Courses
The Course of Study proposes to prepare spiritual and prophetic pastoral leaders for the church. Such leadership is never developed in the abstract but rather in context. The Course of Study curriculum is designed to provide classroom learning that can then be used to improve the pastoral leaders ministry.
Weekend Course of Study 08-09
Applications for WCOS 08-09 were mailed out on March 13, 2008. Registration will open on April 4, 2008 and booklists will be available on May 1, 2008
2008-09 Weekend Course of Study Schedule
Summer Course of Study 2008
Booklets and schedules for SCOS 08 have been mailed. Please contact our office if you would like to receive a copy. 2008 Summer Course of Study Schedule
1st Year | 2nd Year | 3rd Year | 4th Year | 5th Year | Advanced Courses
1st Year Courses
COS 111: Pastor as Interpreter of the Bible
Introduction to the role of the United Methodist pastor in Biblical interpretation. Attention is given to the formation and function of the canon and to the development of a methodology of interpretation consistent with the nature of scripture. The importance of the Bible as a witness to the life and faith of ancient Israel and earliest Christianity is illustrated from a survey of representative biblical materials.
COS 112: Theology in the Wesleyan Spirit
Consideration of the role and responsibility of the pastor as an interpreter of the gospel with emphasis upon our Wesleyan heritage and the students own growing sense of theological identity. Basic terms, tasks, and methods of Christian theology are introduced, and representative classical themes are defined and illustrated.
COS 113: Pastoral Care for Spiritual Formation
Exploration of the caring presence and actions of the pastor as a form of spiritual leadership and formation. Skills of effective pastoral care will be presented and practiced, including effective listening and response skills, awareness of cultural differences, timely intervention, and appropriate referral. Students will be encourage to reflect on their personal strengths, need for growth in developing relational skills, self-care, and the development of personal spiritual practices – all in the context of the community of faith.
COS 114: Pastoral Leadership and Administration
Focus upon the formation and competency in fulfilling the role of pastoral administrator so that a unity is achieved between the pastor’s doing and being. The development of administrative skills in keeping with the theology and polity of The United Methodist Church is addressed.
2nd Year Courses
COS 211: Hebrew Bible I
Interpretation of the developing institutions and traditions of Israel and examination of the varying ways in which the Hebrew people understand critical events of their history as acts of God. Attention is given to the earliest Covenants, to the Exodus, to the rise of the monarchy, and to other events up to the Eighth Century Prophets.
COS 212: Theological Heritage: Early & Medieval
Critical reflection upon significant individuals, decisive events, and fundamental tenets of the Christian faith as found in early church and medieval Christianity. Utilizing the categories of grace and faith as a focusing lens, the student appropriates the Christian heritage and enters into the Church’s ongoing task of interpreting, articulating, and enacting the gospel for contemporary life. Some use of primary sources.
COS 213: Formation For Discipleship
Examines the ministry of the church as a means of nurturing faith, Christian values, and ways of life among members of the congregation and community. Skills for evaluating, planning, and designing educational experiences are stressed as well as the pastor’s role as mentor and servant.
COS 214: Practice of Preaching
The focus is on preaching the gospel. The utilization of biblical exegesis, sermon preparation and delivery, and evaluation of the pastor’s preaching are central concerns.
3rd Year Courses
COS 311: New Testament I
This course presents a panoramic view of the content, main characteristics, and message of the books of the New Testament in light of their historical, political, socio-economic, cultural and religious environment, as well as their importance as literary expressions of the faith and history of the Early Church. The practice of exegesis is again emphasized with special focus on Luke, Acts, Romans, I Corinthians, and Galatians.
COS 312: Our Theological Heritage: The Reformation
In this course, students will critically reflect upon the individuals, decisive events, and theological developments during the period of the Protestant Reformation. Utilizing the categories of grace and faith as a focusing lens, the student appropriates the Reformation heritage and enters into the church’s ongoing task of interpreting and enacting the gospel for contemporary life. Attention will be given to selected primary sources.
COS 313: Our Mission from God: Evangelism
This course offers an analysis of the theology of evangelism and our faithfulness to God’s call. Also, students will analyze various strategies for and approaches to the church’s evangelistic task in the heritage of United Methodism, stressing the proclamation and the enactment of the Gospel.
COS 314: Pastoral Care and Counseling
In this course, students will focus upon the pastor’s understanding of human nature with attention to methods and skills in pastoral care and counseling. Each person participates in an assessment of his or her personal interactive styles.
4th Year Courses
COS 411: Hebrew Bible II
This course is a continuation of the examination of the Word of God as it was expressed through some of Israel’s prophets, selected Psalms, and selected passages from the Book of Job.
COS 412: Wesleyan Movement
This course reflects critically upon significant individuals, decisive events, and fundamental tenants of the Christian faith as found in the development of United Methodism. Utilizing categories of grace and faith as a focusing lens, the student appropriates particulars of the Wesleyan heritage and enters into the church’s ongoing task of interpreting, articulating, and enacting the gospel in contemporary life.
