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261 COLUMBIA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY 2016-2017 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
MIN 6460
Public Ministry Skills for a Multi-faith Context
This course will provide you with biblical, theological, and practical foundations for speaking and worship leading in a pluralistic
environment. You will learn and demonstrate a variety of chaplaincy skills such as conducting worship, funerals, weddings, and
preaching. You will also learn the balance of maintaining a biblical approach to ministry while yet respecting the diverse environment
in which you work. (3)
MIN 6530
Pastoral Ministry: Theology and Practice
In this course, you will explore the biblical, theological, and historical foundations of pastoral ministry. You will examine the nature of
pastoral ministry from a shepherding perspective as well as the roles and tasks involved in it. Special attention will be given to
contemporary discussions and research on the identity and ministry of pastors, as well as to key issues in the church of the present
and of the future. (3)
MIN 6615
African Methodist Episcopal Church Polity and Law
Through extensive use and discussion of the Book of Discipline, this course seeks to expose you to the resources, developments, and
trends of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination’s polity, and to prepare you to function effectively within, be appreciative of,
and affect creatively that polity. (3)
MIN 6620
Baptist Church Polity
This course will provide you with a guided study in the history, doctrine and polity of Baptist churches. If you are interested in ministering
in a Baptist context, this course will provide important background for that ministry. (3)
MIN 6650
Presbyterian Church Polity
This course will provide you with a guided study in the constitutional documents of the PCA, the biblical-theological background for the
Presbyterian form of church government, and the reformed view of the sacraments. (3)
MIN 6660
African Methodist Episcopal Worship
This course examines African Methodist Episcopal worship to prepare you to plan and lead worship in a range of this denomination’s
churches. Emphasis is placed on familiarity with African Methodist worship resources, denominationally-approved orders of worship,
and with various specific dimensions of worship like Word, sacrament, prayer, music, calendar, weddings, and funerals. (3)
MIN 6712
The Church’s Ministry to Families
This course will introduce you to Biblical teaching on the family, with application to contemporary issues and needs. You will identify
the felt needs of parents as well as cultural trends that affect the spiritual nurture of children. You will become familiar with relational
and program strategies that equip parents for their role as the primary disciplers of their children. Learning strategies will include guest
presentations by church staff members and family counselors, parent interviews, and research on resource organizations that strive to
reach families. (3)
MIN 9010
Healthy Leaders and Organizations
You will take a close look at your own emotional and spiritual health and evaluate how that level of health can affect functioning in a
church, mission, or institutional ministry. You will also be trained to diagnose, build, and maintain spiritual, emotional, and relational
health in Christian organizations. You will explore issues such as emotional and spiritual maturity, power, authority, communication,
preaching, personality, team building, and leadership styles in connection with their contribution to personal and institutional health.
Exposure to a variety of effective biblical and secular tools will help you gain a better understanding of yourself and the organizations
you lead. (3)
MIN 9051
Missional Leadership
In this course you will explore the distinguishing contours of the missional church revolution as well as the leadership required to lead
it. You will focus on three primary shifts: The shift from an internal to an external ministry focus, the shift from a program-driven to a
people-development agenda, and the shift from church-based leadership to apostolic-era leadership. (3)
MIN 9070
Ministry Training in Multi-cultural Contexts
In this course you will study ministry educational/training philosophy, planning, leadership, and programs that guide effective equipping
of men and women in and for ministry, whether in your own culture or cross-culturally. By design the course has a global missional
focus and content, with application to all ministry in all cultures. (3)
MIN 9310
Leadership for Transformation
This course will bring together leaders from diverse backgrounds and experiences to share how they practice leadership. First, you will
overview leadership theory; you will then discuss those elements the guest leaders have found to be particularly effective. You will
have an opportunity to dialogue with these leader-practitioners, who will also interact with each other's experiences. Your goal will be
to seek to explain and integrate these lessons with Scriptural principles and teaching into a biblical theology of leadership. (3)
MIN 9411
Leadership Development thru Life-long Learning
Within the field of leadership, this course helps you experience and understand what healthy self-leadership is and learn how to
establish healthy leadership in your context of ministry. You will attend the Willow Creek Community Church Leadership Summit,
extensively read books on leadership, and complete a personally-tailored project that will apply the skills taught. (3)