Course Description

This course is designed to allow the student to utilize skills and insights acquired during the completion of the undergraduate program in religious studies. A range of biblical and theological concepts taught in the program are reinforced, and new dimensions are explored. This helps ensure that the key ideas from the undergraduate religion program are mastered and that opportunities are presented for the student to put these concepts into practice.

Rationale

It has become acceptable to rely on knowledge alone as the litmus for effective preparation for serving the mission of the church of Jesus Christ. While knowledge is an indispensable component to that end, the accurate application of that knowledge must be expected of any leader seeking to further this mission. The Christian leader must be disciplined to strive for the practice of faithful ministry that has been informed and founded on biblical truth.

The goal of this course is to provide students an opportunity to develop a biblical theology of ministry based on the course content and experiences developed during one’s program. Each assignment is integrative and culminates in a final project that can serve as a professional portfolio. To that end, students will be expected to construct a biblical rationale for ministry, engage with ministry leaders, plan and execute an event, and engage in reflection for the purpose of evaluation and assessment.

Measurable Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Construct a biblical theology of ministry.
2. Compile a ministry portfolio.
3. Conduct a ministry event.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided promptly for each discussion. Required word count and the content will be posted for each discussion. Each response will demonstrate course-related knowledge. The current Turabian format must be used.

Theological Terms Assignment

This assignment allows for the development of biblical theology and rationale for ministry through defining key theological terms. Students will construct a biblical theology of ministry and incorporate major areas of systematic theology. (MLO: A)

Biblical Theology Assignment

This assignment allows for the development of biblical theology and rationale for ministry through the application of key theological terms. Students will construct a biblical theology of ministry that will inform the student’s approach to developing a ministry strategy and event. (MLO: A)

Leadership Resources Assignment 

The student will build a portfolio that contains several artifacts related to ministry development and planning. This portfolio will allow the student to develop a core of experiential learning components in this capstone course. This portfolio will include research on professional development sites, a ministry resume, and a cover letter. (MLO: B)

Leadership Development Assignment 

The second part of this portfolio will include a leadership development plan. The student will develop a guide that constructs a biblical foundation of leadership, lists qualifications for good leadership, and concludes with an interview with at least one local ministry or church leader. The guide should be written in narrative form, including questions and results of the interview, and reflect course readings and biblical references. This document should be 1,000 – 1,500 words, not including the title page and bibliography, if needed. Current Turabian format must be used and paper should be double-spaced, using a 12-point Times New Roman font. (MLO: B)

Ministry Strategy Assignment

You will begin developing a plan for conducting a live ministry event. This could take the form of a workshop, seminar, community event, Sunday school class, lecture series, Bible study, small group or youth event, or an acceptable alternative (pending approval by the course professor). This event may not be comprised of a past event but should reflect a current program. This event must include an audience of persons and may be conducted via digital technologies. An element of the event must be digitally recorded via video. (MLO: C)

Ministry Promotion Assignment 

You will develop a promotional and evaluation plan for developing ministry events. This will allow you to incorporate various components of course development from prior modules. Once you have identified an event and initiated a strategic plan, you will continue to develop an approach for executing and evaluating the event. (MLO: C)

Ministry Event Assignment

Students are required to conduct a live ministry event. This event should be a minimum of 30 minutes but not exceed more than a one-day event. This could take the form of a workshop, seminar, community event, Sunday school class, lecture series, Bible study, small group or youth event, or an acceptable alternative (pending approval by the course professor).

Students will lead an event and provide at least a 5-minute video presentation of some portion of the event. This event must include an audience of persons and may be conducted via digital technologies. The entire event does not need to be captured digitally but at least one component of the live event must be provided. The event does not need to necessarily happen in the week in which the assignment is due if the student would like to do something earlier in the course. (MLO: C)