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PRACTICAL & PASTORAL THEOLOGY

School

Harvard Divinity School

HDS 2922

Preaching and Worship in the Black Church Tradition

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

This course engages students in historical, theological, and practical study of preaching and worship in the Black Church tradition.  Readings in black homiletics and practical theologies of worship introduce students to a variety of approaches for the development and delivery of sermons and for the construction and ministerial leadership of worship within black Christian church contexts.  The course considers these proposals for ministry practice against the backdrop of the social, political, economic, and cultural dynamics that shape the contemporary context of black communal life in the United States.  The purpose of the course is to increase students' ministerial capacity through the incorporation of theological and practical wisdom from the Black Church tradition into their own understandings and uses of ritual and rhetoric.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Teddy Hickman-Maynard

T

3-6 PM

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

4

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

This is a limited enrollment course. To apply, send a statement to thickmanmaynard@hds.harvard.edu with the following information: your name, degree program, year of study, school or university, previous relevant academic background, and a brief statement of your goals for the course.

School

Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

TMPS7093

Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

In this foundational course, we develop an understanding of critical dimensions of competent and compassionate pastoral care and counseling today. This course has four primary foci. First, we consider theoretical perspectives that may ground this large ministerial field. Second, we study concrete methods and skills for effective pastoral care. Third, we examine some challenging realities to which all pastoral caregivers must respond at some point, including domestic violence, grief and loss, and suicide. Finally, we consider the person of the pastoral caregiver, including the necessity of resilience in ministry and next steps in developing as a pastoral caregiver. Throughout the course, we explore pastoral care/counseling from contemporary theological, psychological, and cultural perspectives. We also consider the specific roles and possible strategies of the pastoral caregiver and the faith community in supporting individuals and communities as they harness strengths and resources to negotiate challenges and create or maintain stability and well-being. This course includes lecture, readings, discussion, and exercises.

Professor

Class Day & Time

TBD

T

9:30 AM-12:20 PM

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

TMPS7279

Conflict Resolution and Transformation

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Conflict theory can enable constructive responses to situational disagreements and long-term relationship building. This course combines resources from secular conflict theory and Christian theology and ministry to foster transformation of micro (interpersonal), meso (communal), and macro (societal, international) level conflicts. Most texts reference the U.S. context, but other cultural perspectives are welcome. Assignments include regular short papers and a presentation. This is a discussion-based (not lecture-based) class; close reading is required.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Heather M. DuBois

T

3:30-5:30 PM

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

TMPT8137

Public Theology, Politics, and Faith in the United States

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

This class is an introduction to the history of the academic field and practice of public theology as it emerged at the intersections of liberation and political theology with Christian social ethics, especially in the context of the United States. In our time together we will consider several models and definitions of public theology, reflect on ways to engage faith in public, and examine the role and responsibility of faith leaders and scholars to communicate with a public beyond a congregation. The course will explore some basic legal and political concepts to frame the semester, however it will primarily be focused on theological and philosophical themes. We will explore the United States as a religiously and culturally pluralistic context, considering the challenges and opportunities that emerge as a result of this. Particular attention will be given to engagement with the concept of Christian Nationalism and the ways in which Christianity has sometimes been used as a frame in an attempt to legitimate violence or oppression.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Callid Keefe-Perry

F

1:00-4:00 PM

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

Y

Notes

Fundamental Theology, Theological Foundations in Practical Perspective, or equivalent.

School

Boston University School of Theology

STH TC835

Evangelism and Contemporary Cultures

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

This course explores the practice of bearing faithful, visible, and embodied witness to God's commonwealth in contemporary contexts and cultures. The course covers the biblical, historical, and theological foundations of evangelism, its practice within congregational life, and contextual strategies.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Stone

T

3:30pm-6:15pm

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Boston University School of Theology

STH TC840

Paradigms of Racism, the Ignorance They Hide, and the Harm They Sustain

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Racism is ugly, painful, and seemingly inimical to understanding much less constructive intervention. When it comes to race, people often yell at, talk past, or simply avoid each other. Experiencing frustration, rage, and despair, some fear and may conclude that racism is intractable, even insoluble, while others "know" that racism does not exist. This course offers hope, exploring how groups of people form and defend competing systems of truth (that is, "paradigms") that hide ignorance and sustain harm. By discussing eight "paradigms" of racism and attendant forms of ignorance, we seek to enlarge our understanding as a basis for concrete practical steps that could be taken by different people in different sites.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Goto with Schlauch

