This course introduces students to seminary rubrics (expectations) and resources for graduate level theological writing, and gives opportunity for utilizing resources and applying rubrics to specific writing assignments in first level courses. Three types of assessment will occur: self, peer, and instructor. The student's self-assessment will become part of his/her ongoing seminary portfolio. This course is offered on a Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) basis only. This course is required for all master's students except for those who place out based on their orientation assessment process.

This course will review the principles involved in critical analysis, a key skill for the completion of successful theological studies. It will review the different components that make up an "argument" and their relationship to critical thinking. Students will participate interactively, applying these concepts to actual reading materials. Students will also learn to evaluate the components that define a successfully written critical paper in theological studies. During the course, students will be required to construct and evaluate a final research paper applying the principles that they have learned. The topic of the paper can be one that has already been assigned in a different course in which the student is concurrently enrolled. This course is offered on a Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) basis only. This course is required for all master's students except for those who place out based on their orientation assessment process.

"Church renewal leads to evangelism leads to church renewal leads to evangelism." At the risk of oversimplification, this process may well describe the whole of the Christian faith for the last 2000 years. At the very least, it describes the inseparable relationship between the two; for we cannot speak of renewal without evangelism nor evangelism without renewal. This course grounds this relationship theologically, as it guides us in biblical study as well as in contemporary issues that are relevant to the subject. By the very nature of renewal and evangelism, however, this course also compels us to understand the relationship practically, as it explores missional church models as well as church-based evangelism strategies.

"Church renewal leads to evangelism leads to church renewal leads to evangelism." At the risk of oversimplification, this process may well describe the whole of the Christian faith for the last 2000 years. At the very least, it describes the inseparable relationship between the two; for we cannot speak of renewal without evangelism nor evangelism without renewal. This course grounds this relationship theologically, as it guides us in biblical study as well as in contemporary issues that are relevant to the subject. By the very nature of renewal and evangelism, however, this course also compels us to understand the relationship practically, as it explores missional church models as well as church-based evangelism strategies.

"Church renewal leads to evangelism leads to church renewal leads to evangelism." At the risk of oversimplification, this process may well describe the whole of the Christian faith for the last 2000 years. At the very least, it describes the inseparable relationship between the two; for we cannot speak of renewal without evangelism nor evangelism without renewal. This course grounds this relationship theologically, as it guides us in biblical study as well as in contemporary issues that are relevant to the subject. By the very nature of renewal and evangelism, however, this course also compels us to understand the relationship practically, as it explores missional church models as well as church-based evangelism strategies.

This course explores the theological and the ecclesiological foundations of Christian worship. Ecclesiological considerations require us to engage specific traditions, whether broad and historical, or more local in scope. A specific task of the course, among others, is the construction of worship services that express the students' tradition, or independent congregational preferences. In addition to designing a worship experience, students will be required to link substantively the theological and ecclesiological bases of each specific facet of their worship experience, and explain these to the class.

This course explores the theological and the ecclesiological foundations of Christian worship. Ecclesiological considerations require us to engage specific traditions, whether broad and historical, or more local in scope. A specific task of the course, among others, is the construction of worship services that express the students' tradition, or independent congregational preferences. In addition to designing a worship experience, students will be required to link substantively the theological and ecclesiological bases of each specific facet of their worship experience, and explain these to the class.

This course explores the theological and the ecclesiological foundations of Christian worship. Ecclesiological considerations require us to engage specific traditions, whether broad and historical, or more local in scope. A specific task of the course, among others, is the construction of worship services that express the students' tradition, or independent congregational preferences. In addition to designing a worship experience, students will be required to link substantively the theological and ecclesiological bases of each specific facet of their worship experience, and explain these to the class.

Church pastors are responsible for sharing words in many ways, from leading liturgy to reading Scripture aloud, offering prayers to presiding at rites. The class will offer students the opportunity to explore and practice each of these. Students will prepare Scripture readings covering a variety of biblical genres, write and deliver prayers for different occasions, including a funeral liturgy, a wedding liturgy, a communion liturgy and a baptism/dedication liturgy, as well as a series of prayers for a worship service from select scriptural passages.

This module develops a theology of Christian community considered in light of contemporary leadership contexts of local churches and other ministry settings. The module will address spiritual and moral qualities of community and leadership, understanding the emotional system of the ministry participants, building teams, probing the nature of change, practicing observation of key elements of Christian culture and community, and leadership self-care. Above all, the module is designed to be a learning conversation about Christian community and leadership, with every participating in sharing and evaluating the reading and leadership experiences of others. The Openseminary prologue consists of 12 weeks of online readings, assignments, and dicussions in preparation for the on-ground engagement. Openseminary M.T.S. program course.

