Course Catalogue 2026-2027

Introduction to the practicalities of parish leadership and ministry, including leading worship, facilitating small group ministry, offering counsel, developing lay leadership, stewardship, visioning and planning, teaching, dealing with conflict, overseeing children and youth ministries.

As a course in church leadership and ministry, our learning will be first grounded in an understanding of the Church; what it is and what it is for. Together we will explore the implications of what it means to say that the Church is the body of Christ in the world. In the context of a deeply rooted ecclesiology we will then begin to understand what it means to be a Christian leader in the Church, exploring practical areas of ministry including: nurturing the traits and disciplines of healthy Christian leadership, developing others as leaders, leading and managing change, dealing with conflict, cultivating missional organizational practices, implementing sound financial management, developing effective church communications, building an integrative ministry to children, and cultivating healthy community connections.

As a course in church leadership and ministry, our learning will be first grounded in an understanding of the Church; what it is and what it is for. Together we will explore the implications of what it means to say that the Church is the body of Christ in the world. In the context of a deeply rooted ecclesiology we will then begin to understand what it means to be a Christian leader in the Church, exploring practical areas of ministry including: nurturing the traits and disciplines of healthy Christian leadership, developing others as leaders, leading and managing change, dealing with conflict, cultivating missional organizational practices, implementing sound financial management, developing effective church communications, building an integrative ministry to children, and cultivating healthy community connections.

This seminar-style course examines the history and development of the papacy ca. 1500 to today, i.e., from Julius II and Michelangelo, to the French Revolution, to encyclicals and Catholic Social Teaching, to the Second Vatican Council, and to the itinerant, global papacy from Paul VI to Francis. Emphasis on changing expectations of what popes do and how they do it. Reading and discussion of primary sources, as well as key examples of recent work on these topics.

The Books of Moses—the Pentateuch—record many stories involving dramatic and life-changing encounters with God. They are each unique, but they share a common pattern: in these meetings the Lord reveals who he is in his divine nature, a genuine relationship is established through that knowledge, and human history is set on a new and unexpected path. The Pentateuch is the story of this divine self-revealing—with all its blessings and mystery—and of God’s care for his creatures through the revealing of that self-disclosure. This lecture course will entail close readings of a number of these encounter stories in Genesis to Numbers and will explore how they each contribute to the larger pentateuchal account and provide its unifying thread. Attention will be paid to literary features and narrative strategies found in the Pentateuch that help guide the biblical reader to a deeper understanding of the text.

Various traditional and modern approaches to the methodology and development of the Hebrew Bible (in English translation) are discussed, including views of authorship, redaction, structure and intent. But what does the Hebrew Bible say about itself? Students will consider the biblical portrayal of Israelite history and governance models (Patriarchal pre-settlement, Great leader settlement, Monarchy, Post-exilic hierocracy), testing the relationship between the Pentateuch and the subsequent biblical books. Through the course, students find an ancient Jewish view that is “modern” (answering the problems modern theories seek to solve) and at the same time that solves the problems the modern theories themselves engender. The course uses enquiry and deep reading, partnered study (havruta), and class discussion with some lecture providing value-added background and explanations. Collateral reading, class participation, two short reflections and one research paper are required. Evaluation will be based on class participation (40%), research paper (30%) and final exam (30%).

This seminar assists candidates as they prepare for priestly order and lay ministry. It will provide candidates with the opportunity to reflect on previous ministry experience, identify personal strengths, and anticipated areas of growth for future ministry.

A required seminar for all candidates in the Master of Divinity Program. Its aim is to assist candidates as they prepare for priestly order and lay ministry. It will provide candidates with the opportunity to reflect on previous ministry experience, identify personal strengths, and anticipated areas of growth for future ministry. Means of evaluation: Written reflection on previous ministry experience; Profiles of Ministry assessment tool; presentation on priestly order and lay ministry in a global church. Pass/Fail.

This seminar assists candidates as they prepare for priestly order and lay ministry. It will provide candidates with the opportunity to reflect on previous ministry experience, identify personal strengths, and anticipated areas of growth for future ministry.

A required seminar for all candidates in the Master of Divinity Program. Its aim is to assist candidates as they prepare for priestly order and lay ministry.  It will provide candidates with the opportunity to reflect on previous ministry experience, identify personal strengths, and anticipated areas of growth for future ministry. Means of evaluation: Written reflection on previous ministry experience; Profiles of Ministry assessment tool; presentation on priestly order and lay ministry in a global church. Pass/Fail.

This course consists of two parts: A) Practical Theology Seminar (0.5 Credit for RGF3040) - a seminar for first year students to develop the skills of theological reflection through which to reflect on personal faith development, a call to ministry, and an integration of personal experience and theology into a development of ministerial practice. Class participation, personal reflection papers, a final synthesis paper as well as workshops in pastoral skills, liturgy and personal identity will help to facilitate formation. B) Theological Reflection Seminar (0.5 Credit for RGF3040) - follows or runs concurrently with the theological field education ministry placement. The process of theological reflection enables the student to understand and assess their ministry in the context of personal faith and the theology they are studying in the total program. The remainder of the weekly meetings are spent in theological reflection on case studies of ministry events experienced by class members. Means of Evaluation: Case studies. Pass/Fail course.

A required seminar for all candidates in the Master of Divinity Program.  Its aim is to assist candidates as they prepare for priestly order and lay ministry.  It will provide candidates with the opportunity to reflect on previous ministry experience, identify personal strengths, and anticipated areas of growth for future ministry.Means of evaluation: Written reflection on previous ministry experience; Profiles of Ministry assessment tool;  presentation on priestly order and lay ministry in a global church.  Pass/Fail.