Sunday, December 22, 2013

Breaking the GOEs: 2013 Theory and Practice of Ministry

Set 2: Theory and Practice of Ministry Thursday, January 3, 2013, 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
NO EXTERNAL RESOURCES

For three years you have been the clergy person in charge at St. Christopher’s Church, a congregation in a populous community. You receive a phone call from a chaplain working with one of the local hospice programs. She shares with you that a 12-year-old girl has been admitted into the hospice facility with a terminal disease. She is being kept as comfortable as possible but is approximately a week from death and is unresponsive.

The family has indicated to the chaplain that they are members of St. Christopher’s. They say they have been inactive at St. Christopher’s for at least five years and do not know the clergy person there, though they still consider it their spiritual home. You do not recall ever meeting the family. The chaplain tells you that she would be willing to continue to minister to the family but also feels it important to at least let you know of the situation.

In an essay of approximately 1,500 words, clearly identify and explain the theological, pastoral and practical issues that inform what you choose to do or choose not to do. Include in the essay any other people or resources you might consult to help you reach your decisions.

General Thoughts on Practice of Ministry:

These questions are ALWAYS about whether or not you are a grounded and centered individual able to process a problematic situation. DO NOT TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE READERS WANT TO HEAR. Take a few minutes, ground and center yourself, and look at the question and ask what part of dealing with a problematic situation is it asking about... then answer it.

Now this specific question:

The first two paragraphs here are emotionally moving important contextual fluff. It might be very easy to get caught up in that and write a few paragraphs of your own about how you relate to the problem, how it makes you feel, what experiences you have had that make you prepared to deal with it correctly. DO NOT DO THAT! You will be waisting your limited word count on information the readers are not looking for. Giving your readers a good cry is not part of the grading rubric. In fact by doing the above you are NOT answering the question at all but doing the opposite.

The meat of this question is fully in the last paragraph:

In an essay of approximately 1,500 words, clearly identify and explain the theological, pastoral and practical issues that inform what you choose to do or choose not to do. Include in the essay any other people or resources you might consult to help you reach your decisions.

This is when ANSWER THE QUESTION becomes really important. The question is NOT “what will you do?” but “how will you figure out what you will do?”. The real question here is about whether or not you know you have limits, recognize your need for help, and have identified means of getting help. 

This is the essay outline. With what immediately come to my mind as topics, your mind probably comes up with better ones...

Section I (500 words): Theological Issues

A) Ecclesiology (Are they actually members of my church?)

         1) What resource or person do I turn to with this problem?

B) Theodicy (What does it mean for a parent to bury a young child if God is good?)

         1) What resource or person do I turn to with this problem?

Section II (500 words): Pastoral Issues (how can I prepare to work with them)

A) I do not know anything about a family that considers me the leader of their spiritual home.

          1) What resource or person do I turn to with this problem?

B) I have my own baggage around childhood terminal illness.

          1) What resources or person do I turn to with this problem.

Section III (500 words): Practical Issues

A) I do not have a relationship with the Hospice Chaplain

          1) What resource or person do I turn to with this problem?

B) We will soon be moving from end of life care to funeral arrangements

         1) What resource or person do I turn to with this problem?


So there is a basic outline. Maybe your points are different from mine, that is fine, the question is not your points versus my points but what points come up for each of us and are we ready to handle our points to be grounded and centered priests.

Maybe you have time to add a section C to each group. That is great. Make sure, however, that you get something articulate down for all three points and not take up too much time on any one section. 

Maybe your looking at this and saying that it is too simple, almost stupid, redundantly basic. Congratulations! If this looks redundantly basic to you then you have been well trained. That is what this test is about: Do you have the simple, almost stupid, redundantly basic concepts to be a priest down. Nothing more and nothing less. Do not try to make it more than it is... that is, as far as I can tell, the major trap people fall into.

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