The Minister’s Personal Growth and Development
June 12 to June 15, 2012
Yarra Valley Conference Centre
Pastoral ministry has many emotional hazards. This subject will help you develop a theology of responsible self-care as a basis for exploring the impact of these hazards on the mental and spiritual health of the minister. You will identify areas of potential weakness and develop resources for dealing with the problems that arise in ministry. Attention will be given to aspects of the minister’s personal and family life, roles and role conflicts, problems of anger, depression, assertiveness, relationships, etc., as well as to techniques for modifying behaviour.
Learning Outcomes
The purpose of this unit is to enable Christian leaders to develop a theology and practice of self care as an essential dimension of ministry.
To this end by the completion of the unit, participants should be able to:
- Articulate a significant level of spiritual, emotional and social awareness, including their own personal strengths and weaknesses in leadership using several contemporary frameworks.
- Describe contemporary trends and pressures which impact personal and parish expectations of Christian ministry and reflect on these theologically.
- Develop insight into the unique spiritual, psychological and power dynamics which occur within ministry relationships and to cultivate disciplines which enable effective servant leadership.
- Evaluate and enhance the quality of their own relational, marriage and family life within the context of ministry.
- Document a personal philosophy of ministry and leadership including personal strategies for self care.
Unit Content
- Changing expectations and values impacting the practice of ministry and leadership.
- The gifts, character and calling of the minister.
- Practical theology and spirituality of ministry.
- Emotional and social intelligence in ministry: Conflict, Stress, Disappointment and Depression in ministry.
- The family and relational life of the Minister
- Dark Sides of Ministry: Uses and abuses of power
- Ministry ethics, professionalism and confidentiality
- Stages in Life and Ministry, support structures and lifetime learning
Assessment Items:
1. Pre-unit (due June 12)
Students should read three of the recommended works including the one asterisked and write a reflective review indicating how most the most salient insights from the readings clarify the student’s experience of stress, conflict or sense of fulfilment and wellbeing in ministry.
2,000 words = 20% of Total Marks
2. Post unit (due August 30)
Students should choose an area of ministry life and practice that is a feature of their current context identifying the expectations this context lays upon the pastor in their particular tradition. The student should reflect theologically upon the validity of those expectations and implicit values in the light of foundational Biblical underpinnings of ministry and or church. Topics could include such things as the yardsticks of ministry success, measures of growth, the authority of the pastor and the ethical and psychological dangers of pastoral engagements.
2,500 words = 30% of Total Marks
3. Major Assessment Item: (Due October 19)
Personal Analysis and Growth Trajectory
The Major Item provides opportunity for the pastor to focus reflectively upon the recurring themes in their ministry-life-narrative to date. These themes should be analysed as to their significance for present care of self and longer-term personal development. A variety of perspectives should be employed in a practical theological analysis of these themes unearthing what they imply about the pastor-person’s family of origin issues, spiritually, and pastoral-ethical responsibilities and the shape of the student’s specific call to or contribution within ministry. 20 % of this essay should focus upon the implications of this analysis for the student’s ongoing development, intellectually, relationally and spiritually.
3,500 words = 50% of Total Marks
Bibliography
Ausberger, D., 1996) Helping People Forgive, Westminster, John Knox Press
Beasley Murray, P., 1998) Power for God's Sake: Power and Abuse in the Local Church, Carlisle, Paternoster
Brain, P., 2004) Going the Distance: How to stay fit for a lifetime of ministry, Matthias Media.
De Pree, M., 2001) Called to Serve: Creating and Nurturing the Effective Volunteer Board, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans
Dodd, 2003) Empowered Church Leadership, Downer’s Grove, IVP
Doehring, C., 1995) Taking Care: Monitoring Power Dynamics and Relational Boundaries in Pastoral Care and Counselling, Nashville, Abingdon
Gibbs, E., 2005) Leadership Next: Changing Leaders For a Changing Culture, Leicester, IVP
* Herrington, J., Creech R, Taylor, T., (2003) The Leader’s Journey: Accepting the Call to Personal and Congregational Transformation, San Francisco, Jossey Bass
Keirsey, D., (1998) Please Understand Me II: Temperament Character Intelligence, Prometheus, Nemesis
Leas, S (1997) Discover Your Conflict Management Style, New York, Alban Institute
Lebacqz, K & Driskill, J (2002) Ethics and Pastoral care, Nashville, TN.: Abingdon
McIntosh, G L & Rima, S D (1997) Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership: The Paradox of Personal Dysfunction, Grand Rapids, Baker
Monbourquette, J (2006) Self Esteem: From Psychology to Spirituality, Novalis
Newton -Maloney, H (1997) Living With Paradox: Religious Leadership and the Genius of Double Vision, San Francisco, Jossey Bass
Oswald, R (1991) Clergy Self-Care: Finding a Balance for Effective Ministry, Washington: Alban Institute
Oswald, R and Kroeger, (1988) Personality Type and Religious Leadership, New York, Alban Institute
Pappas, A (1995) Pastoral Stress: Sources of Tension, Resources for Transformation, New York, Alban Institute
Peterson, E (1992) Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans
Peterson, E & Dawn, M (2000) The Unnecessary Pastor, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans
Piper, J (2002) Brothers, We are not Professionals, Nashville, TN.: Broadman and Holman
Plantinga, C (1995) Not the Way Its Meant To Be: A Breviary of Sin, Leicestershire, Apollos
Smith, D (1996) Empowering Ministry: Ways to Grow in Effectiveness, WJKP, 1996
Stevens, R Paul (1999) The Abolition of the Laity: Vocation, Work and Ministry in a Biblical Perspective, Carlisle, Paternoster
Wuellner, F S (1998) Feed my Shepherds: Spiritual Healing and Renewal for those in Christian Leadership, Upper Room Books
Willimon, W (2000) Calling and Character: Virtues of the Ordained Life, Nashville, Abingdon
Workload: Intensive unit, 8 credit points, 500-600 pages required reading.
Status: May be taken by MA and MA Gold students
Assessment: 2,500 word personal assessment. 2,000 word reading review. 3,500 word implementation plan
When: 12-15 June, 2012
Who: Tim Dyer, John Mark Ministries
Cost: $2,168 (FEE-HELP available) plus $500 surcharge towards accommodation and food.
