Chaplaincy (M. Div.)

This course is a systematic study based on the topics of Prolegomena (introductory matters), Theology Proper (study of God) and Bibliology (the Scriptures – the written word of God). In this theological methods course students will continue to deepen their theological thought process and world view.

The doctrine of salvation stretches from the beginning of time and encompasses eternity and is one of the grandest and most profound themes of Scripture. The doctrines of election, grace, redemption, reconciliation, justification, and faith, among others, will be examined in depth. The student will be guided through some of the most controversial and deviational issues in Scripture, finding biblical answers that are exegetically sound.

This course covers the methodology, history, and basic issues surrounding biblical theology (such as unity vs. diversity and continuity vs. discontinuity). An emphasis will be placed on exploring different frameworks for doing and applying biblical theology in ministry contexts.

This course is an introduction to the biblical, theological, historical, and philosophical foundations of Christian apologetics that will equip students to give reasons for the “hope that is in you” (1 Pet. 3:15). Attention will be given to the tenets of Christian thought and culture within the challenges of a postmodern world. An emphasis will be made on faithfully and graciously living in a pluralistic culture while sustaining a vibrant witness and mission in the world.

The course covers the Christian persecution and the development of Christian doctrines in the early church. Scholasticism, the Renaissance, and the Crusades during the Medieval Period are also covered. The course deals with the Reformation doctrines, and the development of the modern church from the Age of Reason in the 17th century to the 21st century. The student will be able to understand the modern church in the light of this historical perspective.

This course is designed to give the student advanced instruction and practice in the process of inductive 68 Bible studies. Various methods of Bible study will be surveyed with the heart of the course being written assignments. The steps of observation, interpretation, and application will be engaged, along with charting of Scripture.

This course presents an overview of the historical-cultural background and the contents of the Old Testament, and how each is best read in the context of Scripture as a whole.

This course introduces the content of the books of the New Testament. The focus will be on the message of each book within its historical-cultural setting, with attention given to its contribution to the theology of the New Testament as a whole.

Choice of Elective

Greek I is designed to enable the student to develop language skills for the purpose of responsibly engaging the Greek New Testament. Students will practice speaking, engage in reading, begin writing, build vocabulary, and gain critical skills for the study of the New Testament, Septuagint, and other Ancient Greek literature.

The goal of Greek II, which builds on Greek I, is to continue developing language skills for the purpose of responsibly engaging the Greek New Testament. Students will practice speaking, engage in reading, practice writing, build vocabulary, and sharpen their skills for studying the New Testament, Septuagint, and other Ancient Greek literature. Prerequisite BL 6301

In Hebrew I, students will develop language skills for the purpose of responsibly engaging the Hebrew Old Testament. Students will practice speaking, engage in reading, begin writing, build vocabulary, and gain critical skills for the study of the Old Testament and other Ancient Hebrew literature.

The goal of Hebrew II, which builds on Hebrew I, is to continue developing language skills for the purpose of responsibly engaging the Hebrew Old Testament. Students will practice speaking, engage in reading, practice writing, build vocabulary, and sharpen their skills for studying the Old Testament 69 and other Ancient Hebrew literature. Prerequisite BL 6305

An overview of the various teaching methods available for those called to the teaching ministry, whether in one- on-one discipleship, small groups, or large group settings. A theoretical-research foundation will be laid, and then applied to the actual teaching environment of the student's ministry. The goal of transformation will be emphasized in the personal, social, and spiritual dimensions of Christian growth and maturity. Each age-level will be considered, with students bringing their own ministry emphases to light.

This course will build upon the student’s biblical worldview as it applies to the field and ministry of Christian counseling for the church and community. This course is designed to introduce primary counseling theories evaluatedwithin a biblical framework. Special attention is given to evaluating theories based on Scripture, understanding the nature of men and women, observing how and why problems develop, and dealing with those problems in appropriate and effective ways leading to life transformation and conformity to Jesus Christ.

This class provides the student with an understanding of the dynamics of counseling married couples and families (intact, blended, divorced, extended, and multicultural) from a sound biblical perspective. Students will learn proper assessment, understand the family life-span cycle and challenges, role of the local church regarding marital and family ministry, defend God’s revealed will of healthy parameters from Scripture for building Christianmarriages and families, and healthy communication in couples and families.

