NEW, AFFORDABLE MASTER IN PASTORAL MINISTRY DEGREE, APPLY NOW, Scholarship Funds Available

It is with great joy that we announce a new adventure between Global Ministries University (http://www.globalministriesuniversity.org ) and People’s Catholic Seminary (www.pcseminary.org ). Beginning in January, 2018, we will collaboratively offer a Master in Pastoral Ministry degree. The degree will be granted by GMU and PCS will provide the courses. This affordable master’s program is designed for those who are walking the pathway to ordination, the ordained, and members of our inclusive communities who seek to continue their education within an interactive supportive seminary environment. Credit is awarded for life experience and previous education. Global Ministries University is an accredited member of the International Association of Distance Learning. 
Scholarship Funds Available-For more information: about Lucile Murray Durkin Scholarship for Women Discerning Priestly Ordination:
 http://www.womensordination.org/programs/scholarship/
For more information about the degree, please contact Bridget Mary Meehan and Mary Theresa Streck at peoplescatholicseminary@gmail.com.

GLOBAL MINISTRIES UNIVERSITY and PEOPLE's CATHOLIC SEMINARY

MASTER IN PASTORAL MINISTRY 

100 Introductory / Foundational
101. Contemporary Theology for the People of God
102. Feminist Introduction to the Bible
103. A Feminist Sacramental Theology

200 Jesus, Life and Teachings
201. Rediscovering Jesus in a Companionship of Empowerment
202. Parables as Subversive Stories

300 Women and Religion
301. Spiritual Encounters with Women Mystics
302. Women in the Hebrew Scripture
303. Women in the Gospels
304. Women in the Early Church

400 Sacraments
401. Sacraments: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
402. Eucharist: Embracing an Open Table
403. Baptism and Confirmation
404. Reshaping the Priesthood as a Discipleship of Equals
405. Marriage, Sexuality and Just-Love
406. Anointing of the Sick
407: Sacrament of Reconciliation

500 Future Church
501. Future Church: Evolving, Empowering and Egalitarian
502. Social Justice and Ethics

600 Pastoral Development
601. Homiletics and Preaching
602. Spiritual Direction: Spiritual Companions on a Journey
603. Spirituality of Art

700. Final Ministerial Project

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS


MM101. Contemporary Theology for the People of God
This course introduces pastoral leaders in inclusive communities to an accessible contemporary theology that presents a tapestry of the Divine Presence Who lovingly invites us into the fullness of life for all creation, explores the diverse and fuller naming of the Divine that encompasses the full reality of women and men of all races and classes, and illuminates a rich variety of theological approaches to compassionate living in our work for peace, justice and ecological wholeness.

MM102. Feminist Introduction to the Bible
This course presents a comprehensive, biblical reading of the Scripture and introduces the message using historical/critical tools to understand the different authors.

MM103. A Feminist Sacramental Theology
This course offers a feminist analysis of the main dimensions of sacramental theology –those have to do with the body, with symbols, and with ethics, exposes how women because of gender are given a place on the margins- outside of the sacraments proposes that women involved in sacramental ministry contribute to sacramental theology through their commitment to the wider church, and reimagines a feminist sacramental theology for the 21st century.

MM201. Rediscovering Jesus in a Companionship of Empowerment
This course introduces the deep wisdom of recent biblical scholarship on the life and teachings of Jesus and the challenges it presents to believers today, and reimagines the Christian call to live as co-creators and empowered individuals within an egalitarian church community.

MM301. Spiritual Encounters with Women Mystics
This course explores the Christian’s call to be a visible mystic and agent of prophetic witness in the church and world community through a ministry rooted in contemplation and action.

MM302. Women in the Hebrew Scripture
This course recounts the stories of women in the Hebrew Scripture as an inspirational example of women’s empowerment, encompasses scholarship of feminist theologians on the background and context of women in the bible, and offers women as role models for contemporary women and men in living fully and courageously.

MM303. Women in the Gospels
This course studies the stories of women in the Gospel as companions and equals with the male disciples, incorporates feminist theological scholarship on the background and context of women in the Gospels, and explores women in the Gospel as role models for contemporary women and men in ministry.

MM304. Women in the Early Church
This course covers the stories of women in the early Church as liturgical leaders and preachers of the Gospel, reflects feminist theological scholarship on the background and context of women in the early Church and to explore women in the early Church as role models for contemporary women and men leading the church today toward a new model of partnership, equality and inclusivity.

