Projects & Photos

Anaheim, CA was the location of the first class offered in 2006. Seventeen students met for five days to study pastoral excellence. "Knowing that I’m not alone struggling with being a pastor is so helpful," commented one of the students. Another said, "It [the course] will help me develop wise habits (devotions, balance); [it] inspired me to keep reading/studying/taking classes [and it will] help me lead my congregation more effectively."

Classes of 2005

A group of ten students gathered in Orlando, Florida from February 28 – March 4 to take The Theology and Practice of Pastoral Ministry course. After the course one student commented, “This course helped me to develop my pastoral identity.”

Sixteen students were in Grand Rapids, Michigan for the course that was offered in June. The following remarks were made by two of the students. “After nearly two years of ministry this course is addressing all the questions I’ve had.” “I learned many practical things on how to be sustained in ministry and how to maintain proper boundaries.”

Classes of 2004

The course was offered in Grand Rapids, MI from June 7-11, 2004. Eighteen students completed the course.

A class of eleven were the first students to take The Theology and Practice of Pastoral Ministry. The class met near Ottawa, ON in late February 2004 for five days.

Course Description

The central thesis of this course is that strong pastoral identity is the key to sustaining pastoral excellence. Today’s church has witnessed a breakdown of consensus regarding the role of the pastor. This course is a study of the theology and practice of pastoral ministry with a view to creatively and critically engaging changing views of the church and its ministry in our contemporary culture, and enhancing the practice of pastoral ministry.

The course will integrate this theological understanding of pastoral ministry with the basic practices of pastoral ministry: worship, preaching, teaching, evangelism, pastoral care, and congregational leadership. The course will make extensive use of case studies and other materials/insights pastors bring from pastoral ministry. Pastors will develop competencies for good pastoral ministry and a personal plan for sustaining pastoral effectiveness.

Course Texts

Badaracco, Joseph L. Jr. Leading Quietly. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 2002.

Heifetz, Ronald A. and Marty Linsky. Leadership on the Line. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 2002.

Peterson, Eugene. Subversive Spirituality. Grand Rapids: W. B. Eerdmans, 1977.

Willimon, William H. Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002.

Course Instructors

Rev. Duane Kelderman – Vice President for Administration: Calvin Theological Seminary
Rev. Kathy Smith – Director of Continuing Education: Calvin Theological Seminary

Dates of Future Classes

• Clifton, NJ – February 18-22, 2008
• Grand Rapids, MI – June 2-6, 2008

For more information visit www.calvinseminary.edu