This module develops a theology of Christian community considered in light of contemporary leadership contexts of local churches and other ministry settings. The module will address spiritual and moral qualities of community and leadership, understanding the emotional system of the ministry participants, building teams, probing the nature of change, practicing observation of key elements of Christian culture and community, and leadership self-care. Above all, the module is designed to be a learning conversation about Christian community and leadership, with every participating in sharing and evaluating the reading and leadership experiences of others. The Openseminary one-week, on-ground experience consists of full-day class sessions and engagement with teacher-practitioners in the field of study. Openseminary M.T.S. program course.

This module develops a theology of Christian community considered in light of contemporary leadership contexts of local churches and other ministry settings. The module will address spiritual and moral qualities of community and leadership, understanding the emotional system of the ministry participants, building teams, probing the nature of change, practicing observation of key elements of Christian culture and community, and leadership self-care. Above all, the module is designed to be a learning conversation about Christian community and leadership, with every participating in sharing and evaluating the reading and leadership experiences of others. The Openseminary final project consists of 8 weeks of research and online discussions to produce a final paper/project, based on the learnings in the prologue and on-ground engagement. Openseminary M.T.S. program course.

This module develops a theology of Christian community considered in light of contemporary leadership contexts of local churches and other ministry settings. The module will address spiritual and moral qualities of community and leadership, understanding the emotional system of the ministry participants, building teams, probing the nature of change, practicing observation of key elements of Christian culture and community, and leadership self-care. Above all, the module is designed to be a learning conversation about Christian community and leadership, with every participating in sharing and evaluating the reading and leadership experiences of others. The Openseminary prologue consists of 12 weeks of online readings, assignments, and dicussions in preparation for the on-ground engagement. Openseminary M.P.T. program course.

This module develops a theology of Christian community considered in light of contemporary leadership contexts of local churches and other ministry settings. The module will address spiritual and moral qualities of community and leadership, understanding the emotional system of the ministry participants, building teams, probing the nature of change, practicing observation of key elements of Christian culture and community, and leadership self-care. Above all, the module is designed to be a learning conversation about Christian community and leadership, with every participating in sharing and evaluating the reading and leadership experiences of others. The Openseminary one-week, on-ground experience consists of full-day class sessions and engagement with teacher-practitioners in the field of study. Openseminary M.P.T. program course.

This module develops a theology of Christian community considered in light of contemporary leadership contexts of local churches and other ministry settings. The module will address spiritual and moral qualities of community and leadership, understanding the emotional system of the ministry participants, building teams, probing the nature of change, practicing observation of key elements of Christian culture and community, and leadership self-care. Above all, the module is designed to be a learning conversation about Christian community and leadership, with every participating in sharing and evaluating the reading and leadership experiences of others. The Openseminary final project consists of 8 weeks of research and online discussions to produce a final paper/project, based on the learnings in the prologue and on-ground engagement. Openseminary M.P.T. program course.

The purpose of the Integrative Paper is to help students integrate the theory and practice of ministry. The paper will also provide an opportunity for students demonstrate a capacity to do theology in their contexts. In this paper a student will identify and explore a pastoral or leadership challenge within their ministry contexts and through sound theological method engage broadly with current theological opinion to find and implement their theological insights.

The purpose of the Integrative Paper is to help students integrate the theory and practice of ministry. The paper will also provide an opportunity for students demonstrate a capacity to do theology in their contexts. In this paper a student will identify and explore a pastoral or leadership challenge within their ministry contexts and through sound theological method engage broadly with current theological opinion to find and implement their theological insights.

This course will examine the underlying causes of poverty while differentiating between generational and situational poverty. The course will also consider the church's historical response to poverty continuing through contemporary models. Ultimately, the students will develop a contextually based response to poverty for their communities that reflects an undergirding of Scriptural principles.

This course will explore the interplay of faith, reason, and justice in the call of the Church to "put feet on" the Gospel. Students will investigate the ways in which the pursuit of social justice is grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ (and how some Christians reject that notion), as well as explore how Christians in various times and contexts have drawn on their faith and their understanding of what it means to faithfully follow Christ in order to "proclaim good news to the poor.proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind [and] to set the oppressed free."

This course is designed to cover the principles of Christian community development and their practical applications that have emerged from a wide range of practices over time and have proven so helpful to ministries in West Virginia and beyond. Drawing on readings from leading practitioners such as John Perkins, Wayne Gordon, Soong-Chan Rah, Bob Lupton, Ron Sider, Kretzmann and McKnight, and Michelle Warren, this interdisciplinary course reviews cultural competencies; economic development concepts and strategies and the role of competition and government intervention within those; and congregational leadership and community empowerment with an eye towards asset-based community development, advocacy, and the roles of place, privilege, and community leadership in that process.

Each year in the fall semester, four Palmer students who have been chosen by the faculty take part in this seminar with students representing other area Protestant and Roman Catholic seminaries. Students are selected on the basis of academic achievement and their perceived ability to constructively interact with diverse theological and social viewpoints. The topic of the seminar varies each year and is usually an interdisciplinary subject selected by students and faculty representatives. By invitation only.