NOTE: A fuller syllabus will be distributed at the first class meeting.
GB 5603
Introduction to Ministry
Fall / 2017
Friday (5:00 pm – 9:00 pm) – Saturday (8:30 am – 4:30 pm)
September 8-9 / October 6-7 / November 3-4
Dr. Rubel Shelly
Catalog Description: A broad-based course covering a theology of ministry and the practical aspects of the minister’s work, including family relationships, personal spirituality, care for the sick and dying, spiritual care and leadership in worship.
Instructor Course Description: Examines the biblical narrative (with attention to historical and contemporary texts) to engage the question of the content and purpose of ministry. Special attention will be given to developing a theology of ministry in light of contemporary concerns such as gender roles, the place and function of worship, the question of ministerial “offices,” and ethical issues that pertain directly to Christian ministry.
Contact Information
Office: Ezell 143 School: 615-966-5826
E-mail: Mobile: 248-840-6519
Course Objectives
1. To help students with textual and theological clarity about the nature of ministry.
2. To advocate a high view of the local church as the cutting edge of Christ’s ongoing ministry to the world.
3. To heighten awareness of ministry as a gift of grace that can be empowered adequately only by the deep reserves of life in the Spirit of God.
4. To provide the experience of a support team for learning, prayer, service, and problem-solving in the local church. Note: Class Covenant.
5. To challenge students to practice constant spiritual discipline as leaders and models to others.
6. To provide practical guidance for how leaders serve in both routine and crisis times in the life of a church.
7. To help students grasp the importance of collegial leadership in local churches and the special dynamics involved in such settings.
8. To explore cultural shifts and how they impinge on ministry tasks.
9. To foster creativity in ministry that will keep the faith-journey of students fresh for themselves, challenging to those they lead, and faithful to the God who has called them to this holy vocation.
10. To provide a safe atmosphere for personal wrestling with confusion, pain, and discouragement related to ministry among persons enrolled in the course.
Learning Outcomes (Note: See “Reading and Assignment Schedule”)
Being: personal spiritual development appropriate to ministry of the Word of God
· Deeper personal faith that exhibits itself in love for Christ and his church
· Stronger commitment to the mission of God through the church
· Clearer conviction about one’s personal role as a servant of Jesus Christ
· Daily engagement in spiritual disciplines and growth into the likeness of Christ
· Commitment to kingdom leadership for the sake of the lost and outcast
Knowing: biblical and theological insights that clarify the nature of Christian ministry
· A positive ecclesiology for the sake of effective ministry
· Attentiveness to cultural factors that challenge the mission of God in our time
· Biblical study of the nature of leadership in Christian ministry
· Awareness of one’s obligation for his or her own family’s spiritual development
· Strategies for nurturing spiritual health in others
Doing: involvement with Christian ministry that applies what is being learned
· Develop and articulate a personal Philosophy of Ministry
· Practice selected spiritual disciplines for the sake of growth into Christlikeness
· Apply things learned in class to actual ministry situations
· Learn to participate in a community of authenticity and grace
· Set appropriate boundaries for self-care in ministry
Required Texts
McNeal, Reggie. The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003.
White, Neil. In the Sanctuary of Outcasts: A Memoir. New York: HarperCollins, 2009.
Willimon, William H. Pastor: A Reader for Ordained Ministry. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002.
Willimon, William H. Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry. Revised Edition. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2016.