W

2:30pm-5:15pm

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

RCT Certificate

School

Boston University School of Theology

STH TM815

Christian Mission

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Exploration of biblical, historical, theological, political, and cultural perspectives on the world mission of the church. This course is a requirement for United Methodist MDiv students pursuing ordination in the United Methodist Church.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Robert

T

12:30pm-3:15pm

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

IME Certificate

School

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Boston

MC621

Living Systems in the Urban Context

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Treats problems of communication in the city, using models of cross-culturalism from cultural anthropology. The city is discussed as a complex system, and significant urban social problems are highlighted. Specialists in various areas of the urban environment will address the class. Courses meet in Boston.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Bass, Jeffrey

R

6:30-9:30pm

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

SYNCHRNOUS

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Boston

MC683

Compassionate & Holistic Youth & Family

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Course description not available.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Ward, Virginia

T, alternating weeks

6-10pm

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

SYNCHRNOUS

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Hamilton

CO611

Theories of Personality

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

An understanding and critique of the historical and contemporary theories of personality development.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Mason, Karen

R

1:30-4:30pm

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

SYNCHRNOUS

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Hamilton

IS/WM520

Understanding Culture

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

In a globalized world, profound opportunities for cultural interaction and exchange exist. Anthropology offers critical resources for understanding cultures, both our own and those of peoples worldwide. This course focuses on application of anthropological and sociological insights for engagement and witness in diverse cultural settings. Christianity must be translated into each culture where it abides as Christ rectifies what is broken and reinforces the sacred. Christ followers grow in our cultural awareness as we aim to develop cross-cultural competence, respect, and care for others.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Cho, Eun Ah

M

1:30-4:30pm

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Hamilton

PC511

Introduction to Pastoral Counseling

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Basic preparation for the complex task of pastoral care and counseling. The focus is upon the pastor in the congregational setting.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Ribeiro Lin, Davi

R

6-9pm

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

SYNCHRNOUS

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Hamilton

WM662

NGOs and Development in Mission

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

The course is an overview of the role of non-governmental agencies (NGOs) and development in Christian mission. It covers biblical, theological, historical, and current perspectives on the global trend toward integration of development and mission. The course also looks at the role of globalization in the spread of the gospel. It examines plans made by Christians to alleviate social problems.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Johnson, Todd

TR

8:00-9:25am

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

SYNCHRNOUS

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Harvard Divinity School

HDS 2197

Readings in Political Theology

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

"Political Theology" refers specifically to the claim that secular states remain structurally and imaginatively shaped by their historical ties to theology. Scholars have taken a range of positions on this claim, at times under the banner of secularization theory or postsecularity. . Some deny it and give alternate accounts. Some defend and elaborate it, but strictly with reference to the state. Some elaborate it more broadly, considering the impact of a theological imagination on coloniality as well as social and economic life. Most recently, scholars have been rethinking political theology beyond Christianity and the west. This seminar begins by surveying key texts from the past and present of this theoretical subfield and then invites students to design their own original research projects.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Michelle Sanchez

M

3-6PM

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

4

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

Y

Notes

Prerequisite: Prior coursework in philosophy, theology, political and/or critical theory and/or religious history. Jointly offered in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as Religion 1524.

School

Harvard Divinity School

HDS 3001

Quests for Wisdom: Religious, Moral and Aesthetic Experiences in the Art of Living

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

This is an experimental course taught from the perspectives of anthropology and religious studies intended to be transformative for students and teachers alike. Our goal is to develop, in collaboration with enrolled students, a pedagogy for fostering students' personal quests for wisdom, through lectures and readings, through extensive conversation, and also through other experiences inside and outside of class, including dramaturgical experiences with film or theater, caregiving, and meditation.

