This seminar is normally taken your final semester at Asbury Theological Seminary. It seeks to integrate your seminary experiences of spiritual, intellectual and vocational formation with your personal views of ministry and your life experiences. The integration will be done through a series of discussion papers on assigned topics. This seminar is also designed to share your spiritual journey and to celebrate with your colleagues their journey. One goal of this seminar is to help summarize your academic development and personal experiences while at seminary.https://place.asburyseminary.edu/syllabi/2484/thumbnail.jp

Van Tatenhove, Frederick C.

English

Asbury Theological Seminary

Asbury Theological SeminaryePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchangeSyllabi eCommons1-1-2005IR 700 Senior Reflection SeminarFrederick C. Van TatenhoveFollow this and additional works at: http://place.asburyseminary.edu/syllabiThis Document is brought to you for free and open access by the eCommons at ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange. It has beenaccepted for inclusion in Syllabi by an authorized administrator of ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange. For more information, pleasecontact thad.horner@asburyseminary.edu.Recommended CitationVan Tatenhove, Frederick C., "IR 700 Senior Reflection Seminar" (2005). Syllabi. Book 1380.http://place.asburyseminary.edu/syllabi/1380 1  IR700XL SYLLABUS  SENIOR REFLECTION SEMINAR  Fall Semester – 2005 Seminar Leader: Fred Van Tatenhove, Ph.D.  Seminary E-Mail Address: Fred_Van_Tatenhove@asburyseminary.edu    Home E-Mail Address: fvantate@juno.com Home Telephone: (859) 885-7659  Office Hours: TBA  WELCOME!    Welcome to your Senior Reflection Seminar.  I am looking forward to participating with you this semester.  I assume that most of you have become skilled with the Exl format.  I must confess, though this will be my seventh Exl course, I really miss being with each of you in a face-to-face setting.  One of the blessings I have received over the years at ATS from this seminar is the sharing of our personal stories and vision for ministry.    Since all of you will be asked to share some personal history, let me begin with a few bits of information about myself.  I came to Asbury in 1975 and taught in the Department of Pastoral Ministry for 25 years.  Prior to my faculty position I served as a mental health Chaplain and a pastor for 11 years.  While at ATS I also developed the MA counseling program, directed the counseling service, and chaired the Area of Counseling and Pastoral Ministry.  Since 2000 I moved to an adjunct position leading only SM seminars.  During the fall semester 2002, I was the Acting Director of Supervised Ministry.  The SM seminars have always been some of my favorite assignments.   My spiritual journey was rooted in my parent’s faith and prayers for me through a life threatening accident at the age of three.  My commitment to Christ and call to the ministry came in my eighteenth year.  As you too can testify, I could never have guessed what God was going to do with my life.  As we say “God is Good!  All the Time!”    My years at Asbury were a time of learning about and experiencing God’s wonderful grace.  That continues today!  I believe this seminar will provide you that experience too.      A PERSONAL REQUEST  Since all of you in this seminar are close to graduation, I want us to covet to pray “one for another.”  You will receive a roster of members who are in the seminar and their emails.  In addition, you will be provided a list of your sub-group.  These sub-groups are intended to be collegial sharing and consulting teams.  Later in this syllabus you will learn more about the use of these teams.  Though we may not be able to see each other, we can still  2 be a support for each other.  So learn how, across the electronic channels of our life, we can share with each other the grace and love of God that abounds in our lives.  Let’s share our celebrations and concerns.   SEMINAR DESCRIPTION  This seminar is normally taken your final semester at Asbury Theological Seminary.  It seeks to integrate your seminary experiences of spiritual, intellectual and vocational formation with your personal views of ministry and your life experiences.  The integration will be done through a series of discussion papers on assigned topics.  This seminar is also designed to share your spiritual journey and to celebrate with your colleagues their journey.  One goal of this seminar is to help summarize your academic development and personal experiences while at seminary.  SEMINAR EVALUATION:  This two-hour, credit only, seminar is part of the Supervised Ministry grading policy.  There are two possible final grades – Credit (CR) or Credit/No Credit (CR/NC).  A CR/NC would only be given when a student has not completed the assignments.  For those graduating in December 2005, a NC could mean a delay in your graduation. I do not expect any member of this seminar to be given a NC grade.  However, unexpected circumstances do arise.  A NC results in a growth plan to fulfill the incomplete aspects or other concerns.  A growth plan is to be developed two weeks after the semester and completed before the next semester begins.   If you find that happening, please contact me immediately and I will work with you to help you meet the requirements of this seminar.  Completion of the requirements on time, as describe later, is an important requirement for credit for this two-hour seminar.  COURSE RQUIREMENTS:        1. Three personal reflection papers and four topical position papers will be prepared and presented to your group members.  The personal  papers will be reflections of your spiritual journey and other related personal experiences.  One personal reflection paper will be prepared at the beginning and the other two personal ones near the close of this seminar.  The four topical papers will come after the first personal paper.  The FIRST personal reflection paper is due September 17 and is to be a summasion your spiritual journey before enrolling at Asbury.  It is to be a one to two-page (maximum) summary, single-spaced with double space between paragraphs.  Prepare it in a first person, conversational style of writing.  You will then send it to other members in your sharing group (group to be assigned the first week) for their reading and response.  I can access each sub-group.  