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PM 700 A Theology and Practice of Pastoral Leadership

Wesley Biblical Seminary
Spring 2015
3 Credit Hours Online
Matt OReilly
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry
moreilly@wbs.edu
Wesley Biblical Seminary exists to advance Christs Kingdom through the Church and make
disciples of Jesus by offering life-transforming theological education producing Spirit-filled,
shepherd-theologians and leaders for the 21st century, who demonstrate an unwavering
commitment to Trinitarian faith, Christ-centered holiness, Biblical authority, and personal
accountability.
INSTRUCTOR
Rev. Matt O'Reilly, Ph.D. candidate, University of Gloucestershire (England); M.Div.,
Asbury Theological Seminary; B.A. Auburn University. Rev. O'Reilly is an adjunct
member of the faculties at Wesley Biblical Seminary and Asbury Theological Seminary
and an ordained elder in the Alabama/West Florida Conference of the United Methodist
Church under appointment as pastor of St. Mark United Methodist Church in Mobile,
Alabama. He and his wife, Naomi, have three children. Website: www.mattoreilly.net
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Rev. Ricky Reese, email: rireece@wbs.edu; phone: 662-614-6387
CATALOG DESCRIPTION
This is a capstone course which provides the opportunity for students to bring together
many of the diverse aspects of their seminary training in order to develop and express a
holistic, unitary concept of the role of pastor as priest, prophet, and leader in the life and
mission of Gods Church. In so doing, they will express an ecclesiology that is biblically
faithful and expressive of the apostolic nature of the church as the foundation upon which
pastoral leadership finds meaning. The concrete demands faced by pastors will be
discussed, as well as the theological foundations upon which pastors set priorities in
ministry and lead congregations through change and conflict. Prerequisite: Senior status.
This is a capstone course to be taken in the spring semester immediately prior to graduation.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon the successful completion of this course the student will:
1. Understand the various roles which comprise ordained pastoral ministry.
2. Understand the biblical and theological foundations for pastoral ministry.

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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Be familiar with attitudes toward pastoral ministry in the classical tradition.

Be familiar with attitudes toward pastoral ministry in the Wesleyan tradition.
Know the expectations and demands of pastoral ministry.
Be familiar with a variety of best practices for effective church leadership.
Demonstrate proficiency in articulating a holistic theology of pastoral ministry.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS
Each student is required to obtain the following textbooks, either in print or electronic
format, for use in this course. A variety of online articles, videos, and sermons may also be
required; links to all online resources (e.g., Works of Wesley) will be made available in the
online classroom.
1. William H. Willimon, Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry
(Nashville: Abingdon, 2002).
2. Andrew Purves, Pastoral Theology in the Classical Tradition (Louisville: Westminster
John Knox, 2001).
3. Stephen Seamands, Ministry in the Image of God: The Trinitarian Shape of Christian
Service (Downers Grove: IVP 2005).
4. Richard John Neuhaus, Freedom for Ministry (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992).
5. Adam Hamilton, Leading Beyond the Walls (Nashville: Abingdon, 2008).
COURSE PERIODS
Module 1
Module 2
Module 3
Module 4
Module 5

January 20 February 7
February 15 March 7
March 15 April 4
April 5 April 25
April 26 May 15

ASSIGNMENTS
1. Forum Discussions (30%; see schedule below for due dates) Students will
participate in class discussion forums for five periods. Questions will be posted in the
online classroom at the beginning of each period. Forum discussions will be evaluated
on substance, interaction with assigned readings, and frequency. Excellent forum posts
will summarize, synthesize, and analyze the relevant issues both from assigned
readings and external research. Excellent posts will also be grammatically exact and
syntactically elegant. The tone of an excellent post will be critical, yet charitable.
Students must submit at least 6-10 substantive posts to each forum in order to receive
superior marks. See the schedule below for dates by which initial posts and replies are
due. Forum posts should continue throughout the duration of the period.