As teachers we are inspired by William James's conception of knowledge in the University as intended forstrategies needed to live a life of purpose and significance that also contributes to improving the world. In the words of Albert Camus, "Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present." Together, we will engage with the problems of danger, uncertainty, failure, and suffering that led the founders of the social sciences and humanities to ask fundamental questions about meaning, imagination, aesthetics, social life and subjective experience. These are the same existential questions that bring ordinary people all over the world, and throughout history, to question commonsense reality in the face of catastrophes and the violenceof everyday life. The many answers to these questions - wisdom that is found in religious, ethical and aesthetic quests, expressions and traditions - are intended to furnish individuals - art of living with strategies to respond to potential and hope, pain and suffering, to promote healing, and to address concerns about salvation, redemption, or other kinds of moral- emotional transformation.

Together - through discussions, lectures, films, museum visits, readings, and action - we will explore different paths to wisdom, including (1) the youthful quest for truth, beauty and goodness; (2) the affirmation of caregiving for others as the means of applying wisdom to repair and improve the world; 3)suffering and the ordeal of journeying through labyrinths and tests of courage; (4) the discovery of wisdom in teachers and mentors near and far; (5) the process of creative mourning for past losses and shaping new beginnings.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Davíd L. Carrasco, Arthur Kleinman, Stephanie Paulsell

W

3-5:45PM

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

4

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Harvard Divinity School

HDS 2936

Clinical Chaplaincy: Interfaith Caregiving Skills and Practice

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Healthcare chaplaincy is a specialized, unique field of ministry continuing to increase in demand in clinical settings like hospitals and hospice centers. This introductory course will explore the theory and practice of clinical chaplaincy in hospitals and focus on developing the foundation and skills necessary for providing effective interfaith care and spiritual counseling interventions in the medical setting. Course content will include readings, group discussions, and counseling practice, and will emphasize six main areas of clinical chaplaincy: 1) basic counseling intervention skills, 2) interfaith spiritual care, 3) ethics in the medical context, 4) end-of-life support, 5) clinical standards and due diligence in the institution, and 6) self care.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Chris Berlin

W

3-6PM

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

4

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

Y

Notes

A prior course in introduction to pastoral counseling or the equivalent is a prerequisite. Instructor permission required.

School

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

ETHC 6205 A

Social Ministries Field Ed

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Field Education

Professor

Class Day & Time

Stavroula Gurguliatos

T

TBD

Grading Option

L/PF/AUD

Credits

0

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

LITG 1252

Holy Week Seminar

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

TBD

Professor

Class Day & Time

Rev. Dr. Philip Zymaris

TBD

TBD

Grading Option

L/PF/AUD

Credits

0

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

Prerequisite: New Testament Greek I

School

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

PAST 5301 A

Religious Education Field Ed

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Field Education

Professor

Class Day & Time

Stavroula Gurguliatos

TBD

TBD

Grading Option

L/PF/AUD

Credits

0

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

PAST 6601 Z1

Grief, Death, and Dying

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

TBD

Professor

Class Day & Time

Dr. Philip Mamalakis

ASYNC

ASYNC

Grading Option

L/PF/AUD

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

ASYNCHRONOUS/ONLINE

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

PAST 7351

Missions And Evangelism

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

This course will help one understand the central importance and role in the Church of witnessing our faith through missions and evangelism. The "spirit of missions" is central in our ecclesiology and Orthodox worldview and identity. The need for Christians and churches to continue the work of Christ, welcoming and reaching out to those outside our Christian faith is paramount. We need Churches which instill in its members the spirit to raise up, train and send out missionaries and witnesses locally, nationally and globally. This course will educate and inspire students to understand the central spirit of missions and evangelism in the Church. The first part of the course will focus on the lives, ministries and methods of some of the greatest Orthodox missionaries - the Apostle Paul and the early Christians, Cyril and Methodios, Innocent Veniaminov of Alaska, Nicholas Kasatkin of Japan - along with exemplar witnesses of the faith from last century like St Maria Skobtsova, St Tikhon (Bellavin) of Moscow, and St. Raphael (Hawaweeny) of Brooklyn, Sister Gavrillia Papayiannis, and contemporary missionaries like Archbishop Anastasios (Yannoulatos) of Albania and OCMC missionary Lynette Hoppe. The last third of the course will apply the studied missionary methods to evangelism in the contemporary American context. How should the Orthodox Church carry on this spirit of evangelism in its present reality in America?