You need not send a copy to me.     3      The following is provided to help you prepare this reflection paper:  REFLECTIONS ON MY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY A Witness to God’s Grace Before Asbury      Often persons come to seminary and leave with few opportunities to share their      Spiritual journey with others or to hear others share theirs.  Sharing our spiritual      story  is one way we honor God for His love and to give witness to His grace and      forgiveness.  Using the following suggestions, prepare a two-page summary of your     faith journey before arriving at Asbury.  -note significant events, persons and experiences  -reflect upon important scriptures, worship experiences, preaching, witnesses of   other persons, etc.  -revisit any struggles that were significant turning points in your life of faith -identify when, where and/or what ways you have experienced God’s grace             -write a final paragraph that contains your core beliefs, the theological,  biblical foundation of your faith experience.     Send your reflections to your team members by September 17.  Read those        you receive and respond with your thoughts and observations to each other.  These      responses need not be more than a ½ page long.  Respond by September 24.   The SECOND reflection paper is due near the close of this seminar – November 26.      This is to be a one to two page (maximum) reflection on your time at Asbury.  Review      your experiences while studying at seminary and write about those important     experiences.  Follow the style of the first reflection paper.  Here are some suggestions:  REFLECTIONS ON MY SEMINARY EXPERIENCE A Witness to God’s Preparation and Leading During Asbury       Seminary preparation is a significant part of your faith journey and preparation for      future ministry.  As you think about your years at Asbury identify some of the      important experiences, insights, etc. that you take with you. -may want to describe a chapel or an incident that you will often remember  -may be there was something you learned or an insight that you gained  -perhaps some skill was developed  -some important change or growth that you experienced      Send your reflections to your team members by November 26.  Read those you      receive and respond with your thoughts and observations to each other.  These      responses need not be more than a ½ page long.  Respond by December 3.   4  The THIRD reflection paper is to describe “What I will take from this Seminar.”      This one page (maximum) paper is to include your thoughts and experiences about this     Seminar.  Describe some things you learned or had reconfirmed doing this semester.    Share what it meant to be part of this experience.  Send your notes to your group by    December 10.  Respond to others by December 16.   THE FOUR POSITION PAPERS  1. A series of position papers will be prepared for discussion.  These papers will be sent to your group members for their responses.  The purpose of these discussion papers is to help you consolidate and integrate your experiences and your seminary learning as related to your present and/or future specific area of ministry.         The schedule provided later will give times for the preparation of these discussion       papers and for consulting with one another as a means to enhance your         perspectives and integrations.  These discussion papers are to represent your        theoretical and theological understanding and personal thinking about four areas        of ministry.  What informs your views of ministry?  What are the theological        foundations that shape your approach ministry?  What are practical applications        of your views?  What experiences will inform/shape your ministry?        To guide you in this endeavor you are to focus on four dimensions of ministry.         Each will be assigned to a different week and due date.  These discussion papers        will be sent to your group members for their response.  These areas are:            -Socio-political-cultural aspects of ministry       -Pastoral care principles for ministry       -Educational objectives of ministry       -Leadership principles in ministry  2.   Suggested format for each discussion paper.  Since these are not formal papers,        but prepared to be read and discussed by others, they can be written in a         conversational style.  However, it is expected that each will be appropriate in        language and style.  Footnotes and references are not required, but may be        included to support your thinking and to demonstrate the use of your courses and          materials you have read.  These discussion papers will only be sent to those in        your discussion group.      Each person in your discussion group will read and respond to these papers     providing feedback to each other.  The purpose of this peer consulting is to provide      you the opportunity to learn from others, to draw from their thinking, and to gain      additional ideas related to ministry and the topics being discussed.    5    3.   The overall purpose of these discussion papers and this seminar.  It is the intent          of  this seminar to provide you an opportunity: 1) to reflect upon your past and           present experiences related to “ministry”,  2) to review your seminary learning and          training, and  3) to articulate your theological and practical understanding about key          areas of ministry.  As you prepare your thoughts for each topic, visualize yourself in          your present or a future ministry setting.  Ask the questions about each topic that fits          that ministry setting.  For example: In thinking about the leadership aspects of a          parish, what are the principles of leadership that you want to bring to that ministry          setting?  What leadership guidelines do you want to use?  Are there certain          leadership styles that need to be used for different tasks?  How do you describe your          leadership style?  What are some of your leadership strengths?  What leadership          areas do you need to develop and how might you do that?  Thus, the intent of this seminar is to encourage you to reflect upon your life experiences and especially your seminary training and to articulate a theological and practical position on key areas of ministry.  Tell you colleagues what you think are the important principles and aspects that will help you to be an effective leader in your ministry setting.  Your thoughts and theirs then becomes the “grist” for the group discussion.  