Children's Ministry

EM 5525    The Church’s Ministry with Children

Course Description

Introduction to the church's ministry with children birth to twelve years of age. Includes developmental issues, teaching and organization, family and intergenerational options, and evangelism. Designed for MDiv students, MA/EM students with a Leadership focus, or EM students without any academic background in Children's ministry. Two or three hours.

Course Objectives

The assignments are given to fulfill three functions in relation to this course:

1. Exposure to literature related to teaching, child development and selected issues pertinent to the church’s ministry

2. Completion of a research task designed to explore a significant issue related to children’s ministry

3. Selection of a practical task designed to be of use to you in your ministry with children

Course Texts

No texts are assigned for this course. Resources will be made available to you and you will be given opportunity to examine resources with a view to ordering those that would suit your purposes

EM 5520    Child Development

Course Description

A study of child development theories and an examination of development issues pertinent to the church’s ministry with children. Note: At the discretion of the instructor, DES 947 (Developmental Issues [Children]) may be substituted for EM 600. Given the participant's background and professional needs, EM 513 (Educating for Spiritual Maturity), or EM 674x (Child and Adolescent Counseling), may be substituted for EM 600.

Course Objectives

Not available

Course Texts

Not available

EM 6530   Child and Adolescent Counseling

See CO 6530.

EM 7501   Guided Research

Course Description

Individual research on an approved topic under the supervision of a faculty member in the department. Offered with the option of a letter grade or credit/no credit. May be repeated for credit as the subject matter changes. May be offered on an individual or cohort basis. (See particular MA/EM Professional Development Focus). One to three hours.

Course Objectives

Not available

ES 7524    Education and Ministry Experiences for Children

Course Description

Participants will investigate and develop a variety of options for contemporary educational and ministry experiences with children. Trends in the church's ministry to children will be considered. The variety of curricular and other resources, parachurch agencies and networks that support children's ministry in the church will be explored. This course is designed solely for those in the MA/EM Children's Ministry Professional Development Focus. Three Hours.

Course Objectives

Course Format: Because of the assumption that you come to the course with previous experience, the format of the course will be intentionally professionally oriented – more of a seminar than a ‘class’. In other words, you will interact with one another as professional colleagues – sharing ideas and resources, identifying issues that you see to be critical in the continued development of children’s ministry, and interacting with each other over issues related to the education of children in the church. I will come to you as a person with considerable experience in children’s ministry, but not as the only person with a ‘voice’. You must be prepared to be active participants in the process.

Course Texts

1. Lucy Calkins. Raising Lifelong Learners: A parent’s guide. Reading, Massachusetts: Perseus Books, 1997.

2. Diana Garland. Precious in His Sight: A guide to child advocacy (second edition). Birmingham, Alabama: New Hope, 1996.

3. Donald Ratcliff. Handbook of Preschool Religious Education. Birmingham, Alabama: Religious Education Press, 1988.

4. Donald Ratcliff. Handbook of Children’s Religious Education. Birmingham, Alabama: Religious Education Press, 1992.

ES 7810    Specialized Ministries

Course Description

Participants in the selected Focus will engage in evaluation of one or more selected ministries utilizing appropriate evaluative criteria and procedures. The evaluation process normally will lead to a professional report to the ministry or other leadership and demonstrate the participant's capacity to engage a leadership group in the discussion of issues and strategic planning. Each participant will consult with a designated faculty member through this process. This nonrepeatable course can be combined with the MA/EM internship requirement. Offered on a credit/no credit basis. One to three hours.

Course Objectives

Not available

Updated to 2008-09 Catalog