Professor

Class Day & Time

Rev. Luke A. Veronis

R

2:10-4:30p

Grading Option

L/PF/AUD

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Hebrew College

PRC850

You Matter: An Exploration of Addiction, Recovery and Spirituality

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Much is born from the human experience of brokenness. In fact, the world itself, as the Torah and Jewish mysticism teach, was created out of chaos and darkness (tohu v’vohu). Hardship and suffering however, have always preceded great creativity and advance in Judaism and can be one of humanity’s great teachers. At Beit T’Shuvah, we treat and educate those who are among the most acutely broken in our society. They respond to labels such as junkie, criminal, alcoholic, gambler, and thief. What we have learned during our over thirty years of serving the Jewish community, is that the destructive behaviors of addiction and crime are truly the most severe symptoms of a deeper spiritual malady. The spiritual malady of a division of self or brokenness.

This course is designed for learners who are open and willing to explore the brokenness that exists within every human heart, including their own. We will study Jewish texts, liturgy, and spiritual practices as a means to uncover their healing potential. We will primarily focus on addiction, its roots, and its consequences as a specific manifestation of acute brokenness. We will engage with Beit T’Shuvah residents, teachers, and leaders who work and live in a community dedicated to spiritual practice of dailyt’shuvah– the spiritual means by which we restore wholeness to the fractured. And we will examine ourselves as Jewish spiritual leaders and our capacity to confront, counsel, and teach those most severely broken through the place where our hearts, souls, and the Jewish tradition meet.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Staff of the Elaine Breslow Institute of Beit T’Shuvah

ASYNC

ASYNC

Grading Option

Letter or P/F

Credits

2

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

Y

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

TMPS7278

Socio-Spiritual Care

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

The dynamics of human living, including experiences of God, are multidimensional: intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, structural, cultural, and global. Given these interrelated interior and exterior dynamics, what are the sources, mediums, aims, and risks of care? This course responds to this question using the literatures of spirituality studies, peace studies, practical theology, and pastoral care.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Heather M. DuBois

W

1:00-3:00 PM

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

TMPT8022

Seminar in Practical Theology

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

An exploration of Practical Theology, its history, methodological commitments, and intent. Practical theology is theology at the service of life. It is theology that takes seriously cultural, social, and political contexts, historical times, places and peoples, as it utilizes the resources of Scripture, tradition and experience. In this course, we will examine Practical Theology's claims for the theory/praxis nexus, interculturality, interdisciplinarity, the noetic content in religious practices, and the significance of bodiliness and context.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Hosffman Ospino

W

4:00-6:20 PM

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

Y

Notes

One year of theology at a graduate level

School

Boston College Department of Theology

THEO5505-01

Sacraments and Art

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Much of our artistic heritage was commissioned to embellish places of worship and to deepen understanding of the ceremonies celebrated there. These works of art offer often-ignored insights into Christian sacraments that complements more traditional theological approaches. This course seeks to deepen our appreciation of Christian sacraments by acknowledging painting, sculpture and architecture as a locus theologicus. Both historical and thematic in approach, it explores sacramentality, incarnation, iconoclasm, typology as well as selected themes from sacramental theology. The course will include off-site visits.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Bergin

W

12-2:25p

Grading Option

L/PF/A

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

Grad/Undergrad split

School

Boston University School of Theology

STH TC837

Vocation, Work, and Faith

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Who am I called to become? What am I called to do? What are my gifts and where will they be recognized and of service? These kinds of vocational questions are fundamental to our lives. The course seeks to open up reflection, study, and dialogue about vocation, work, and spirituality in religious traditions and in our own life experience. Work and vocation are often connected. Work too is a crucial religious question in contemporary society. Work exerts a powerful--and often unrecognized--influence on human beings. It can support life, develop talents, elicit creativity, and enable people to contribute to the common good. Work also can demean human beings, undermining their dignity, perpetuating unjust structures, overpowering values, and crowding out other important spheres of life. Labor issues are important concerns for faith communities and faith-based community organizations. This course explores vocation and work as theological/spiritual issues, including implications for ministry. We will explore themes such as: work as spiritual practice or challenge; labor and justice issues; discerning vocation; creativity; Sabbath; "time poverty"; and work-life balance. The course involves site visits, vocational mentoring, seminar presentations, and individual research/ministry projects.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Wolfteich

