Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/1503847
145 SF 1104 Care of Souls This seminar explores how a leader can care for the souls of others. Students learn in both theory and practice how to walk with those who suffer, with those who are seeking discernment of God's will, with those whose image of God is distorted, with those who are stuck in immaturity or sin, and with those who have a desire to mature in their relationship with Jesus. Students will explore how to implement soul care in a variety of ecclesial contexts. Prerequisites: FC 1101 Biblical and Theological Reflection on the Practice of Ministry; FC 1102 Relational and Vocational Foundations; FC 1103 Obstacles and Opportunities in Ministry: Research Possibilities. Three hours. ELECTIVES (OPEN TO ALL DOCTOR OF MINISTRY STUDENTS) EL 1201 – 1205 Special Topics These course numbers are reserved for courses of special or one-time opportunity that do not otherwise appear in the catalog. Three hours. EL 1290 Individualized Study This course number is reserved for courses designed to free the student for independent investigation under the guidance of a professor. Three hours. EL 1214 Dynamics of Organizational Communication Students explore the ways organizations communicate and fail to communicate. Topics include how verbal and nonverbal language communicates core values, how vision and direction are caught or missed, and legal issues: clergy-penitent privilege, mandatory reporting, financial records (and who has access to them), counseling notes, what can be subpoenaed; expectations for staff use of social media; conflict management amid electronic communication; privacy or accessibility of phones, laptops, etc. Three hours. EL 1216 Ministry in a Sexually Broken Culture An exploration of healthy and maladaptive human sexuality from biological, psychological, sociological, theological, and familial perspectives. Topics include issues of gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, sexual behavior, pornography, sexual disorders and addictions, and resources for ministry and pastoral care. Biblical perspectives are affirmed within the context of socio-cultural trends, values, and norms. Students will address issues that are relevant to the populations with whom they work. Three hours. EL 1218 Revitalizing a Plateaued or Declining Congregation or Ministry Many churches and organizations that are stuck or declining are now regaining health and effectiveness and engaging their communities with the power of Christ in fresh and culturally appropriate ways. This class will assess the foundational attributes of ministry and explore the goals and means of revitalizing struggling congregations and ministries, helping them toward renewed hope and fruitfulness. Three hours. EL 1220 Reclaiming Ecclesiology: Faithful Foundations for Effective Ministry This course integrates biblical, theological, historical, and sociocultural perspectives and principles toward a robust functional (rather than purely systematic) ecclesiology. In other words: What, really, is the church? What is its purpose? What should a "lived-out" church look like, individually, corporately, and culturally, particularly in an age when believers' relationships are shaped by social media, technology, and myriad Christian enterprises? Particular emphasis will be made on personal application to each student's particular context and role, whether pastors or church staff, para-church leaders, or laity. Three hours.