COS 413: Worship and Sacraments
In this course, students will examine the sacraments, rites, and liturgy of the United Methodist Church and the pastors role as worship leader.
COS 414: Personal and Social Ethics
This course will analyze the biblical and theological bases for Christian behavior: personal, professional, and social. Emphasis is given to the acquisition of pastoral skills in moral discernment and ethically responsible decision making and action.
5th Year Courses
COS 511: New Testament II
Continuation of the third year New Testament course with an intentional focus on the practice of exegesis of assigned texts. An emphasis is given to the integration of previous learning in exegesis and biblical studies with a contextualization in the practice of ministry. Special emphasis includes Matthew, John, James, and Revelation.
COS 512: Contemporary Theology
Critical reflection upon significant individuals, movements, decisive events, and fundamental tenets of the Christian faith which in the past century, or so, have shaped contemporary theologies. Through study of varied theological expressions in modern and post-modern decades the student enters into the church’s enduring task of interpreting, articulating, and enacting the gospel for contemporary life. Attention will be given to selected primary sources.
COS 513: Our Mission from God: Transforming Agent
The mission of the church is to serve God and neighbor by transmitting the Gospel for the redemption of the world. Redemption is God’s holy activity that transforms individuals, societies and all of life. When faithful to its mission, the church serves as an agent of God’s transforming redemption. Based on this understanding of the nature of the church and its mission, this course seeks to help pastors gain theological understanding and practical ministry skills for leading congregations to carry out the mission of the church as God’s agents of transformation.
COS 514: Theology and the Practice of Ministry
The integration of the role of the practicing pastor with the church’s theological heritage and its particular Wesleyan expression is emphasized. Theology as an ongoing task of critical reflection for the purpose of action is stressed. Consideration is given to issues, events and institutions which form the context within which the pastor is required to think, speak, and act with theological clarity.
Advanced Courses
Each year advanced courses are offered in areas that are pertinent to the pastor’s role and responsibility in the local church. Courses include Old or New Testament classes, Christian theology and ethics, preaching and worship, pastoral care, church administration, or church history. Students pursuing Advanced Studies as a route to ordination should choose classes based on individual annual conference requirements. Students should consult their annual conference Board of Ordained Ministry to determine which courses fulfill those specific requirements. *Offered in Summer Course of Study only.
2008 Advanced course offerings:
ADVCARE: Advanced Pastoral Care: Ministry Beyond the Barriers
Too many Christians forget that we are called to minister to more than "us and ours." The church that gathers to worship God and nurture each other must eventually be sent out to serve... but serve whom? The least, the last, the lost. The sick and lonely, exiled or imprisoned. The outcast, alien, and stranger. (And some much stranger than others!) Here we begin to familiarize ourselves with people our prejudices might tempt us to reject ... with the hope that, in every face, we find Jesus. Warning: God's gonna trouble the waters!
ADVTHEOL: Advanced Theology: Race, Discipleship and the Christian Life
This course will examine the formation of race in the modern world and the challenge it poses to Christian discipleship. We will imagine a faithful response and the possibility of reconciliation through a reflection on the relationship between discipleship, christology and prayer.
ADVPOL: Advanced Polity: United Methodism’s Global Connection
The church in mission is called to make disciples, to baptize and teach in the way of Jesus (Matthew 28:17-20). The history of the Christian Church is the history of the Gospel taking root in new contexts and geographical locations,to all ethnic groups and social classes. The changing paradigms in global mission in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe reveal God's work is leaving global footprints.Since 1991 The United Methodist Church has entered and currently is linked in mission and ministry in thirteen countries where we had no prior connections.
This class will focus on: the signs of emerging global trends within United Methodism, a history and theology for mission, the 21st century global context including a focus on the United States as the world's fourth largest mission field with its increasing unchurched population.
ADVPRC: Advanced Practice of Ministry: Preaching in the Wesleyan Spirit
Candidates for ordination as Elders in The United Methodist Church are asked, whether they will preach and maintain the doctrines of the church. But, what does the answer to this question look like? Assuming that there is a stable set of Methodist doctrines to be maintained; is there a way of preaching them that is characteristically Methodist in both content and form? Can and should a sermon by a Methodist be Wesleyan? By reading sermons by Wesley and his heirs, by responding to each others sermons, and by preaching in class, this course seeks to nurture habits supportive of a life of preaching in the Wesleyan spirit.
ADVMSN: Advanced Missions: Theology, Evangelism, and the Missional Church
Much current literature on evangelism promises quick and easy results without theological depth. In this course students will explore issues in the theology of evangelism, trying to discern how the doctrines of God, Incarnation, and the Church should inform and shape practices of evangelism. Students will leave this course better equipped to lead churches in faithful and effective practices of evangelism, confident they can do evangelism with theological integrity.
ADVOT: Advanced Old Testament: The Major Prophets
An examination of the three “major” prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. The major assignment is for the student to select a passage of about 10 verses or so and write an exegetical paper on that passage using major commentaries and any additional resources which are appropriate.