J TERM

9:00am-4:00pm

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

Jan 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, and 17, 9 AM-4 PM // Currently full, taking waitlist

School

Boston University School of Theology

STH TC877

Sabbath: Theology and Practice

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

This course explores Sabbath keeping as a central practice of faith and a core practice of transformative religious leadership. Drawing upon Jewish and Christian traditions, we will study theologies and practices of Sabbath keeping and reflect upon their meaning in contemporary contexts. Topics include Sabbath keeping and spiritual formation, Sabbath and "time poverty", Sabbath and the Lord's Day, Sabbath keeping as a dimension of pastoral excellence, Sabbath keeping as countercultural practice, Sabbath and ecological stewardship, and Sabbath and social justice. The course includes contextual site visits in an effort to learn across traditions. Students will be encouraged to cultivate a practice of Sabbath keeping throughout the semester and are invited to draw upon music and the creative arts in their practice and reflections. As the culmination of the course they will have the opportunity to do a substantial research paper or design a practical theological project relevant to their own community and context of leadership.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Wolfteich

Arranged

10:00am-4:00pm, 6:00pm-9:00pm

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

10-4p, 6-9p. 1/26, 2/9, 3/1, 3/22, 4/5 // Currently full, taking waitlist

School

Boston University School of Theology

STH TY811

Object Relations and the Study of Religion

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Achieving familiarity with and fluency in a series of psychoanalytic theories of personality/character, development, relationships, motivation, health, and pathology, as a context in which to practice psychoanalytic interpretations of religious matters.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Schlauch

M

2:30pm-5:15pm

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Boston

MC670

Empowering Marginalized Church Groups

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Course description not available.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Sanders, Alvin

Module 1: Feb. 2-3; Mar. 1-2; Apr. 5-6

Fri 6:30-9:30pm; Sat 8:30am-4:30pm

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

SYNCHRNOUS

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Hamilton

CH/SF591

Dynamics of Spiritual Life

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Drawing on the Creation-Redemption narrative and the riches of the history of Christian Spirituality, the course presents a comprehensive model of spirituality that can be used in personal renewal, spiritual formation, direction, discipleship, and counseling. Combining theory and praxis, it explores key spiritual dynamics, equipping for ministry to those seeking a deeper life with Christ.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Adams, Gwenfair

T

1:30-4:30pm

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

SYNCHRNOUS

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Hamilton

EV701

Evangelism & Discipleship in the Local Church

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Practical theological foundation for the practice of evangelism and for evangelistic leadership in the church. Includes content and communication of the gospel within cultural context at home and abroad. Preparation in class, followed by community experience. Prayer is primary throughout.

Professor

Class Day & Time

McConnell, Jason

Module 3: Feb. 16-17; Mar. 15-16; Apr. 19-20

Fri 6:30-9:30pm; Sat 8:30am-4:30pm

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Hamilton

MC701

Pastoral Ministry

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Examines the roles and functions of pastoral work as designated in Scripture and various traditions. Ministerial identity and foundational pastoral tasks are discussed. Emphasizes practical aspects of pastoral ministry.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Ribeiro Lin, Davi

M

9am-12pm

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

SYNCHRNOUS

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Hamilton

SF620

The Life of Prayer and the Beauty of God

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Course description not available.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Adams, Gwenfair

R

6-9pm

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

SYNCHRNOUS

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

School

Harvard Divinity School

HDS 2031

Introduction to Chaplaincy in Higher Education

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

This course engages the theory and practice of chaplaincy in settings of higher education in the United States. Drawing on the rich history of multireligious ministries in higher education and the range of expressions chaplaincy assumes, the course will provide an overview of the strategies, practices, contextual analysis, and narratives of practitioners in the field. Through a series of lectures, open discussions, site visits, chaplaincy narratives and personal reflection, the class will provide students with encounters with the vocation of chaplaincy in its multifaith, pluralistic expression in the 21st century academy.- Course Objectives: Provide an introductory overview of the history of chaplaincy on college and university campuses in the United States
- Interrogate the variety of purposes and missions that inform chaplaincies in various settings of higher education
- Explore the range of structures and practices chaplaincy assumes in its diverse contexts
- Interrogate approaches to the dismantling of white supremacy in higher education chaplaincy settings
- Investigate and highlight best practices in chaplaincy
- Explore the qualifications and opportunities for professional employment in higher education chaplaincies

