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Presbyterian Polity 2008
Guide: Wayne A Yost
Observer: David Dawson
  | This course provides an overview of Presbyterian Church (USA) polity, both in principle and in practice. There will be an emphasis on the use of the Constitution in the local congregation as well as the governing bodies. Basic parliamentary procedure will also be addressed. Class structure will include lectures, and discussion of case studies. Course Objectives - To help students become knowledgeable interpreters of the polity of the church in the local congregation.
- To instill in students an appreciation for our connectional nature.
- To equip students to become competent moderators of Session, when and where permitted by the Presbytery.
Texts for the Course: Required Books Recommended Books(These are not required, but are helpful to have in your library) The Ordination Questions: a Study for Church Officers, Rice & Chinn, Geneva Press, 1996 ISBN 0-664-88401-5 {This publication seems to be out of print and may only be found in church libraries or in presbytery/synod resource centers}
1st Reading Assignment
Items F through H are weblinks. Left click on the link and it will open in
your browser.
A. Preface to the Book of Order
B. Explanation of the Reference Number System of the Book of Order
C. The Book of Order G-1.0000 through G-1.0502
D. Finding Christ in the Book of Order, Chapman (the complete text)
E. Presbyterian Polity for Church Officers, pgs xi - xvii, 1-11
F. <http://www.pcusa.org/101/index.htm> http://www.pcusa.org/101/index.htm
G. <http://www.pcusa.org/today/archive/newcomers/newcomer4.htm>
http://www.pcusa.org/today/archive/newcomers/newcomer4.htm
H. <http://www.pcusa.org/today/believe/past/apr03/decisions.htm>
http://www.pcusa.org/today/believe/past/apr03/decisions.htm |
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Foundations of Christian Education
| BOOKS FOR THE COURSE: REQUIRED TEXTS - Why Nobody Learns Much of Anything at Church: And How to Fix It, 10th Anniversary Edition!
by Thom Schultz, Joani Schultz and published by Group Publishing, 2003 - The Craft of Christian Teaching: Essentials for Becoming a Very Good Teacherby Israel Galindo, Judson Press, 1998.
- How to Train Volunteer Teachers: 20 Workshops for the Sunday School
by Delia Halverson, Abingdon Press, 1991 - Sleeping With Bread: Holding What Gives You Life
by Dennis Linn, Matthew Linn, Sheila Fabricant, Paulist Press, 1995
Note: Some readers of the Schultz book, Why no one learns much of anything... discover that they are ready for more advanced books on Christian Education. These are generally people either with an education background as their "day job" or those with extensive experience with educational ministries in the church. If, upon review of the Schultz, you'd like to swap in a different book, find this document in Resources and choose one-- More Advanced Resources for Christian Education During the next twelve weeks we will travel together on a whirlwind journey through the world of educators. Education --learning -- faith formation is the foundation of everything else we do in the church, from conducting a worship service to running a business meeting. In this course we will be dipping our toes into these areas: - The current state of education in the church (it?s a crisis)
- Faith development of children, adolescents and adults
- Our own personal faith journeys and our "core" development as educators
- The "digital," post-modern culture in which we ? and the young people in our churches ? live, and how that affects our educational methods
- Teaching methods, learning styles, educational settings
- Curriculum evaluation and lesson planning
- Working with volunteers to administer church education
- A final project focused upon an area of your particular passion
We?ll just be skimming the surface ? obviously. You will join a group of able learners as we explore what it means to "teach the faith" in our changing, whirling world. During this course we will be be pilgrims together, exploring resources available on the Worldwide Web, as well as reading books. At the conclusion of the course you will have the opportunity to integrate it all into a personal project focused on your field of particular interest. This course will be successful if you end it knowing what your next steps as an educator will be. Your greatest resource along the way will be your fellow journeyers. Pick their brains early and often, and we will grow together. |
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Introduction to New Testament: Part 1
Leader: Jenee Woodard
| BOOKS FOR THE COURSE
Choose one of these texts for your required readings. You may wish to add one or both of the others for your continuing New Testament studies. Russell Pregeant, Engaging the New Testament: An Interdisciplinary Approach. After introducing the reader to various approaches to reading the New Testament, Pregeant helps us apply these approaches to a reading of the New Testament. Historical, Theological, and Spiritual readings of the New Testament are examined and critiqued, and Pregeant suggests ways to provide a wide variety of meanings to various New Testament texts. Scattered throughout the book are "sermon seeds" and interesting interpretations and questions for use in preaching and teaching. Bart Ehrman, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian WritingsEhrman approaches the New Testament from its historical situation and use in the early church. He provides helpful, fascinating historical information and asks intriguing questions about the ways we read and use the New Testament. His approach can be challenging and difficult for those who prefer a more "spiritual" approach to New Testament interpretation..
Raymond E. Brown, An Introduction to the New Testament. This introduction was written by one of the most respected historical theologians of all time. Brown, a Roman Catholic scholar, uses both historical information and theological interpretations to produce a fascinating and very useful introduction to the New Testament. You will not regret having this one in your library! (Caution: This is the most difficult to read of the three introductions, and also the longest in terms of the length of the readings for each week.
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Reformed Theology
Leader: Connie Peake
| Required Text The Book of Confessions. (Any version is fine as long as it has the Brief Statement of Faith in it; there is an annotated study version which might be helpful. If your version does not have an index, go to the link on the Book of Confessions and use the online index.)
Description Theology isn't some bland academic exercise, it's a vitally important function of faith. Everything you believe about God, even the way you think about God is essentially theology! As you seek to become a Commissioned Lay Pastor or just expand your own understanding, it is helpful to know the foundation of our beliefs, where and how they have been developed and refined. The basis of our knowledge is the Bible, of course, but there have been many wars and battles fought over the interpretation of some of the doctrine we take for granted! The main things we want to happen for all of the participants are... - Participants will grow in their understanding of main themes in Reformed theology.
- Participants will grow in their understanding of the Book of Confessions .
- Participants will grow in the ability to think about issues of faith and ministry in conversation with the Confessions--in other words, we will be Reformed Theologians in our lives as Christians and Pastors.
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Reformed Understanding of the Sacraments
Leader: John Burgess
| A basic introduction to a Reformed understanding of the sacraments. Participants will examine baptism and the Lord’s Supper in detail, and will reflect on contemporary pastoral and theological issues related to them. |
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| Skip block 3Welcome to the EquippingPastor and the Commissioned Lay Pastor Training Program of the Presbytery Consortium in the western part of the Synod of the Trinity, in partnership with Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
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