Spring 2020

Dynamic Youth Ministry

This lively and interactive course grounds participants in philosophical, psychological, programmatic, ethical and theological aspects of youth ministry. Geared toward Unitarian Universalists, but open to all religious or secular affiliations, this course seeks to embody a vision of youth ministry that is a vibrant, robust, and flexible part of every congregation and community. Topics of instruction include leadership and spiritual development, professional support for youth advisors, denominational polity, adolescent life issues, building inter-generational community, and a critical analysis of different models of youth ministry and programming. A foundational course recommended for all religious leaders, both new and old to youth ministry.

Students must contact the professor for permission prior to enrolling in the course.

Relates to Thresholds- 1,5,6 &7 and MFC Comps- 1,2,3 &6

Evidence-Based Spiritual Care

From the “Bedside to the Lab Bench.” Is ministry an art or a science? How do we explain our goals and outcomes as spiritual caregivers? What happens when our duties to serve human need face the challenges of the biomedical system? What do emerging technologies mean for how we understand oppression and the care of communities? Scientific literature recognizes that religion/spirituality is an integral dimension of well-being and makes a difference in the lives of individuals and communities. However, the measurement of religion/spirituality continues to invite public and scientific debate and meanwhile, scientific advancements raise questions about theology and justice. This course provides a foundation in the growing fields of spiritual care research and the biopolitics of science meeting religion. Students will learn to understand the evidence, develop the experiments and investigate the ethical and social implications of their ministry and caring practice. The course includes a significant “laboratory” component, in which students take their spiritual caregiving from the bedside to the lab bench to: test new interventions in spiritual care; create measurement tools to understand their practice of ministry and leadership; and respond to the effects of new scientific technologies on marginalized communities. Prerequisites: A pastoral care/counseling course or prior CPE preferred. Online, asynchronous, with possible synchronous meetings. Low residency. Relates to Threshold 5, MFC Competencies 2 and 7.

Forced Migration & Social Justice

Every year thousands of people are displaced from their place of origin by forced situations such as climate disruption, war, starvation, political persecution, or discrimination due to their sexual orientation. This course aims to explore the complex situations that forced im/migrants face and the particularities of their situations. Specifically, it looks at how religious leaders and activists can accompany and care for these im/migrants and support their agency and resilience.

The course includes an immersion journey to Tijuana (March 25-29) in which we will, as a class, interact with forced om/migrants who can tell us their stories and give us tools to seek social justice and peace.

Relates to SKSM Thresholds 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 & 8. and MFC Comps 2, 3, 4 & 7.
Intended Audience: MA, Mdiv, MASC, Ph.D. with additional coursework
Evaluation method: 1 reflection paper, weekly class participation in a discussion forum, individual presentation on a final project

Limit: 12 participants

Intro to Systems Thinking

This is an introductory course in systems thinking, a leadership model that recognizes that people, structures, and processes interact within organizational systems to foster (or restrict) organizational (and individual) wellbeing. Wherever your ministry takes you: serving a congregation; working as a chaplain; supervising volunteers in a voter registration drive; living in a cooperative or homeless encampment, knowledge about systems thinking offers tools to respond appropriately to the needs of the system in which you find yourself.
Our study of congregations and other systems (likely the medical-industrial and educational systems) will be rooted in a multi-cultural, anti-oppressive understanding of the intersectionality of systems and identities, power and privilege. Our work will also take us into less-charted territory to explore systems thinking in relation to social media and non-hierarchical (rhizomatic) organizational systems.
Meets Thresholds: Life in Religious Community and Prophetic Witness
Meets MFC Comps: Social Justice in the Public Square and Administration

Parish Intern Reflection

The Congregational Intern Reflection course is paired with the on-site experience of Congregational Internship. This
course is for M.Div students. The Intern Ministers meet twice a month by Zoom to discuss progress on Learning Goals,
development of pastoral/prophetic/preaching voices, and integrating theory with skills. Students are expected to attend
the January 2020 Congregational Intern Minister gathering at Starr King. This class is for MDiv students. Evaluation will be based on the Zoom conversations and the content of the mid-term and final evaluations.

During the Internship experience, there are opportunities for all 8 Starr King Threshold Areas to be explored, as well as each of the UU Ministerial Fellowship Committee Competency Areas.