Reading and Assignment Schedule
Date / Focus of Class Session / Readings / AssignmentsSept 8-9 / BEING: The Person God Calls to
Full-Time Christian Ministry / Pre-Session: Items 2 & 3 from
Course Requirements
Pastoral Epistles
Willimon (2016), Intro, 1-2, 13-14
Willimon (2002), 1-2, 12-13
Oct 6-7 / KNOWING: Culture, Theology, and the
Expectations of Ministry / Pre-Session: Item 4 from CR
Willimon (2016), 3-8
Willimon (2002), 3-8
Items 7 & 8 for one-half of class
Nov 3-4 / DOING: Nurturing Health in the Local
Church / Willimon (2016), 9-12
Willimon (2002), 9-11
McNeal (entire)
White (entire)
Items 7 & 8 for one-half of class
TBA / Final Exam
Course Requirements
1. Each student will participate in the sharing of his/her life story with other class members during the first two meetings of the class. The format for sharing this information will be modeled in class by Dr. Shelly. The use to be made of this methodology for ministry purposes will also be explained.
2. Each student will write a brief personal history in the following form: birth, spiritual influence of his/her family of origin, decision to follow Christ, most “cataclysmic” event or influence on his/her spiritual life prior to age 18, how you met your mate (if married), children (if any), education, work experience (especially as related to ministry), and present relationship to local-church ministry. This is to be written and submitted to Dr. Shelly by e-mail no later than one week before the first class meeting. Approximate length: 3-5 double-spaced pages. See “Appendix A”
3. Each student is to select someone who both knows him or her very well and knows of his or her plans for full-time Christian ministry. A form provided for you is to be presented to that person to fill out and return to Dr. Shelly no later than one week before the semester begins. See “Appendix B”
4. Each student is to visit a minimum of four open meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, or a similar 12-step group before the second class meeting. (Note: Try to attend at least two different groups over this four-visit assignment.) A one-page summary of the type of meeting attended, stories shared, interactions observed, and personal impact on the student must be submitted for each event. The written reports are to be submitted electronically no later than 48 hours before the second class meeting. See “Appendix C”
5. Each student will participate in a program of intentional reading of Scripture. The purpose of these readings and their use is personal spiritual formation. This is likely the most important personal component of the class. It is also the least “academic” part. The hope is that this assignment will reflect each student’s ongoing practice of spiritual discipline into the likeness of Christ. For some, it may initiate the practice of intentional spiritual formation. In either case, a major emphasis of the class will be the development of deep reserves from which a person engaged in ministry must be able to draw over time. Each student is to keep a journal of his or her daily readings, and entries on each reading may be made only on the date for which that reading comes due. That is, you may not “catch up” your journal once or twice a week. Each journal entry is to use this format: (1) Date and time of reading, (2) your reflection over the reading, and (3) a prayer growing out of your reading. Journals will be reviewed twice during the semester. You will be given a journal at the first class meeting that is to be used throughout the semester.
6. All textbook, article, video, or audio assignments must be read before the class period during which they are to be discussed. Because this is a graduate-level course, each student will be expected to engage both readings and classroom events in a mature and thoughtful manner. A one-page “Report of Reading/Listening Assignment” sheet is to be filled out for each assigned reading and turned in upon arrival to class on the date assigned. See “Appendix C”
7. Class Presentation: Each student will make a 20- to 30-minute class presentation in which a recent or current project (e.g., implementing a small-group ministry) or challenge in ministry (e.g., conflict resolution, leadership selection) is described, examined theologically, outlined in terms of its major challenges, and examined as to outcome/status. The topic must be real-life rather than theoretical. The presentation must follow this model: (a) the setting of my current role, (b) the task at hand, (c) the major strengths I bring to the task, (d) the frustrations and/or fears I bring to the task, (e) the primary theological dimensions of the task, and (f) a strategy that will address the challenge. After presenting the case study in no more than 15 minutes, the student will facilitate feedback from classmates. Presentations will be scheduled for the second and third class meetings.
