religious activity (i.e., religious activity as meaning-making, as practice, as art, etc.), review the ways that new scholarship has emerged to think about this activity, and understand this activity within the social ecology of micro-, meso- and macro-level social organization. It will explore the church's internal activity within the congregation and external activity as a public voice to society, with reference to specific faith communities. Evaluation will be based on 25% seminar paper based on one book, 25% ongoing class participation, 25% empathetic short story, 25% final paper of larger questions.

This will be a lecture course with readings exploring the foundations on which individuals build their spiritual beliefs. It will explore the development of spiritual awareness in children, how we attribute causality to events, intrinsic and extrinsic religion, atrocities committed in the name of God, the variety of religious experience, cults and dogma, dimensions of denominational allegiance, new religious movements, and related topics.

An introduction to the art of planning and leading the liturgy, including pastoral offices, in the Anglican Church of Canada. Acquaintance with the current liturgical trends in the Anglican Church of Canada and with general principles of liturgical leadership. Ability to plan Morning Prayer and Holy Communion according to the Book of Common Prayer and the Book of Alternative Services. Tutorial. W 11-12. Class sessions include lectures, discussion and student field reports. Class participation, readings, multiple choice exam.

This course will explore a number of contemporary questions about prayer, study some of the major Christian traditions of prayer and look at various forms of prayer emerging for the 21st century. The course begins by exploring prayer through questions being raised by contemporary writers; what is prayer, why pray, does prayer make a difference? Second, the course looks at some major traditions of prayer and how Christians have been encountered by the Holy through prayer in the course of one

Clergy and lay leaders often encounter people struggling to cope with psychological difficulties. It is important that they be able to recognize common psychological problems and have the basic skills to respond constructively and compassionately. This is not a counseling course; it provides psychological knowledge key to providing effective pastoral care. The course is offered in seminar format, and course evaluations will be based on a set of written assignments and a group presentation.

This course will explore the foundations of ministry in the New Testament, the manifold expressions of ministry in the history of the Church, and a variety of contemporary issues related to the theology and practice of ministry from a Roman Catholic perspective. Also important will be the relationship of ministry to other aspects of theology, such as Christology, pneumatology, grace, mission, ecclesiology, and sacraments.

An introduction to the theology and practice of evangelism in contemporary society. We will look critically at different evangelistic practices in light of scripture and culture, and consider how healthy evangelism might affect leadership, parish life, worship, preaching, lay ministry, outreach programs and personal relationships. Requirements include book reviews, field work, and an integrative paper.

The aim of this course is to provide an outline of the history and current scholarship of English church music. Topics covered will include the impact of the English Reformation on liturgical music; the intersection between sacred and secular; the word-tone relationship in English plainchant and hymnody; music in Methodism; and choral-service revival in the Anglican Church. The course will explore a wide range of English church music including anthems, hymns, liturgical chants, oratorios and metrical psalms, along with a selected reading of relevant primary and secondary sources. Methodology: lectures, discussions, music listening, and readings. Evaluation: class participation (20%); one major essay (40%); and final exam (40%).

Intensive analysis of structure, content and spirituality of the Ignatian Exercises as a background for general ministry of spiritual growth and ministry in the church. Lecture and discussion. Class participation and short papers. Intended primarily for those who seek to direct the Exercises. Permission of the instructor required.

A 400-hour supervised program to deepen and/or extend the personal and ministerial growth of IFM /MAMS participants. Several options available to students in consultation with Directors of IFM and MAMS programs. Integration paper, or Competency Interview. Pass/Fail course. For Regis IFM/MAMS students only. Prerequisites: RGP3687H and RGP3688H.

An introduction to the dynamics, practice, and issues of spiritual direction and discernment in our contemporary culture with components of theological reflection on personal experience. Class participation, readings, short weekly reflection papers.

An exploration of religious experience in various Hindu traditions, within the context of an overview of relevant beliefs and practices. Lecture, discussion, exam and critical reflection papers.

Advanced Homiletics is a one-semester course that follows Introduction to Homiletics. This course gives students an opportunity to develop a theology of preaching based on the discussions of the survey of the tradition of Catholic preaching in Introduction to Homiletics and through opportunities to preach. Students will employ those characteristics of outstanding preaching as determined in Introduction to Homiletics. This course also gives students an opportunity to develop critical peer and self-assessment skills. Lectures, online postings, preaching, presentations and papers.

This course will provide students an opportunity to engage in an in-depth reading, exegesis and interpretation of Old Testament stories, places and people, gospel parables, holy days in the liturgical year, holidays and celebrations in the public calendar with a view to communicating them orally in the form of a homily.

This course focuses on a pastoral interpretation of 1 Corinthians and how this letter may be proclaimed in the life of the church today. Through an investigation of letter structure, a social cultural reading, congregational studies, and homiletical theory this course will seek to elucidate the possibilities of Paul's letter for preaching today. Prerequisites: Introductory courses in both preaching and New Testament.

This course is designed to enable participants to understand, develop and encourage faithful leadership in Christian schools. The vision of Christian schooling that leaders seek to sustain is not simply their own, but school leaders are a vital link in the translation of parents' priorities into the life of classrooms. Participants will examine leadership and management structures critically in light of: communal and personal educational focus and values; the need to nurture community; the need to sustain a dynamic vision for schooling. This online course employs an extensive Study Guide, a book, book chapters and journal articles, with an online discussion forum and Skype/telephone conferencing. Participation in the forum and a professionally-oriented research paper will provide the basis for evaluation.

Reconciliation in the Church today; a practical "case approach" to the ministry of sacramental reconciliation; art of the confessor. Case preparation, discussions, final exam. Prerequisite: Previous studies in Fundamental Christian Ethics, Human Sexuality and Marriage, Bioethics and Social Justice. Integrated practicum for those entering ordained ministry.

