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BTI Consortium | Last Updated April 11, 2023 - 5:00PM
PRACTICAL & PASTORAL THEOLOGY
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMPS7006
Grief and Loss
BTI Category
Semester
Practical/Pastoral Theology
FA23
Grief may be understood as the response to a significant loss. We will explore pastoral, theological, religious, and secular perspectives on grief and loss and seek to integrate these perspectives where appropriate. We'll consider important new research in thanatology and review traditional psychological theories of grief in light of contemporary critiques. We will explore the experience of grief in light of context and culture and consider which features may be universal. We will attend to often unrecognized dimensions of grief�disenfranchised grief and the grief born of injustice. We'll focus on how to respond pastorally to grieving individuals and communities.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Melissa Kelly
R
9:30-11:50
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMPS7078
Pastoral Care of the Family
BTI Category
Semester
Practical/Pastoral Theology
FA23
This course presents specific topics that are important for effective and compassionate pastoral care of families today. We will examine challenging realities that may shape and/or disturb families and lead members to seek pastoral care, such as domestic violence, substance abuse, imprisonment of a family member, grief and loss, and family caregiver stress. We will consider the specific needs of families affected by injustices and harsh difficulties such as poverty and immigrant/refugee status. We will consider the specific roles and strategies of the pastoral caregiver and the faith community in helping families to negotiate challenges and create stability and well-being.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Melissa Kelly
T
12:30-3:00
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMPS7182
Pastoral Care in/with Communities of Faith: Creating Networks of Care
BTI Category
Semester
Practical/Pastoral Theology
FA23
Life is in inherently relational, multidimensional, interconnected, and located within larger systems and structures � i.e. communities. Thus, our practices of pastoral care and counseling must likewise attend to the multidimensional and systemic nature of relationality. This course uses an interdisciplinary approach to explore personal, pastoral, and communal processes of creating networks of care in communities of faith and para-church organizations. Both pastoral and lay leaders will learn how to engage and utilize systems theory, conflict theory, therapeutic skills and processes, and theological and spiritual resources to navigate conflict, foster dialogue, and build constructive solutions and possibilities in community as part of an overarching practice of pastoral care. Particular attention will be given to one’s self-in-relationship and the capacity to remain a non-anxious, non-reactive constructive presence.
Professor
Class Day & Time
William Roozeboom
ASYNC
ASYN
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
Y
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMPS7286
Lifespan Pastoral Care and Counseling
BTI Category
Semester
Practical/Pastoral Theology
FA23
This foundational course will survey contemporary issues in lifespan pastoral care ministry from developmental, biopsychosocial, theological, and spiritual perspectives. Employing didactive, dialogic, and experiential learning modalities, the course will offer weekly opportunities for laboratory engagement with issues, traumas, and critical challenges that pastoral caregivers encounter. This course will seek to identify, develop, and/or enhance the basic assessment, helping, and referral skills needed by pastoral caregivers to provide astute, competent, compassionate, and supportive spiritual care and counsel to people in need.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Walter Smith, SJ
M
3:00-4:50
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMPT8138
Impasse and Spiritual Transormation
BTI Category
Semester
Practical/Pastoral Theology
FA23
This course gathers multi-disciplinary resources for spiritual responses to intractable conflicts. It develops a working social theory definition of identity and traces dynamics of transformation in The Dark Night by John of the Cross. Next, it examines Constance Fitzgerald�s concept of impasse and its implications for socio-political life. Finally, it reflects on wisdom, hope, and imagination in light of the foregoing challenges.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Heather M. DuBois
T
3:30-5:30
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
Y
Notes
One year of graduate level theology
School
Boston University School of Theology
STH TC823
Spiritual Guidance in the Christian Tradition
BTI Category
Semester
Practical/Pastoral Theology
FA23
Are you seeking a "word of life"? Do you hunger to know more about the wisdom of Christian spiritual traditions? Do you feel called to grow in your ability to guide others? In this course students will explore selected writings from the Christian tradition -- both classic and contemporary. They will read the pithy sayings of the early desert abbas and ammas, the gentle counsel of Francis de Sales, the spiritual teaching of John Wesley and his mother Susanna, and the insights of the Russian pilgrim who wanted to pray without ceasing. They will analyze the various theological commitments reflected in these authors' spiritual teachings, and place them in their historical contexts. Then they will move to contemporary texts about the practice of spiritual guidance, addressing concerns such as spiritual direction of women, group spiritual direction, prayer, and cross-cultural spiritual guidance.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Claire Wolftiech
T
12:30-3:15
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMPS7054
Introduction to Liturgy
BTI Category
Semester
Practical/Pastoral Theology
FA23
To introduce the basics of liturgical theology, the course is divided into three parts: liturgical history and sources; ritual studies including art, music and environment; and liturgical practice, planning and celebration.
Professor
Class Day & Time
John F. Baldovin, SJ
MW
8:30-9:50
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMPS7090
Ministry in a Diverse Church
BTI Category
Semester
Practical/Pastoral Theology
FA23
Catholicism in the United States is presently shaped by rich cultural traditions that demand creative approaches to ministry in the midst of diversity. Nearly 45% of all Catholics in the country are Hispanic, 40% Euro-American, 4% Asian-American, 3.7% African-American, among others. Students in this course explore key questions and discuss ministerial strategies that will help them develop cultural competencies for effective ministry today. The course builds on the U.S. Latino/a Catholic experience as a case study while addressing core issues in ministry that affect everyone in the Church. Ecumenical and international perspectives are welcomed into this conversation.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Hosffman Ospino
ASYNC
ASYN
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
Y
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMPS7277
Trauma Healing and Prevention
BTI Category
Semester
Practical/Pastoral Theology
FA23
Traumatization occurs at the interrelated social, psychic, and physiological boundaries of life and death. This course offers an introduction to trauma healing and prevention for contexts of pastoral and spiritual care. It surveys approaches to trauma developed in peacebuilding, public health, and psychology, as well as the emerging subfield of trauma theology. The final research paper is a vocational case study.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Heather M. DuBois
R
3:30-5:30
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMPT7248
Screening Theology: Theology in and through Film
BTI Category
Semester
Practical/Pastoral Theology
FA23
Highlighting the possibility and potential of a theology of culture, this course explores the ways in which recent Hollywood movies can be used as resources to think about and even to rethink the meaning of key theological concepts such as ideas of God, human nature, sin, Christ/human redemption, and eschatological hope. Through brief lecture presentations, reading materials, the viewing of movies, and class discussions, students will be encouraged to consider how an appreciative and critical engagement with popular culture can allow for a relevant and contemporary practical theology.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Benjamin Valentin
R
3:30-6:20
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TBD
Social and Digital Media in Pastoral Ministry
BTI Category
Semester
Practical/Pastoral Theology
FA23
Digital Ministry is more than providing tech support for the parish council's Zoom meetings. You may not be a technophile, but if you are going to be a minister, you must have confidence and familiarity with social and digital media. This module aims to provide practical experience with the current digital landscape. We will use self-directed projects to boost confidence and experience in building relationships, supporting pastoral care, and facilitating community formation through social and digital media.
Professor
Class Day & Time
TBD
FS
TBD
Grading Option
P/F
Credits
1
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston University School of Theology
STH TC831
Black Lives Matter + Theology
BTI Category
Semester
Practical/Pastoral Theology
FA23
TBD
Professor
Class Day & Time
Jay Williams
T
12:30-3:15
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
N
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