8. Book Review: In connection with the student’s class presentation in #6 above, he or she will review one book that has been particularly on-point for the project or challenge at hand. A brief written review will be printed for fellow students. A five-minute oral summary of that review and a discussion of the book’s special benefit to the project/challenge and hand will be summarized for the group. Due on the date of class presentation. See “Appendix D”
9. Writing Assignment: The class presentation described above will lead to a final paper for this course that follows the general outline above (approx. one-half of paper), incorporates feedback received from the class presentation (approx. one-fourth of paper), and concludes with an answer to the following question: What would you tell someone attempting/facing a similar project/challenge in ministry? (approx. one-fourth of paper). A minimum of six bibliographic sources must be cited that are relevant to the issue dealt with in the presentation and paper. The bibliography must be annotated with one to three sentences that tell the value of each book or article to the student’s project/challenge. Due one week after date of oral presentation.
Recommended Readings:
(D) Blackaby, Henry, and Richard Blackaby. Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God’s Agenda. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2001.
(D) Cheshire, Michael. How to Knock Over a 7-Eleven and Other Ministry Training. Bloomington, IN: WestBow Press, 2011.
(K) Donovan, Vincent J. Christianity Rediscovered. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1978.
(K) Burke, John. No Perfect People Allowed: Creating a Come as You Are Culture in the Church. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.
(K) Clapp, Rodney. A Peculiar People: The Church as Culture in a Post-Christian Society. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1996.
(D) Clinton, J. Robert. The Making of a Leader, 2nd ed. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2012.
(B) Friedman, Edwin H. A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix. New York: Seabury Books, 2007.
(D) George, Bill, and Peter Sims, and David Gergen. True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2006.
(K) Guder, Darrell L., ed. Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
(K) Hirsch, Alan. The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2006.
(K) Jordan, Trinity. Jesus Never Said to Plant Churches and 12 More Things They Never Told Me about Church Planting. Springfield, MO: Influence Resources, 2012.
(K) Keller, Timothy J. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012)
(B) McNeal, Reggie. Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2006.
(D) Mancini, Will. Church Unique: How Missional Leaders Cast Vision, Capture Culture, and Create Movement. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2008.
(B) Nouwen, Henri. The Wounded Healer. New York: Image Books, 1979.
(B) Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006.
(K) Shelly, Rubel. I Knew Jesus Before He Was a Christian . . . and I Liked Him Better Then. Abilene: Leafwood Press, 2011.
(K) Shelly, Rubel, and John York. The Jesus Community: A Theology of Relational Faith. Abilene: Leafwood Press, 2004.
(B) Willard, Dallas. The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus’s Essential Teachings on Discipleship. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 2006
GB 5603 / Introduction to Ministry . . .
Appendix A
My Spiritual Journey
(approximately 3 – 5 pages of double-spaced text)
1. Briefly characterize the spiritual environment of the home into which you were born and where you were nurtured for the first 16 years of your life.
2. How old were you when you made a personal decision to follow Christ? What were the immediate circumstances of that decision?
3. Who/what were the primary influences on you to prompt your decision to become a serious follower of Jesus Christ?
4. What have been the two or three major ways in which your commitment to Christ has been evident in your life to those who know you best?
5. Who is the one person in your current network of acquaintances whom you most desperately want to know Christ and be saved? Why?
6. Are you confident in sharing the gospel with people who are not Christians? Explain your response.
7. How are you serving Christ in a local church over the next 120 days?
8. If you are married, when and how did you meet your mate? How supportive is he/she of your calling to ministry? [If unmarried, answer this question of your family of origin, closest personal friends, and/or person you are dating seriously.]
GB 5603 / Introduction to Ministry . . .
Appendix B
Seeing Myself Through Others’ Eyes
Explanation / Instruction for Student:
The questionnaire on the following page is for someone who knows you quite well, knows of your plan to enter some field of Christian ministry, and with whom you are in regular contact. If you are married or engaged, the person who fills out the questionnaire must be your spouse or spouse-to-be. Discuss this course with that person, and ask him or her to provide your professor confidential answers to the questions on it. (You may not discuss the person’s answers until they have been submitted to me by email or in writing.) Then you and I will spend 30 minutes to one hour in private review and analysis of the information provided and how it relates to your call to full-time ministry.