Post-Modern Theologies & Critical Theory

Postmodernism has been reported to be both a threat to religion as well as its savior. Simultaneously resisting metanarratives and ‘absolute’ truth, postmodernity also proved to be a fertile and rich period for theology and philosophy. Some have wondered how this could be possible – can there be dialogue between postmodernism and theology? This online course will explore postmodern thinkers generously to find points of connection between postmodern philosophy and theology. Students will engage thinkers such as Michel Foucault, Emmanuel Levinas, and Jacques Derrida side-by-side with liberation, feminist, and post-colonial theologians to explore topics such as identity and the ‘self’, deconstruction, alterity, and power. As an asynchronous course, students will be expected to engage in weekly reflections and online discussion forums. A final paper of 12-15 pages is required. Students will have access to recorded lectures as well as other online resources. This course is intended for MDiv, MA/MTS, and other Masters level students. Relates to SKSM Thresholds – 4, 6, &7 and MFC Comp 4. [20 max enrollment; Auditors excluded]

Post-Modern Theologies & Critical Theory

Postmodernism has been reported to be both a threat to religion as well as its savior. Simultaneously resisting metanarratives and ‘absolute’ truth, postmodernity also proved to be a fertile and rich period for theology and philosophy. Some have wondered how this could be possible – can there be dialogue between postmodernism and theology? This online course will explore postmodern thinkers generously to find points of connection between postmodern philosophy and theology. Students will engage thinkers such as Michel Foucault, Emmanuel Levinas, and Jacques Derrida side-by-side with liberation, feminist, and post-colonial theologians to explore topics such as identity and the ‘self’, deconstruction, alterity, and power. As an asynchronous course, students will be expected to engage in weekly reflections and online discussion forums. A final paper of 12-15 pages is required. Students will have access to recorded lectures as well as other online resources. This course is intended for MDiv, MA/MTS, and other Masters level students.

Relates to SKSM Thresholds – 4, 6, &7 and MFC Comp 4.

Sociology of Religion

What does religion do? What can religion show us about the history, culture and context of a group or population? How is religious experience shaped, transformed and reconfigured in society? This course introduces the ways in which social scientists have analyzed religious beliefs, practices, rituals and cultures as social phenomena. Using a counter-oppressive framework, students will analyze religion in the context of institutions, politics, community and other social structures. Students will learn classic and contemporary theories and approaches to the sociological study of religion and develop their own informed questions for further research and intellectual inquiry. Assignments include student-led discussion of readings, a community-based engagement activity and a visual religious culture project. Prerequisite: ECO, multi-religious intensive, or prior course in sociology. Online, asynchronous with student-scheduled small group meetings. Low residency. Relates to Thresholds 1 and 3, MFC competency 6.

Spiritual Practices for These Times

“This is not a time to live without a practice. It is a time when all of us will need the most faithful, self-generated enthusiasm (enthusiasm: to be filled with god) in order to survive in human fashion. Whether we reach this inner state of recognized divinity through prayer, meditation, dancing, swimming, walking, feeding the hungry or enriching the impoverished is immaterial. We will be doubly bereft without some kind of practice that connects us, in a caring way, to what begins to feel like a dissolving world.” — Alice Walker

In this course, students will explore, develop and deepen their spiritual practice and support their peers in doing the same. The class will be experiential, multi-religious and counter oppressive. It will draw on some of the wisdom and practices of world religions including earth based traditions, as well as on art, poetry, and deep ecology. Evaluation will be based on reflections, spiritual practice exercises, a project, and how students helped create a vibrant and caring learning community.
Relates to Thresholds: Spiritual Practice & Care of the Soul; Embodied Wisdom & Beauty.
Relates to MFC Comp 3: Encourages Spiritual Development for Self and Others.

Writing for Religious Leaders

Whether working for justice, serving communities or guiding organizations, religious leader should be able to write for a variety of audiences. Theological school is a perfect place for thinking about hw we put our ideas and interpretations into words. Writing as religious leaders requires thoughtful articulation of our own ideas as well as the ability to clearly explain multiple perspectives on a variety of critical issues. This is an online course geared toward students who wish to improve their critical thinking skills and writing habits for graduate-level academic work and religious leadership. It is recommended for students early in their degree program, but open to all. Students will engage texts from a range of substantive topics and explore various writing assignments, which are common in their education at the GTU. Each day of the intensive week includes discussion of readings for comprehension and interpretation, dedicated writing time, peer-editing sessions and skill-focused activities. First day of intensive will feature  a research skill-building seminar from a GTU research librarian. Upon registering and in preparation for the start of the term, students will be asked to read and write a brief essay on an assigned topic. Prerequisites: None. Relates to Threshold 3.