Professor

Class Day & Time

Kerry Maloney

TBA

TBA

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

4

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

Special Schedule Notation: This spring term course is offered intensively in January during semester recess, for one week, Monday-Friday 10:00-AM-3:30 PM. The course also includes four mandatory morning seminars (7:00-9:00 AM) , once in the fall term in November and three times in the spring term (February, March, and April). Registrants must contact the instructor beginning September 1 in the years offered to pre-register. First-come, first-served. Requirements for the course include a book report, a daily journal, a group research project, two seminar presentations, and a final research project or paper.

School

Harvard Divinity School

HDS 2202

Queering Congregations: Contextual Approaches for Dismantling Heteronormativity

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Queering Congregations introduces students to three systematic and process-oriented approaches for dismantling heteronormativity within American congregations. Using the lenses of practical theology, ecclesiology, gender studies, queer theory, and queer theology, the course examines the cultural backgrounds, beliefs, morals, values, and heteronormative structures of American churches and proposes methods for restructuring, reimagining, and subverting the heterosexist paradigms and binary assumptions that perpetuate oppression in American ecclesial spaces. The class examines how mainline open and affirming congregations understand what it means to be churches while paying close attention to the differences and similarities within their approaches to queering their congregations. The class will interrogate the following questions: (1) What happens to the church when it is queered, where queering as a verb can denote a rethinking of sexual identities as well as a challenging of normative understandings of ecclesiology and liturgy? (2) Can a queering of theology do more than critique and deconstruct traditional church structures, practices, performances, and self-understandings by pointing the way forward to the renewal of the church by suggesting new, more liberating, and truthful structures, practices, performances, and self-understandings? (3) Is ecclesiology a good meeting place for queer, practical, and classical theologies?

Professor

Class Day & Time

Brandon Crowley

R

9-11AM

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

4

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

This is a limited enrollment course. To apply, send a statement to bcrowley@hds.harvard.edu (selection process will begin Thurs. Jan. 20) with the following information: your name, degree program, year of study, school or university, previous relevant academic background, and a brief statement of your goals for the course.

School

Harvard Divinity School

HDS 2935

Compassionate Care of the Dying: Buddhist Training and Techniques

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Traditional Buddhist monastics and teachers have long played a key role in helping others prepare for death. This course will explore the central approaches to death and dying in Buddhism, the Buddhist view of compassion, and how these are being adapted in the US for professional end-of-life care. Students will develop an understanding of basic skills in compassionate care of the dying, and tools to approach death as an opportunity for spiritual growth through readings, meditation exercises, listening practices, group work, and discussions with guest speakers. Some prior knowledge of Buddhism preferred.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Cheryl Giles, Chris Berlin

R

12-2:30PM

Grading Option

Letter, P/F

Credits

4

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

Y

Notes

Prerequisite: Spiritual Care, Chaplaincy, or CPE required.This class has a limited enrollment to facilitate a personal group dynamic of safety and support around issues of death and dying, collective processing, and contemplative cultivation. Priority will be given to students who have completed one or more prerequisite courses with the instructors, have a basic knowledge of Buddhism and Buddhist practice, are third-year M.Div. students about to graduate, or will be in CPE or a field education placement working with end-of-life care. During the first class, Thursday, January 27, instructors will ask prospective students to write a one-paragraph summary of their readiness, aspirations for the class, and above criteria to determine the class cohort. Decisions will be made by both instructors on the same day of the first class and they will email students that evening to let them know if they are in the class.