MM401. Sacraments: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
This course presents sacramental development throughout history, exposes how church fathers and scholastic theologians misinterpreted ancient texts to prove Catholic doctrine, introduces critical analysis of sacramental theologies that no longer meet the needs of contemporary Catholics and reimagines sacramental experiences and rituals in a diversified global church.

MM402. Eucharist: Embracing an Open Table
This course covers the development of the sacrament of the Eucharist from atonement theology to a theology of blessing, supports pastoral leaders in developing and praying contemporary Eucharistic celebrations through the liturgical year and builds a database of creative resources for a contemporary lectionary.

MM403. Baptism and Confirmation
This course explores the development of the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, articulates the commitment to Gospel living by integrating theological reflection, spirituality and ministerial experience, and supports pastoral leaders in developing contemporary baptism and confirmation rituals for their Christian Communities that reflect the heart of the call to live the Gospel as mystics, prophets and sacramental celebrators of life.

MM404. Reshaping the Priesthood as a Discipleship of Equals
This course examines the role of the international Roman Catholic Women Priests’ Movement in reshaping and redefining priestly and pastoral ministry as a discipleship of equals in the 21st century.

MM405. Marriage, Sexuality and Just-Love
This course provides an overview of the development of the sacrament of marriage, and presents Christian sexual ethics within a just-love framework. It integrates theological reflection, spirituality and ministerial experience in order to support pastoral leaders in developing contemporary marriage rituals for their Christian Communities that reflect the heart of the call to live the Gospel as mystics, prophets and sacramental celebrators of life.

MM406. Anointing of the Sick
This course explores the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick as an encounter with divine healing love that energizes and transforms body, mind, and spirit, reflects on meditation as a tool in self-healing and vitality, and creates create contemporary celebrations of Anointing of the Sick that respond to diverse pastoral needs.

MM407. Sacrament of Reconciliation
This course presents the sacrament of reconciliation as an encounter with Divine healing and transforming love, reflects on role of priest and community, and creates a contemporary celebration of reconciliation that responds to diverse pastoral needs.

MM501. Future Church: Evolving, Empowering and Egalitarian
The course proposes a visionary framework for understanding the evolution of religions and specifically the transitions that continue to evolve in Christianity. Paul Smith, author of Integral Christianity introduces the integral approach that Jesus advocated in his time and that traditional Christianity has been unable to see. This course invites participants to analyze this framework and apply it to the present evolving changes occurring in Christianity, specifically the Roman Catholic Church.

MM502. Social Justice and Ethics
This course explores issues and theologies of social justice and ethics that build a just society; reflects on the scriptural foundations of Catholic social teaching, and examines the social and moral teachings of the Roman Catholic Church in light of concrete issues such as human rights, refugees, peace-building, war, violence, discrimination, environmental degradation, economic exploitation, reproductive rights, racism, sexism, and homophobia.

MM601. Homiletics and Preaching
This course creates inspiring homilies and implements effective delivery, incorporates contemporary scholarship of scripture for preaching and introduces various approaches of sermon development and performance.

MM602. Spiritual Direction: Spiritual Companions on a Journey
This course provides an introduction to the ancient practice of spiritual companionship or spiritual friendship in the Christian tradition. It gives helpful input about what to look for in searching for a spiritual director, how to prepare to be one, and how to help those who are called to this distinctive ministry.

MM603. Spirituality of Art
This course provides a path to creative expression of the Divine Presence and oneness of all people and creation. Through readings, videos, art-making, students will express their mystical, prophetic, sacramental vision of ministry for the 21st century.

MM700. Master in Ministry: Ministerial Project (6 credits)
A student will choose a primary focus of ministry that is related to the student’s interests and/or practices of ministry as the topic of the Master of Ministry Project. The written reflection on this Master of Ministry Project should state the goals of the selected ministry action, and clearly demonstrate the student’s knowledge and skills in the practice of ministry. This project should also describe the context of ministerial action, and integrate the learning from course work and readings in the Master of Ministry program. It should articulate the student’s vision of ministry, a description of personal gifts, opportunities, challenges, hopes and dreams for self and others involved in the project. The reflection paper should also describe the participation of people/faith community in the project and conclude with an annotated bibliography of sources used in the ministry project. The student should work closely with the administrators during this phase of the program.