Course Descriptions
— Contextual Studies
Courses
are for 3 credits unless otherwise noted.
CS251-252 Religious
Leadership, Organization, Administration, and Finance in
Context
Joseph Bush
Utilizing
a placement in a congregation (10-12 hours per week) and a concurrent
seminar, the course explores issues, theories,
and practices for the exercise of leadership in religious organizations.
The primary methodological approach of the course is reflection
on practice. Such praxis involves: (1) students’ own exercise
of leadership as interns in ministry; (2) analysis of congregational
systems operating within larger social contexts; and (3) theological
reflection on communal and ecclesial systems and on leadership
practice. CS251-252 must be taken in the same year. In the first
semester, particular attention will be given to issues of organization
and administration and to analysis of the social context for
religious organization. In the second semester, particular attention
will be given to nuances of leadership and service within human
and financial systems and to theological reflection
on our diverse experiences of leadership and service in context. (4.5
credits per term; 9 credits total)
Prerequisites: IS151, IS152,
CH161, CH261,
CL440, CL670
CS253 Ministry
Practicum
Joseph Bush
The ministry practicum consists of a 400-hour supervised ministry experience.
Students wishing to complete this practicum by completing a full-time summer
internship,
a part-time school year internship, or a full-year full-time internship should
register for this course rather than CS254. These internships may consist
of parish ministry, institutional chaplaincy, or some other appropriate form
of ministry experience. Students are invited to play an active role in determining
the setting for this practicum. Decisions about internship sites should be
made in consultation with the CS253/4 coordinator. A final project is required.
Students officially appointed as pastors who have used their ministry sites
to meet the requirements of CS251-252 are required to take their ministry practicum
as a unit of CPE and should register for CS254, rather than this course.
Prerequisites: IS151, IS152, first unit of assessment at North
Central Ministry Development Center, student’s self-assessment
for ministry development
CS254 CPE
Ministry Practicum
Joseph Bush
The ministry practicum consists of a 400-hour supervised ministry experience.
Students wishing to complete this practicum by completing a basic unit of Clinical
Pastoral Education should register for this course rather than CS253. This
option is open to all students, but is required of students officially appointed
as pastors who use their ministry sites to meet the requirements of CS251-252.
Decisions about CPE placement should be made in consultation with the CS253/4
coordinator. A final project is required.
Prerequisites: IS151, IS152, first unit of assessment at North
Central Ministry Development Center, student’s self-assessment
for ministry development
CS730 Philippines
Study Trip
Eleazar Fernandez
The Philippine globalization trip is an exposure-immersion trip to the Philippines.
The program offers an alternative view of tourism. Students will have the opportunity
to live and learn with Filipinos and to see how the people’s faith translates
into struggle for empowerment, peace, and justice. This course satisfies the
global justice requirement.
No prerequisites
CS745 Immersion
Trip to Northern New Mexico
Christine Smith
In northern New Mexico the co-existence of Native Americans, Mexican Americans,
Spanish Americans, and people of other European descent creates a rich and complex
social, ethnic, and cultural environment. We will immerse ourselves in this environment
for 12 to 14 days, analyzing the historical roots that help shape
it
and discovering and experiencing it as a place of profound religious insight
and deep spirituality. Within this larger ethnic and social context, we will
look at some of the political, social, and economic realities that have produced
one of the economically poorest states in the United States and a place
where the violence of racism and classism are daily-lived realities for many
people. We will visit worship sites and holy places, spend time with local artists,
meet with religious and community leaders, and engage in disciplined and critical
theological and spiritual reflection. This course satisfies the
global justice requirement.
No prerequisites
CS746 Global
Encounters on Our Doorstep
Eleazar Fernandez
The global is not simply “out there” but it is also “in
here,” wherever our location is. This course brings to the students’ consciousness
the interweaving of the global and the local realities in our daily living
through theoretical analysis and face-to-face encounter with the “others” at
our doorsteps. Furthermore, it gives student the opportunity to reflect
on the challenges that our globalized context poses for doing theology
and
ministry.
This course satisfies the global justice requirement.
No prerequisites
CS747 Immersion
Trip to Guatemala
Christine Smith
Since the mid-1950s Guatemala has been a militarized country, and during the
1970s and 1980s had one of the worst records for human rights violations in the
Western Hemisphere. Also, it is a country in which the indigenous Mayan population
has remained culturally vibrant and strong in the midst of grinding poverty and
racist genocide. During the trip we will focus on Mayan culture and spirituality,
human rights issues and violations, and issues of global economics that continue
to be so oppressive to the people Guatemala. We will be traveling to several
villages in the northern highlands of Guatemala, speaking with World Bank representatives
and human rights advocates in Guatemala City and visiting grass roots cooperatives
that help sustain the social and economic life of the Mayan Indian people of
Guatemala. This course satisfies the global justice requirement.
No prerequisites
CS751 Chiapas,
Mexico, Study Trip
Christine Smith
Until the Spanish conquest over 500 years ago, the country we know as Mexico
today was the land of indigenous people. The conquest began a long history
of slavery, oppression, and genocide that still continues throughout Mexico.
This
trip
will focus on the southern most state of the country which is Chiapas. While
there, we will experience the pervasive strength of Mayan indigenous culture
and spirituality. In the state of Chiapas there have been many movements for
change
and liberation, three of which we will encounter during out trip: (1) The
ongoing struggle for autonomy and liberation of the Zapatista National Liberation
Army; (2) The active non-violence strategies of Las Abejas; and (3) The
liberation theology influence of Bishop Samuel Ruiz who served the Diocese
of San Cristobal
for over 30 years. During our time in Chiapas we will visit co-operatives,
ecological projects, and religious communities, worship in Acteal with Las
Abejas, and spend time with some of the Zapatista leaders. This course satisfies
the
global justice requirement.
No prerequisites
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