Offered by the CAPPE Supervisors of the Ontario Central Region. A 400-hour unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at the basic level meeting standards of Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice & Education (CAPPE). May take place in general, psychiatric, chronic, geriatric, rehabilitation hospitals, correctional institutions, facilities for mentally/physically challenged, parishes.

Offered by the CAPPE Supervisors of the Ontario Central Region. A 400-hour unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at the basic level meeting standards of Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice & Education (CAPPE). May take place in general, psychiatric, chronic, geriatric, rehabilitation hospitals, correctional institutions, facilities for mentally/physically challenged, parishes.

This advanced course explores the potential for civic/ecclesial partnership for social transformation in the city of Toronto. Students will serve for nine hours a week in a secular agency dedicated to social transformation, participating in a project within the agency on its own terms. In class students will explore issues related to partnership of ecclesial and civic organizations that pursue common goals with different motivations and ways in which social transformation can occur. Although the course will focus on social transformation in the city of Toronto, students are urged to develop analogies to the towns and villages they expect to serve after they have concluded their studies. Evaluation includes two written papers and a class presentation.

This course will provide students with an understanding of leadership in the context of a missional church. It will present and examine characteristics of the missional identity combined with reflection and exploration of its implications for leadership. Students will be exposed to the skills required of effective leaders in a post-modern, post-Christendom context. Students will be asked to read extensively, to engage a congregational and leader analysis, and to articulate an understanding of leadership in the contemporary parish. This course will combine lectures, discussions, congregational analysis, and in-class presentations.

This course is required for MSMus students, but open to all others who are able to follow a musical score, without necessarily performing it. Following the course of music history, students will examine both texts and music compositions relevant to the Liturgical Year, and engage in critical analysis of the merits of both components. In addition, instrumental music for liturgical use will be examined. Course content will deal with live performance, recorded literature, and the legacy from European, Afro-American, Global, Iona, and Taize traditions. Course requirements: weekly written music analysis; final take-home assignment.

This course is primarily designed to improve student preaching through exposure to one of the strongest preaching traditions today. African American preaching varies widely and combines evangelical fervour with social cocern. It will be considered against the backdrop of black history and culture, theology of the Word, hermeneutics, compsoing for oral delivery, and homiletical theory and practice. This is not a course in how to preach as an African American, or in imitating the voice, gesture, or style of a culture not one's own; it is designed to stretch preachers beyond what may be familiar to help them to be more bold and imaginative in proclamation of the gospel, and to offer resources to develop their own preaching voice and style. The course will consist of video and audio clips, lectures, seminar presentations and class sermons. Evaluation: class presentations and seminar, 10%; two sermons, 70%; journal of reflections on readings and sermons, 20%.

This seminar course will study the role that religion plays in psychological well-being, coping and adjustment. The approach will be both developmental and clinical. Religion's relationship to mental disorder, biologically, psychologically and socially, will be discussed. Religion's contribution to general adjustment, and its role in psychological intervention will be explored. Weekly written contributions to the seminar and final essay.

Study of theory and practice of spiritual direction, and of depth psychological, humanistic, and cognitive behavioural therapeutic practice. Emphasis on Christian tradition. Lectures, discussion, selected readings, paper.

This course focuses on a pastoral interpretation of 1 Corinthians and how this letter may be proclaimed in the life of the church today. Through an investigation of letter structure, a social cultural reading, congregational studies, and homiletical theory this course will seek to elucidate the possibilities of Paul's letter for preaching today. Prerequisites: Introductory courses in both preaching and New Testament.

Offered by the CAPPE Supervisors of the Ontario Central Region. A 400-hour unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at the basic level meeting standards of Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice & Education (CAPPE). May take place in general, psychiatric, chronic, geriatric, rehabilitation hospitals, correctional institutions, facilities for mentally/physically challenged, parishes.

Through the development of the skill of theological reflection, the participants learn to reflect on their personal and ministerial or work experiences to discern the call of transformation and integration in the midst of the Christian tradition and world realities. This group process takes place in a peer faith setting. Regular attendance required. An overnight retreat is scheduled at the end of the course. One integration paper and mission statement. Pass/Fail for BD students; grade given for AD students.

It is often said that religious texts provoke and sanction violence, and even that religion itself is inherently violent. Utilizing the mimetic violence model, we will analyze representative texts from both Old and New Testaments in dialogue with the works of Ren

The scope of what was understood as “liturgy” in the middle ages went far beyond the bare words used in the Mass, daily prayer and baptism and descriptions of how the services were performed. It included knowing the names and functions of the grades of ordained clergy (which varied from place to place) and their dress, the design of churches, their furnishing and consecration, the calendar of the liturgical year and of course the nature of the music which accompanied the liturgy. Teaching methods: lectures, DVDs of manuscripts, video, musical recordings.

The course will examine Protestant Theological Teaching and Traditions of Spirituality and Formation as rooted in medieval and reformation approaches with a particular reference to the Reformed Tradition. In the light of these traditions the course will challenge students to develop a credible and constructive theological framework for spirituality and formation in the 21st century North American and particularly Canadian context.

Critically explores the theology and spirituality of Dorothee Soelle, with special attention on the themes of creation-liberation theology, suffering, God, feminist concerns, embodied spirituality, and mysticism. Seminar discussion, lecture, short presentations, major essay.

The course will examine Protestant Theological Teaching and Traditions of Spirituality and Formation as rooted in medieval and reformation approaches with a particular reference to the Reformed Tradition. In the light of these traditions the course will challenge students to develop a credible and constructive theological framework for spirituality and formation in the 21st century North American and particularly Canadian context.