Offered by Training Programs to Meet Specific Needs

ADMINISTRATION AND DYNAMICS OF THE SMALL CHURCH:
This course explores the unique dynamics of small churches--how worship, business, stewardship, evangelism, etc., get done. Some time will also be spent with the following subjects:

1. Small church life, organization, people structures;
2. Effective use of energies;
3. Polity in small churches;
4. Conflict and conflict management skills;
5. Recruiting, training and mobilizing lay people;
6. A Code of Ethics for Commissioned Lay Pastors.

Evaluation for these courses is usually discussion of case studies submitted by participants.

WORSHIP: WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS
This course will consider funerals and weddings as worship services. Various resources will be used, including The Directory for Worship, The Book of Common Prayer, funeral directors, etc. Time will also be spent on the pastoral care and counseling issues surrounding each event. "A Code of Ethics and Practice," boundary issues, and practical issues (such as wedding and funeral policies for the church) will also be explored in light of these occasions. Participants should bring a copy of the wedding and funeral policies for their congregation (if such exist).

Evaluation might include planning a funeral service and walking through a wedding rehearsal.

CONTEXTUAL MINISTRY/PERSPECTIVES IN TOWN AND COUNTRY MINISTRY
These courses are used by several CLP programs to look at ministry issues such as: Understanding the unique position of clergy in small towns; techniques for maintaining identity and privacy; "danger signals" and "fire drills" for a pastor in a rural setting; serving in an inner city setting; serving in a racial/ethnic congregation; etc. This type course is often opened to pastors who have recently graduated from seminary and are serving in a rural setting.

Evaluation is often done by case studies.

THE CONCEPT OF CALL-WHAT ARE WE ABOUT IN THIS PROGRAM?
This is a course often offered at the beginning of the training program and helps those entering the program look at some of the following questions:

• Why do this? What do you want to do and why do you seek training?
• What makes an effective lay pastor?
• What are realistic hopes/expectations/goals to accomplish in specific settings?
• How does one balance work/church-how are congregation / family / vocation all best served?
• What does it mean to feel called to a particular service in the church?

PRAYER RETREAT
This will be a weekend time of prayer and reflection that also includes some learning time using The Book of Common Prayer in looking at some of the services such as the service for renewal of baptismal vows, a service of healing, alternate forms of worship, retreats, etc. Evaluation might be to have the participant plan a prayer retreat for a session or youth group (it could be a mini-retreat, lasting a day or part of a day); keeping a prayer journal, or some other creative response.

POLITY: ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER AND HOW TO CONDUCT MEETINGS
This is a follow-up polity course that focuses on Robert's Rules of Order and meetings in a church setting-presbytery, small churches, committees, and/or larger congregations. It will also spend time looking at small group dynamics and strategies for keeping committees, sessions and other church meetings moving constructively.

Evaluation / follow-up will be done by use of case studies offered by the participants of a meeting (good or less than productive) in their church.

THEOLOGY - WHAT PRESBYTERIANS BELIEVE:
This course will look at the doctrines and beliefs that make Presbyterians, "Presbyterian." It will use the series of videotapes narrated by Shirley Guthrie, the Westminster Confession, Chapters 1-2 of The Form of Government, confirmation materials, and other resources that help explain or define the beliefs of the Presbyterian Church.

Review and evaluation will be through discussion of the videotapes and a paper dealing with one of the tenets of the Presbyterian Church as it is operative in the church today.