SD 79 Effective Ministry in the Small Church
AND
SM 30
Small Church
Dynamics
Summer, 2003
Loyd Melton, Ph. D.
Course Professor
 
MINI-SYLLABUS

This is an incomplete syllabus to prepare you for session 1, complete syllabus will be posted soon.


                           SD 79 Effective Ministry in the Small Church

                                                      FULL SYLLABUS
I.          COURSE DESCRIPTION  

            Students in this course examine the importance of the small church in Christian history and its unique characteristics.  The course focuses on learning the culture of the small church.  Special emphasis is given to the small church in a rural setting.  Students develop a model of ministry that is appropriate in helping the small church to be more effective in its ministry.

ELECTIVE (Data of Contemporary Life).  Three hours credit.



SM 30
Small Church
Dynamics  

FULL SYLLABUS

I.          COURSE DESCRIPTION  

            This course is a study of the peculiarities of ministry and leadership in a small church.  The course provides the opportunity for students to integrate biblical research on ministry in small setting and rural sociology, in an attempt to develop contextually appropriate models of ministry in selected small churches.  The need to make the small church effective but not necessarily larger is emphasized.

ELECTIVE (Ministry).  Three hours credit.  

 

II.        REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS (for both courses)  

            Each student must purchase the following books for the course.  

Carl S. Dudley and Douglas Alan Walrath, Developing Your Small Church ’s Potential.  Valley Forge :  Judson Press, 1988.  ISBN 0-8170-1120-X  

Shannon Jung, et. Als.  Rural Ministry:  The Shape of the Renewal to Come.  Nashville :  Abingdon Press, 1998.  ISBN 0-6870-1606-1  

Anthony G. Pappas, Entering the World of the Small Church .  Washington , D.C. :  The Alban Institute, 2000.  ISBN 1-5669-9236-2  

 

III.       CLASS MEETING DATES  

            This class will meet from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the following Tuesdays:  

            Session 1:  May 27

            Session 2:  June 24

            Session 3:  July 29

            Session 4:  August 26  

 

IV.       COURSE REQUIREMENTS (written) for SM 30:  Small Church Dynamics  

            Paper # 1:  A description of the current farm crisis and how this affects the rural church (primarily using the Jung book).  This paper should be no more than 10 pages long and is due in Session 3 (July 29)  

            Paper # 2:  An Analysis and Plan of Ministry for a Small Church (student’s choice).  This paper will make use of analytical tools and small church data that are dealt with in the course.  This paper should be no more than 20 pages long and will be due in Session 4 (August 26).  

            Paper # 3:  The student will complete a take-home, open book final examination on all the material covered in the course.  This exam will be due on September 5.


IV.       COURSE REQUIREMENTS (written) for SD 79:  Effective Ministry in the Small Church  

            Paper # 1:  Same as above.  

            Paper # 2:  Same as above.  

            Paper # 3:  A research paper on some aspect of the small church’s life.  Several

Topics will be suggested in the course syllabus.  This paper should be no more than 20

Pages long and will be due on September 5.  

 

V.        PREPARATION REQUIRED PRIOR TO SESSION 1 (for both courses)  

1.               Read Anthony G. Pappas, Entering the World of the Small Church , pp. 3-22.

2.               Carl S. Dudley and Douglas Alan Walrath, Developing Your Small Church’s Potential, pp. 7-31.