DESCRIPTION:

Children have been neglected in the pastoral ministry of the church. This course is a critical analysis of those factors (biblical, theological, missiological, psychological, spiritual) which provide a basis for understanding the pastoral work with children in a Hispanic context. It is a specialized study of pastoral ministry with children as a distinctive approach to the work of the church. It provides useful tools to carry out this ministry with effectiveness in the local church.

Childhood crises have a significant impact on an individual's later adult identity, specially in the spiritual field. This negative impact could be dramatically reduced if children were assisted in due course. This course will enable students to better understand and interpret the work with children from a pastoral perspective. It will equip church leaders to develop skills and strategies to help in the development of healthier and more mature children in Christian terms.

This is a two-week intensive, January 16-26. Pre-course reading will introduce students to pastoral work with children. The class will meet daily, beginning Tuesday, January 16, for three-and-a-half-hour sessions in a lecture-discussion format. Emphasis will be placed on problem-solving strategies, and time will be allowed for class interaction. Post-course writing assignments will require participants to relate their pastoral principles gained through the course to particular case-studies and situations in their local churches.

Anderson, Neil y Steve Russo. La seducción de nuestros hijos. Miami: Unilit, 1995.

Biddulph, Steve. El secreto del niño feliz. Madrid: Editorial EDAF, 1996.

Bravo, Daniel. Ministrando sanidad interior en las heridas de la infancia. Buenos Aires: Ediciones Ministerio Presencia de Dios, 1997.

__________. Dejadlos venir a mi: Ministrando sanidad interior a niños. Buenos Aires: Ediciones Ministerio Presencia de Dios, 1998.

Dobson, James. Cómo criar a un niño de voluntad firme. Miami: Unilit, 1998.

Drescher, John M. Las siete necesidades básicas del niño. El Paso: Mundo Hispano, 1985.

Hemfelt, Robert y Paul Warren. Kids Who Carry Our Pain. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1990.

Lester, Andrew, ed. Cuando los niños sufren. El Paso: Mundo Hispano, 1991.

Mayesky, Mary. Creative Activities for Young Children. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers, 1995.

• Students will read a total of 1,500 pages from the Bibliography in the Syllabus and the above list. A Reading Report sheet will be submitted to the professor.

• Students will write a paper of no less than 20 pages, typed, double-spaced, with bibliography and footnotes (or endnotes), on the particular application of any of the pastoral principles discussed in class in a Hispanic congregation of his/her choice, due March 12.

Spanish.

Meets M. Div. core requirement in Pastoral Care and Counseling (MIN 5).

None.