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Forum Rubric: Demonstrate seminary level grasp of content (critical thinking) in both
initial post and replies (50%); graduate level writing skill including correct grammar
and spelling (20%); specified number of posts and replies spread throughout the period,
not dumped at one time or just before the end of the period (20%); appropriate beyondthe-text research cited (10%).
2. Comparative Book Review (25%; due March 7) Students will write a 5-6 page
book review comparing and contrasting the books Ministry in the Image of God by
Seamands and Freedom for Ministry by Neuhaus. An excellent book review will not
only summarize the key argument of each book but will also place the two books in
dialogue with each other by discussing and analyzing areas of agreement and
disagreement. Excellent reviews will consider how the books might complement each
other and together inform a theology of pastoral ministry.
Comparative Book Review Rubric: Demonstrate graduate-level grasp of course content
(50%); evidence of ability to engage in critical thinking demonstrated by the synthesis
and analysis of the course texts (25%); graduate-level writing skills including accurate
spelling, grammatical precision, and syntactical elegance (25%).
3. Integrated Essay on Pastoral Theology Draft (15% [Pass/Fail]; due April 4)
Students will submit a draft of their final paper. Drafts should be at least 5 pages long
but can be longer. Students will then have a phone or Skype meeting with the instructor
to review the paper draft and discuss potential revisions prior to submission of the final
paper (see below). Evaluation of this assignment is either pass or fail. Students who
submit the draft and discuss it with the instructor will receive full credit. Those who do
not submit a draft or do not discuss it with the instructor will receive no credit.
Integrated Essay Draft Rubric: Submission of assignment and discussion with
instructor (100%)
4. Integrated Essay on Pastoral Theology Final (30%; due May 9) Students will
write an 8 10 page paper answering the question: How does a biblical theology of
holiness contribute to a holistic and unified pastoral theology? An excellent paper will
summarize, synthesize, and analyze the relevant issues related to holiness and pastoral
theology drawing on assigned readings and external research. Excellent papers will
articulate and substantiate a clear thesis in answer to the assigned question. Like other
writing assignments, excellent papers will be grammatically exact and syntactically
elegant. Style and notation should be consistent throughout.
Integrated Essay Rubric: Demonstrate graduate-level grasp of course content (50%);
evidence of ability to engage in critical thinking demonstrated by the synthesis and
analysis of the course texts (25%); graduate-level writing skills including accurate
spelling, grammatical precision, and syntactical elegance (25%).
NOTE: Assignments are due on by 11:59 pm on the date assigned. Assignments received
later than the due date will be penalized 1 full letter grade for each day late beyond the

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designated due date. Any assignment more than 4 days late will be given no credit. If you
anticipate problems getting assignments submitted on time due to unusual circumstances
(e.g. travel, death in the family), please arrange an alternative with the course instructor
prior to the assignment deadline. The instructor will be happy to work with you, if you let
him know ahead of time. If you do not make arrangements with the instructor ahead of
time, no exceptions to this policy will be made. Ministry responsibilities are not considered
unusual circumstances. Exceptions to the policy are at the discretion of the course
instructor.
Assignment
1. Period 1 Forum
2. Period 2 Forum
3. Comparative Book Review
4. Period 3 Forum
5. Integrated Essay Draft
6. Period 4 Forum
7. Period 5 Forum
8. Integrated Essay Final Submission

Due Date
January 24 (initial post)
February 21 (initial post)
March 7
March 21 (initial post)
April 4
April 11 (initial post)
May 2 (initial post)
May 9

EVALUATION STANDARDS
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF

>95%
90-94%
87-89%
83-86%
80-82%
77-79%
73-76%
70-72%
67-69%
63-66%
60-62%
<60%

Superior quality of work.

Above average work.

Average work.

Below the standard required for graduation.

Failure for a course.

COURSE SCHEDULE
1. Period 1 Pastoral Leadership in Theological Perspective 1 (Jan 20 Feb 7)
a. Read: 1 Timothy; Titus; Willimon, Pastor
b. Forum Discussion:
What is the meaning of and relationship between (1) a sense of calling to
ministry and (2) ordination to ministry? How are these two related? How
are they different? Why does the distinction matter? Why are both calling
and ordination important?
Initial post due January 24; initial response due January 27; continue
discussion through duration of period.

