DESCRIPTION:

This course presents an overview of crises that face the youth minister from three angles a) crises within the life of an adolescent both personally and systemically, b) crises that occur in the family of an adolescent, and c) crises which may occur in the life of the youth minister. Employing readings, lecture, a resource guide and a final project students will develop the tools to appropriately identify and theologically respond to such crisis situations.

In ministry to adolescents and their family's crisis is not a matter of if but when. While it is impossible to anticipate what nature the crisis will take, the majority will fall into a few broad categories. Learning to identify the pastoral response to a wide spectrum of crisis situations and having worked with a template for appropriate theological response to such, a youth and family worker will be able to bridge the gap between caring pastor and resourcing professional.

This class will meet weekly for a three-hour session for lecture, discussion and student presentations.

Ellison, Craig. Healing for the City: Counseling for the Urban Setting. Wipf & Stock, 1992.

Garland, Diana Family Ministry: A Comprehensive Guide. InterVarsity Press, 2000.

Larson, S. & L. Brentano. Reclaiming Our Prodigal Sons & Daughters. National Educ. Service, 2000.

Parrot, Les. Helping the Struggling Adolescent. Zondervan, 2000.

Nouwen, Henri. Creative Ministry. Doubleday, 1991.

Corr, C. & D. E. Balk. Handbook of Adolescent Death and Bereavement. Springer, 1996.

Dash, Leon. Rosa Lee: A Mother and Her Family in Urban America. Plume, 1996.

Grenz, Stanley. Theology for the Community of God. Broadman & Holman, 1994.

Kroeger, Catherine Clark & Nancy Nason-Clark. No Place for Abuse: Biblical and Practical Resources to Counteract Domestic Violence. InterVarsity Press, 2001.

Levy, Barrie, ed. Dating Violence: Young Women in Danger. Seal Press, 1998.

Marshall, Molly. What It Means to be Human. Smyth & Helwys, 1995.

Rowatt, G. Wade. Adolescents in Crisis. Westminster John Knox Press, 2001.

Volf, M. & D. C. Bass. Practicing Theology: Beliefs and Practices in Christian Life. Eerdmans, 2002.

1. Paper presenting rationale as to relevance and meaning for ministry from required reading book. 2-3 pages.

2. Additional 500 pages of reading chosen from selections of the recommended and reserved reading list; 1 page paper for each chosen selection comprising a brief description and relevance and meaning for ministry.

3. Contributions to a comprehensive resource guide; including visitation to or interview with at least one resource named.

4. A final project, 15-20 pages in length, looking at theological and pragmatic issues which arise in a youth ministry context and developing a practical plan of action based on course content and research findings.

5. Brief in class student presentations.

Elective; will meet requirement in M.Div. concentration in Youth, Family, and Culture, and M.A. concentration in Youth, Family, and Culture.