Black Ministries Certificate Program

counseling, general organizational skills, ecumenical relations and multiple ministries.

Hartford Seminary BMP 120: Ministries of Prayer and Praise (1 cr. Black Ministries Certificate Program Lower) Location: Hartford Seminary Initial Review: March, 1991 Length: 18 hours (6 Sessions) Reassessment Reviews: June, 1997; May, 2002; Dates: Fall 1988 – Fall 2007 June 2011 Course objectives are to increase knowledge regarding the origin and evolution of liturgical ministries in the Christian tradition; to help students develop an understanding of liturgy and the role of liturgical The Hartford Seminary, established as the Pastoral ministries in bridging the gap between liturgy and life. Union of Connecticut in 1833, provides graduate The course focuses on the study of the Black education for laity and clergy as well as a wide variety experience within the Christian worship heritage, with of non-degree continuing education opportunities. It is an emphasis on understanding social justice as “an educational institution seeking to serve God by liturgical action and individual gifts as the basis for supporting faithful living in a multi-faith and developing ministries of prayer and praise. pluralistic world.” BMP 261: Expository Preaching (1 cr. Lower) The Seminary's Black Ministries Certificate Program (Formerly BMP161: Expository Preaching, 1 cr. was initiated in 1982 to “strengthen, support and Lower: offered Fall 2001 – Fall 2006; prior to that, empower the clergy and laity of the greater Hartford offered as Preaching in the Black Context, 1 cr. area by providing an educational foundation for Lower, offered Winter/Spring 1989 – Fall, 2001) existing and emerging ministries.” The Black Location: Hartford Seminary Ministries curriculum includes courses in Liturgy, Old Length: 18 hours (6 sessions) Testament, New Testament, Christian Education, Dates: Fall 2006 - June 2016 Preaching, Church Administration, Counseling and The purpose of this course is to help students develop Theology. Classes are offered on Saturdays with some skills needed to prepare and deliver sermons, with a occasional evening sessions. All participants must special emphasis on African American needs and complete at least six courses of ten courses offered. traditions. Topics include sermon types, development Source of official student records: of the sermon, parts of a sermon (introduction, body Registrar's Office and conclusion), and the effective use of rhetorical Hartford Seminary techniques and illustrations. 77 Sherman Street Hartford, Connecticut 06105 BMP 181: Pastoral Care & Church Ministry (1.5 cr. Lower) Location: Hartford Seminary COURSES AND RECOMMENDATIONS Length: 27 hours (9 sessions) Dates: October 2001 – October 2007 BMP 140: Church Administration (1 cr. Lower) (NOTE: Replaces Introduction to Pastoral Location: Hartford Seminary Counseling, [formerly Community Leadership Length: 18 hrs (6 sessions) Development & Advocacy Program; which replaced Dates: Winter/Spring 1989 – June 2016 Leadership in Crisis Ministry] 1 cr. Lower. Offered The objective of this course is to help students to Fall 1990 – Fall 2000.) develop knowledge of administrative procedures of This foundational course is designed to assist clergy main line African American Christian Churches. The and lay leaders in addressing social and personal course is designed to probe the ways church and issues that occur within their churches and ministries are a business. Topics include techniques communities. Students will: develop foundational for managing and developing a budget, record- tools necessary for effective personal counseling; keeping, fundraising, supervision of staff, marketing explore the relationship between social issues and and community relations. The course focuses on the spiritual responses; gain a better understanding of the roles of pastors, officers, the Board, and auxiliaries Biblical basis of pastoral counseling. Lectures, case and how these roles developed. Specific topics include studies, discussions and examinations are used to conducting meetings, conflict management, assist participants to acquire pastoral care and counseling skills. BMP 231: Education for the Life of the Church these urban settings (in particular, Bridgeport, New (2001-2007: 2.5 cr. Lower; 2007-2016: 1.5 cr. Lower) Haven, Hartford and Waterbury) where the population Location: Hartford Seminary is predominantly African American and Latino, both Length: 18 hours (6 sessions) Protestant and Catholic congregations needed to Dates: Fall 2001 – June 2016 design ministries that are both reverent to their [Replaces Christian Education, [Part A for 1 cr. and tradition and relevant to their constituency. This Part B for 1.5 cr.] 2.5 cr., both Lower. Offered course will give a broad overview of a paradigm of Winter/Spring 1986–Fall 2001) ministry that has been categorized as Urban This is an introductory level course. Participants Ministries. explore their understanding of Christian Education within the context of Black Church tradition. The BMP 251: The Black Church and the American course provides fundamentals for curriculum Experience (formerly Religion in American Culture) development, educational program planning and (1.5 cr. Lower) organization and strategies for teaching and learning. Location: Hartford Seminary Careful attention is given to how the gifts of spirit, to Length: 18 hrs (6 sessions) include the significance of visions, witnessing and Dates: Fall 1996 – May 2007 prophecy, empower believers to instruct, guide and The objective of this course is to probe the diverse lead their communities of faith. character of American religion and its influence on The goal of this course is to develop leadership and American culture. The course explores the cultural practical skills important to the ministry of Christian significance of religion in American history. Education. Participants are encouraged and challenged Participants assess the role of religion in issues such to develop an understanding of what is Christian as racial injustice, gender equity, public morality, and Education and what Christian Education means to political rights. The experiences of diverse groups are African American and diverse communities of faith; used to examine how religion both influenced and was to explore different models of instruction and shaped by broader cultural norms and social forces. learning; to examine and develop curriculum and assessments tools; to apply educational planning, BMP 