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***NOTE: Spring Conference February 8 14 No Assignments Due

2. Period 2 Pastoral Leadership in Theological Perspective 2 (Feb 15 March 7)
a. Read: Seamands, Ministry in the Image of God; Neuhaus, Freedom for Ministry
b. Forum Discussion
What is the significance of the doctrine of the Trinity for the vocation of
pastoral ministry?
Initial post due Feb 21; initial response due Feb 24; continue discussion
through duration of period.
c. Assignment: Comparative Book Review due March 7
***NOTE: Spring Break March 9 13 No Assignments Due
3. Period 3 Pastoral Leadership in Historical Perspective (March 15 April 4)
a. Read: Purves, Pastoral Theology in the Classical Tradition
b. Forum Discussion
Drawing on your assigned reading, discuss the differences between attitudes
toward pastoral theology in the classical period and in the modern period.
What are the benefits for recovering classical attitudes toward the role of
the pastor? What can we learn from pastors in the classical period to
improve the practice of pastoral ministry today?
Initial post due March 21; initial response due March 24; continue
discussion through duration of period.
c. Assignment: Draft of Integrated Essay due April 4
4. Period 4 Pastoral Leadership in Wesleyan Perspective (April 5 April 25)
a. Read: Ephesians, Wesley, On Obedience to Pastors, Address to the Clergy,
The Ministerial Office, The Means of Grace, The Duty of Constant
Communion
b. Forum Discussion
Discuss Wesleys attitude toward pastoral ministry. What is distinctive
about his approach to pastoral ministry? How do the sacraments in general
and the Eucharist in particular relate to Wesley's pastoral theology? How
might Wesley inform present day pastoral leadership? How does Wesleys
attitude toward pastoral ministry relate to Pauls attitude toward the church
in Ephesians?
Initial post due April 11; initial response due April 14; continue discussion
through duration of period.
5. Period 5 Pastoral Leadership in Practice (April 26 May 15)
a. Read: Hamilton, Leading Beyond the Walls
b. Forum Discussion
Evaluate the practices that Hamilton describes for their potential
contribution to the spiritual health of those under your care. Which practices
do you find more useful? Which do you find less useful? Why? What

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insights for pastoral practices can be drawn from Sinek's reflections on trust
and sacrifice?
Initial post due May 2; initial response due May 5; continue discussion
through duration of period.
c. Assignment: Integrated Essay due May 9 (Note that this due date does not
correspond to the end of period 5! Your final paper is due 1 week before the end of
the period.)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lawson, Albert Brown. John Wesley and the Christian Ministry: The Sources and Development
of his Opinions and Practice. London: SPCK, 1963.
Oden, Thomas C. Care of Souls in the Classical Tradition. Minneapolis: Fortress: 1984.
Oden, Thomas C. John Wesleys Teachings, vol. 3: Pastoral Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
2013.
Oden, Thomas C. Pastoral Theology: Essentials of Ministry. New York: HarperOne, 1983.
Reeder, Harry L. The Leadership Dynamic: A Biblical Model for Raising Effective Leaders.
Wheaton, Crossway, 2008.
Sanders, J. Oswald. Spiritual Leadership: A Commitment to Excellence for Every Believer. 2nd ed.
Chicago: Moody, 1994.
Sinek, Simon. Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Dont. New York:
Penguin, 2014.
Sinek, Simon. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. New York:
Penguin, 2011.
Stanger, Frank Bateman. A Workman that Neededth Not to be Ashamed. Wilmore: First Fruits,
2012. Free download: http://place.asburyseminary.edu/firstfruitsheritagematerial/10/
Weems, Lovett H. Church Leadership: Vision, Team, Culture, and Integrity. Rev. ed. Nashville:
Abingdon, 2010.
Weems, Lovett H. Leadership in the Wesleyan Spirit. Nashville: Abingdon, 1999.