Theo. of Ministry
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Course Syllabus --  REL 333
Term 072

Objectives:  This course is a study of ministry, the theology of ministry and the integration of other humane disciplines.  We will examine the role of ordained and lay ministry.  Through guest speakers, engagement in a ministry project and theological reflection, students will begin to develop both the practical and theological skills which will result in the final course project, their own theology of ministry.

Texts:  Thomas O’Meara Theology of Ministry (rev. ed.) Mahwah , NJ: Paulist Press, 1999. 
                Selected online and other articles

Method: This course encompasses both a theoretical and practical component.  The theological underpinnings of ministry will be examined by the various readings.  Guest speakers will provide an introduction to the other disciplines necessary in the exercise of ministry, such as communication skills and social sciences.  We will also have guests discuss their own ministry.   Students will be required to actively work on a ministry project during the course of the semester which will then form the basis for theological reflection and the final project, the student’s own theology of ministry paper.

Assignments:  Reflections on various ministries presentations (1-2 pages - 25 points each).  A paper on your theology of ministry (8 pages - 100 points); one theological reflection based on a ministry experience (50 points); class attendance and participation (50 points). There will be an exam (50 points) during exam week.

Calendar

January  
  7     Introduction  10  What is Ministry? 
   Read:  Kathleen Cahalan "Toward a Fundamental Theology of Ministry" Worship 80 no 2 Mr 2006, p 102-120
15     Theological Reflection 17  
22     Small Groups (HR)   24  Ordained & Lay Ministry
       Read:  
Instruction on Collaboration 
Rite of Ordination of Deacon
Rite of Ordination of Priest
Rite of Ordination of Bishop
Rite of Incorporation - CPPS
29  Military Chaplaincy (WS)
     Read:   
Looking for a few good men (Christine Ballew-Gonzales, Ligourian July 1, 2002)
In the Shadow of Death:A Theology for the Church’s Military Chaplaincy Chaplain (LTC) 
Recommend: William C. Noble The Army Chaplaincy Winter-Spring 2000
Christian Science Monitor series on Military Chaplains Nov/ Dec 2007
 31  Parish Ministry (JM)
      Read: 
Lay run parishes (NCR 9-13-03) 
Students flock to Seminaries but fewer see pulpit in future (NY Times, 3-17-06) Protestant Tradition
For information:  
Ten diocese with largest number of parishes with no resident pastor
 National Catholic Parish Survey (2000)
Multiple parish pastoring A symposium report 2006 - some very interesting data here-- a rather lengthy report - .pdf    
February
  5    Youth/Young Adult Ministry 
             Read: Renewing the Vision 		    7  Ministering with Youth/Young Adults (TH)
Read: Stewardship and Teenagers: Challenge of Being a Disciple (USCCB 11-14-07)
More information:  "Transitions in Faith: Young Adulthood and Beyond" a 2004 conference at Notre Dame.  See especially Archbishop Sheehan's article
12   Vocation (KS)   
Read Discernment of Vocation for Pastoral Ministry (Edward C. Sellner, Spirituality Today Spring 1985, Vol. 37, pp. 47-58. Senior Article
 14  Ministry with Sick and Dying (Chapl)
      Read: Pastoral Letter & Liturgical Ministry  
                 Professional Chaplaincy (NACC 2001)
 More information:  WALKING THE WARDS AS A SPIRITUAL SPECIALIST by Mark A. LaRocca-Pitts
19  Lay Ministry (AR) 
         Co-Workers in the Vineyard (pp. 7-49)    		 21 Ministry to Hispanics (RH)
     reading will be forthcoming
     Background information:
USCCB Department of Hispanic Affairs and demographics
26   Reconciliation/Cross-cultural (DK) 
        Read:   A safe place for Faith  CPPS Today
         		28  Worship & Liturgy (AN)
       Read handouts
       For reference: Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy  
March
  3-7                                                                                                        SPRING BEAK
11 TBA 13  Present Theological Reflection
18   O’Meara Ch 1  20  O’Meara  Ch 2
25   O’Meara Ch 2 27  O'Meara Ch 3  
April
  1  O'Meara Ch 3   3   O’Meara Ch 4
  8  O’Meara Ch 4 10  O’Meara Ch 5
15  O’Meara Ch 5  17  O’Meara Ch 6
22  O’Meara Ch 6  Papers Due 24  O’Meara Ch 7
    Exam Wednesday April 30 -- 1 PM
 

Supplemental Readings

(Note: some of these readings may only be available to students on the SJC network.)

Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry (August 1997)
Sons and Daughters of the Light (Pastoral on Young Adult Ministry - (November 1996)
Reconceiving Youth Ministry. By: Richter, Don C.; Magnuson, Doug; Baizerman, Michael Source: Religious Education, 93 Sum 1998, p 340-357.

Lay Ministry

Christifideles Laici  (Apostolic Exhortation on the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World - December 30, 1988)
System, history, and a theology of ministry Neil Ormerod, Theological Studies, 61 no 3 S 2000, p 432-446
Shared ministry. By: Stacker, Joe R. Review & Expositor, 83 no 4 Fall 1986, p 597-604
Lay ministry. Lowery, Joanne Source: Christian Century, 115 Jl 15-22 1998, p 690
The lay ministry megatrend: an inclusive or exclusive stance. Estadt, Barry K. Journal of Pastoral Care, 40 no 4 D 1986, p 292-296.
Authority and ministry. By: Moingt, Joseph Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 19 no 2 Spr 1982, p 202-225
Directory for Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest (1988)
In the Vineyard (America January 16, 2006)

Ordained Ministry

Pastores Dabo Vobis (Apostolic Exhortation on the Formation of Priests - March 25, 1992)
Instruction on Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-ordained Faithful in the Ministry of Priests - Nov 13, 1997

Ministry to the Sick

Pastoral Letter on Church's Care of the Sick and Dying (by Bishop Charles V. Grahmann of Dallas November 2, 2002)
Liturgical ministry to the sick: an overview. By: Brock, Gary L. Journal of Pastoral Care, 45 Spr 1991, p 37-48
National Association of Catholic Chaplains 
Use of title "Chaplain" by Catholic Pastoral Care Bishop Dale Melczek
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)
Look at a description of a CPE Program

Cross Cultural Ministry

Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity (A Statement of the U.S. Catholic Bishops November 2000)
Religious/Cultural Information about Different Ethnicities (From USCCB)
 

Other

Work in Progress : Pastoral Counseling as an Emerging, Professional, Lay Ministry in the Roman Catholic Church. By: Karaban, Roslyn A. Journal of Pastoral Theology, 3 Sum 1993, p 55-66
Liturgy's many roles : minister?...Or intruders? By: Hovda, Robert W. Worship, 64 Mr 1990, p 171-176
Everyday Christianity: To Hunger and Thirst for Justice - A Pastoral Reflection on Lay Discipleship for Justice in a New Millennium - NCCB,1999
From Words to Deeds: Continuing Reflections on the Role of Women in the Church - NCCB Committee on Women in Society & the Church - 1998
The Code of Canon Law (1983)
The Catholic Liturgical Library (lots of documents on line here)
 

Page updated 02/14/2008 by
T. McFarland, C.PP.S. Assoc. Prof. of Religion
Saint Joseph's College
Questions of comments about this page -- email timm@saintjoe.edu