260: Survey of the Old Testament developmental, and organizational strategies; and to (2 cr. Lower) grow as members of a spirit-filled world in knowledge Location: Hartford Seminary and know-how through the re-presentation of Christ. Length: 30 hours (10 sessions) Dates: October 2000 – June 2016 (Replaces Introduction to the Old Testament, 1.5 BMP 235: In Our Own Voices (2001 – 2007: 1 cr. credits, lower division, baccalaureate/associate degree Lower; 2007 – 2016: 1.5 cr. Lower) category. Offered Fall 1988 – Sept 2000) Location: Hartford Seminary This course is an introduction to biblical studies Length: 18 hours (6 sessions) including historical and critical approaches. It Dates: October 2001- June 2016 provides students with a working know-ledge of the This preaching course offers women the opportunity contents of the Old Testament and to assist them to to explore and discern their own voices in preaching. acquire the basic exegetical skills necessary for the Students reflect on the historical, theological and interpretation of Old Testament text; to introduce biblical significance of women in the pulpit and will students to the historical critical method of have an opportunity to participate in practical interpretation of scripture; and to assist students to preaching exercises. reflect on ways in which biblical material may be used by Christian communities to deal with contemporary BMP 250: Shared Urban Spaces situations. (1.5 cr. Lower) Location: Hartford Seminary BMP261 Expository Preaching: (1 cr. Lower) Length: 21 hours (7 sessions) Location: Hartford Seminary Dates: November 2006 – June 2016 Length: 18 hours (6 sessions) Although the majority of Connecticut residents live in Dates: June 2006 – June 2016 suburban towns and communities, the urban The basic purpose of this course is to instruct each population still impacts State dynamics. As life in student in the necessary “how to” of sermon Connecticut has changed the dynamics of doing preparation and delivery. Particular emphasis will be ministry in urban settings, particularly by mainline placed on the distinctiveness of preaching in the Black denominations, these dynamics have raised questions religious context. Participants cultivate exegetical and regarding how effective ministry can be executed. In hermeneutical skills for preaching to reach an understanding of the connection between their Instruction: The course is a practical examination of theology and preaching. Participants examine a Christian social ethics designed to assist laypeople in variety of rhetorical strategies (forms/structures) to developing understanding of moral obligations, under- sustain congregational interest, and broaden their standing of the task of the church in moral leadership, communication skills for effective sermon delivery and developing their understanding of social, within the denomination from which they emanate and economic, cultural, and political problems in America. Black Church tradition in general. BMP 290: Theology and the Black Experience (1 cr. Lower) [formerly BMP190: Theology and the BMP 270: Survey of the New Testament Black Experience] (2 cr. Lower) Location: Hartford Seminary Location: Hartford Seminary Length: 18 hours (6 sessions) Length: 30 hours (10 sessions) Dates: Spring 1988 – June 2016 Dates: January 2001 – May 2007 The purpose of this course is to introduce students to (Replaces Introduction to the New Testament the study of theology through the lens of the Black [Former Title: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible], experience. Black theology arises from within the baccalaureate/associate degree category, 1.5 Lower entire Black experience, which begins in Africa, level credits. Offered Fall 1988 – Dec. 2000) encompasses the Middle Passage, chattel slavery, This course is designed to increase understanding of Reconstruction, Jim Crow and the Civil Rights and New Testament writings by assisting students to Black Power movements. engage in critical examination of the New Testament [Previous description, BMP190: In this course, documents. New Testament documents are considered students develop an understanding of the central in historical context, which will assist students to issues of Liberation or Black Theology and the understand the theological message of the documents. contrast between them and Western theology. Students gain a rudimentary knowledge of African American history. The course provides a review of the BMP275: Who Are You, Adam? Explorations of classic literature of Liberation Theology emphasizing Male Spirituality: (1 cr. Lower) its genesis and parameters, and prepares students for Location: Hartford Seminary the “doing” of theology in the field.] Length: 18 hours (6 sessions) Dates: Fall 2008 – June 2016 This course is designed to offer an introductory BMP300: Charismatic Praise and Worship: (1 cr. exploration into the connection between male Lower) sexuality and male spirituality. Definitions of both Location: Hartford Seminary sexuality and spirituality will be given from African Length: 18 hours (6 sessions) American and Euro American perspectives. These Dates: March 2008 – June 2016 perspectives will be compared for their similarities as This course explores the Charismatic Tradition in well as differences. Through African American and relationship to the Charismatic Movement. It will also Euro American male perspectives, definition of both trace the history of the charismatic tradition from the will be discussed. These perspectives will be Book of Acts to the origins of the Charismatic compared for their similarities and well as their Movement at the turn of the 20th Century and how the differences. Each student will be able to describe the charismatic movement spread to mainstream churches historical evolution of both perspectives and how race in the 1970s. Students learn how the charismatic and class has impacted them. movement has impacted churches, especially the black church and detect characteristics of the charismatic movement in today’s black church. The course also BMP 280: Black Theological Ethics (1 cr. Lower) examines worship models which promote freedom in Location: Hartford Seminary the worship experience. Length: 18 hours (4 sessions) Dates: May 2002 – June 2016 Objective: To identify moral traditions, evaluate differing moral arguments, understand basic Christian social ethical concerns, develop self-critical tools for evaluating our own moral actions and to learn to make persuasive moral arguments.