This format can help you gain a clearer understanding what you want to apply in these areas of ministry and to objectify what you think and believe about these areas.  These discussion papers are not graded.  It is not like a final test of your knowledge in these areas.  Think of each as an opportunity to meet with a group of your colleagues and friends and say, “Here are some of my opinions and thoughts about these areas of ministry.  What are some of yours?  Let’s talk about them.”   WORKING WITH THE ELECTRONIC PROCESS:  1. Send messages to my email address: Fred_Van_Tatenhove@asburyseminary.edu or direct personal contact: fvantate@juno.com or by phone  - (859) 885-7659.    2. You will also use email to communicate with your colleagues.  Send your refection and discussion papers to each other as “attached files” or better yet, as part of the        e-mail format. Your shorter responses to each other’s materials may be included in       e-mail messages.    3. I will check my emails on a regular basis.  I will always let you know when I am away from my computer.  I will respond to them in the order they were sent.  If you are facing a problem with a deadline let me know immediately.  Meeting the due dates is the primary requirement for credit.  In addition your material is part of the collegial sharing process of this seminar.         6  EXL CONTACT INFORMATION:  For general questions regarding the Exl program, email exl_office@asburyseminary.edu  For technical support, email exl_office@asburyseminary.edu  For library reference support, contact Information Commons at information_commons@asburySeminary.edu  For library loans, contact Dot James at dot_james@asburyseminary.edu   Obtaining Library Materials and Reference Assistance     General Questions: information_commons@asburyseminary.edu   Toll-Free 1-866-454-2733 This is the best place to start when you have questions about library resources.  Help is available Monday-Thursday from 8am-7pm and Friday-Saturday - 8am-5:45pm. If the people at the desk cannot answer your questions, they will direct you to the person or department who can.     Materials Requests: library_loan@asburyseminary.edu    Toll-Free 1-866-454-2733  Exl students may request books, photocopies or emailed attachments of journal  articles/reference books from Asbury Seminary’s Library.  Please allow 3-10 business  days for all requests to be filled.  Contact the library loan office for information on costs  and instructions on how to make requests.  Exl students within a 50-mile radius of either  the Florida or Wilmore campus should come to campus to obtain their materials.  .     Research Questions: hannah_kirshch@asburyseminary.edu  Tool-free number plus ext. 2189  Exl students are encouraged to contact Hannah Kirsch for research assistance including  help choosing a paper topic, determining the best sources for a paper, finding book  reviews, or research questions about using online databases or other library materials     Online Databases:  To access the online library resources including the library catalog and full-text journal  databases, go to www.asburyseminary.edu/library and enter your 10-digit student id  number in the login box.  Your student id is provided on the biographical information  section of the student registration web page.  Add a 2 and enough 0’s to the front to make  a ten-digit number (20000XXXXX where XXXXX is your student id).  If you have  questions, contact the information commons desk.        7  SEMESTER SCHEDULE AND MODULE ASSIGNMENTS       (SUGGESTION: Make a hard copy of these last two pages and keep in front of you.)  The following modules are to be completed as indicated.  REVIEW the instructions in previous sections.  NOTE: There is only one criteria to be met to receive credit for this seminar – meet the due dates!  If you have any questions, e-mail me or call.  Module 1    “Getting Acquainted”  Write a one-page summary including the following:   Introduce you and your family and where you presently live.   Describe your ministry or occupation.   Share one thing about yourself you would like your colleagues to know.   Send your summary to your group members.  Due September 10.  Respond to others at your convenience.  Module 2   Prepare notes on “Reflections on my Spiritual Journey-Before Asbury.” (See syllabus)  Send to members in your group for response.            Due September 17.    Respond to others by September 24.              Module 3   Prepare notes on your theological/theoretical beliefs about the “Socio-Political-Cultural” aspects of ministry.  Address issues about the role of  the church in culture, family, the marginal in society, ethnic, etc. concerns.  Send your notes to members in your group for their review and response. Due October 1.     Respond to others by October 8.    Module 4  Prepare notes on your theological/theoretical beliefs about the “Pastoral Care” aspects of ministry.   Address mission of care giving, role of lay care giving, and other aspects like the meaning of incarnation in care giving. Send your notes to members in your group for their review and response.  Due October 15.  Respond to others by October 22.  Module 5  Prepare notes on your theological/theoretical beliefs about the “Educational” aspects of ministry.  Address issues related to the over all role of the  church’s responsibility to education.  Send your notes to members in your group  for their review and response.    Due October 29.    Respond to others by November 5.  8    Module 6  Prepare notes on your theological/theoretical beliefs about the “Leadership” aspects of ministry.  Address the role of leadership from the pastoral  and laity perspective.  How is administration part of the mission? Send your notes to members in your group for their review and response.  Due November 12.    Respond to others by November 19.      Module 7            Prepare notes on “Reflection on my Seminary Experience – Doing Asbury.” (See syllabus)  Send your notes to members in your group for their response.              Due November 26.   Respond to others by December 3.     Module 8  Final reflection paper.  Prepare a one-page reflection on “What I will take from  this Seminar.”  Send it to members in your group. Due December 10.  Respond by December 16.   Congratulations!  You have finished all your requirements for credit.  For some of you, graduation is next. 

IR 700 Senior Reflection Seminar

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IR 700 Senior Reflection Seminar

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