School

Harvard Divinity School

HDS 3063

Spiritual Care from a Muslim Perspective

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

This course introduces students to practices of spiritual care from a Muslim Perspective. As we will survey spiritual care practices of different Muslim cultures, our focus will be the relevant application of these practices in North America with a special focus on contemporary issues. We will study meditative/ritualistic, medical, philosophical, counseling, and psychological practices that have relevance and meanings in personal journeys of Muslim spiritual experience in different settings such as hospital, prison, university, community, social, and professional settings. Through a combination of readings, class discussions, practical exercises and expert guest lecturers in each class, students will begin to develop their own approaches to spiritual care in different circumstances such as the issues involving spiritual crises, trauma, mental illness, marriage/divorce, refuge related mental and spiritual complications, substance abuse, and others. Different stake holders such as pastoral care/chaplaincy (minister) candidates, students in education, social work, counseling, psychology, and health sciences as well as medical school students will find much value and benefit in this course. Class format will include weekly expert guest speakers including medical doctors, counselors, social workers, psychologists, clergy, and chaplains, from different disciplines who provide service to Muslim clients, patients, students, or inmates followed by a class discussion.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Yunus Kumek

M

12-2PM

Grading Option

Letter, P/F, Audit

Credits

4

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

ETHC 6205 Z1

Social Ministries

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

This course treats the history, theology, and practice of Orthodox Christian social action, beginning with the period of the Apostolic Fathers and extending to today. Besides weekly reflections on the readings, each student will also be responsible for conceiving, designing, and initiating a small project of service to the local community. Some weeks the class will, during its assigned time period, observe Boston area social entrepreneurs in action, meaning that we will hold class of campus. Students will be assigned to a social ministry site during the semester.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Prof. Carrie Frederick Frost

T

2:10-4:30p

Grading Option

L/PF/AUD

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

SYNCHRONOUS/ONLINE

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

PAST 5301

Religious Education

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

This course will explore basic questions related to the ministry of education in the life of the Orthodox Christian parish in North America. We will use the following questions as the basic organizing principles: Why do we teach in the Church? What is the goal of education in the Church? Does the Church have a curriculumWhat can we learn from Acts 2:42-47 for parishes today? Who are we teaching? What are some approaches to the education of Christians? Who is going to teach? What is the role of the teacher? Because the class also has a field component through the Field Education program, where it is assumed that the students are teaching Sunday school, presenting the Faith to OCF groups, or working in educational settings, students will have the opportunity and will be expected to apply these skills in their field setting. Finally, there will be ample opportunity throughout the semester to reflect theologically on the experience of handing forward the Orthodox Christian faith.

Professor

Class Day & Time

V. Rev. Dr. Anton C. Vrame

R

1:10-3:30p

Grading Option

L/PF/AUD

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

PAST 6022

Theology of Pastoral Care II

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Theology of Pastoral Care II is intended to build upon Theology of Pastoral Care I by presenting a framework for understanding contemporary pastoral issues through the lens of Orthodox theology of the person, sickness, healing, and salvation. This class is not intended to provide you with the 'right' answers for pastoral decisions. Rather, this course is designed, through the readings, class discussions, and assignments to develop your understanding of Orthodox pastoral care and your thinking as an Orthodox Christian and future minister/pastor. The models of Orthodox Pastors/Saints explored in the first semester class serve as witnesses to the Orthodox pastoral care framework we will develop and discuss this semester as we explore contemporary pastoral issues, and secular theories and research. Particular attention will be placed on understanding how to access and integrate current secular knowledge into an Orthodox worldview todevelop an appropriate pastoral response. Students will be invited to explore and discuss different dimensions of the pastoral care relationship and explore, independently and as a class, how one might address contemporary pastoral care issues. As in the first semester, particular emphasis will be placed on how we work together in the classroom, and on campus, as we develop an Orthodox understanding and approach to pastoral care.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Dr. Philip Mamalakis

MW

9:10-10:30a

Grading Option

L/PF/AUD

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

PAST 7015

Pastoral Couns.: Theory & Practice

BTI Category

Semester

Practical/Pastoral Theology

SP24

Listening is at the heart of pastoral counseling. Yet what the pastor/minister hears is shaped by his or her theoretical orientation, belief system, worldview, and lived experience. This course seeks to give students the opportunity to study different pastoral counseling theories as they go beyond the limits of their own stories in the context of practicing foundational counseling skills.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Dr. Philip Mamalakis

M

6:40-9p

Grading Option

L/PF/AUD

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

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