This is an introductory course that covers the history, development, teachings, and contemporary practices of the world’s major religions. These include Islam, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Daoism, and the New Atheism. All these traditions will be treated in the context of the Christian faith perspective to provide a deeper understanding of the complexities in encountering peoples of different faith groups. A field research project will be incorporated to enhance the experiential learning of a world religion.

This course will review the Scriptural basis for servant leadership and describe the modern servant leadership movement. Servant leadership will be defined and compared with other ideas about leadership. The course will review the institutional principles of servant-institutions, Theory X, Theory Y, the importance of prosocial and intrinsic motivation, and recent scholarly research on the positive impacts of servant leadership in the workplace. Assignments will include excerpts from the works of various scholars published in academic journal articles. Students will use their definitions of servant leadership to evaluate historical figures and will identify a need in the community and implement a plan to meet the need.

This course is designed for people who have received a call from God or are exploring the call to chaplaincy ministry, either as a full-time calling or in conjunction with other forms of ministry. The course provides an overview of the nature and history of chaplaincy ministry, including the chaplaincy’s identity, purpose, and ethical and legal parameters. The course introduces students to the contexts in which chaplains minister, the types of tasks they perform, and the challenging issues that they will face ministering in various settings such as the military, the workplace, hospitals and retirement homes, prisons, and rescue missions or homeless shelters

In this course, students develop a perspective on the chaplaincy that involves the integration of spirituality into whole person care. Students learn how chaplains identify and integrate individual and family beliefs, values, needs, and practices into the approach to spiritual care in light of our pluralistic world. Students will develop core skills that can improve the interventions that chaplains provide including proficiency in listening skills, effective verbal and non- verbal practices, group communication, conflict resolution, and negotiation as they come alongside and provide spiritual care.

Clinical Pastoral Education is interfaith professional education for ministry. It brings theological students and ministers of all faiths (pastors, priests, rabbis, imams and others) into supervised encounters with persons in crisis. Out of an intense involvement with persons in need, and the feedback from peers and teachers, students develop new awareness of themselves as persons and of the needs of those to whom they minister. From theological reflection on specific human situations, students gain a new understanding of ministry. Within the interdisciplinary team process of helping persons, they develop skills in interpersonal and inter-professional relationships. This course is to be taken after most of the other Chaplaincy Program courses have been completed. (Prerequisites CO 6312 Counseling Skills and Theory, CP 6301 The Chaplaincy Ministry, CO 6317 Multicultural Issues in Counseling)

In this course, theology, as the backbone to Christian counseling, comes to life in the context of real ministry to real people, demonstrating how theology intersects with the lives of actual counselees. This course provides insights for understanding counselees and the common problems people face. Real-life examples are utilized for implementing counseling approaches on issues related to marriage, divorce, addiction, stress, parenting, and more. Students will demonstrate the ability to assess the context, select critical cues, and attend to what is seen and unseen with regard to individuals and family systems.

In this course students address two primary counseling strategies, brief counseling and group counseling. Models of brief counseling are examined such as problem-solving, integrated problem, and solution-focused with attention given to practical techniques. Additionally, the principles, processes and techniques of group counseling will be addressed and applied.

Clinical Pastoral Education is interfaith professional education for ministry. It brings theological students and ministers of all faiths (pastors, priests, rabbis, imams and others) into supervised encounters with persons in crisis. Out of an intense involvement with persons in need, and the feedback from peers and teachers, students develop newawareness of themselves as persons and of the needs of those to whom they minister. From theological reflection on specific human situations, students gain a new understanding of ministry. Within the interdisciplinary team process of helping persons, they develop skills in interpersonal and inter-professional relationships. This course is to be taken after most of the other Chaplaincy Program courses have been completed. (Prerequisites CO 6312 Counseling Skills and Theory, CP 6301 The Chaplaincy Ministry, CO 6317 Multicultural Issues in Counseling)

Students will examine the dynamics of various situational and developmental crises, consider family and cultural influences on coping, and explore methodsfor intervening in crisissituations. The course will address the nature and types of trauma/crises, a survey of intervention models, psychosocial factors associated with trauma response (e.g., age, ability, gender, cultural and racial identities, class, and spirituality/religious faith), and an overview of the cognitive, affective, behavioral, and neurological ramifications associated with trauma. The application of skills andtechniques utilized in crisis intervention, including assessment and triage and safety and security concerns as well as practices in post trauma therapy will be addressed. Students will be exposed to specialized counseling situations including assessment of lethality, mass disaster, death notification, suicide and more. (Prerequisite PM 6312 Counseling Skills and Theory)