ASSEMBLIES OF GOD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARYContinuing Education Credit Option Obtainable in Conjunction with the2002 Ministerial Enhancement ConferenceSouthern Missouri District OfficeSpringfield, MOTuesday, September 10, 2002PTHE 640 MINISTRY IN THE SMALLER OR RURAL CHURCH(2 Credits)Ralph V. Adcock, D.Min. Spring, 2002COURSE SYLLABUSCOURSE DESCRIPTIONThis course will provide participants the opportunity to engage in and reflect on the issuesinvolved in pastoring the small rural church. Participation in this course will broaden the scopeand assist in the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for effective ministryin such areas.COURSE OBJECTIVES1. To identify challenges that exist in small rural church ministry.2. To assist in identifying special characteristics peculiar to small rural church ministry.3. To assist the student in analyzing key aspects of ministry relevant to conflict and culture insmall rural churches4. To explore the call of God as it relates to servant/leadership in the small rural church.TEXTBOOKS*Choose one text from each of the following lists and one additional text from either list.*NOTE: It is a violation of academic policy to claim credit for books read in prior collegecourses. If you have previously read any book on the list for credit, you must substituteanother book from the bibliography.Small Rural ChurchBierly, Steve R.. How To Thrive As A Small Church Pastor; A Guide To Spiritual and EmotionalWell-Being. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998.Callahan, Kennon L.. Small Strong Congregations. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2000.PTHE 640 Ministry in the Smaller or Rural ChurchRalph AdcockPage 2Crandall, Ronald K.. Turn Around Strategies For The Small Church. Nashville: Abingdon Press,1995.Hunter, Kent R.. The Lord’s Harvest and The Rural Church: A New Look At Ministry in theAgri-Culture. Kansas City, Mo.: Beacon Hill Press, 1993.Klassen, Ron, and John Koessler. No Little Places: The Untapped Potential of the Small TownChurch. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998.Servant LeadershipBeausay II, William. The Leadership Genius of Jesus, Nashville; Thomas Nelson Publishers,1997.Blanchard, Ken. The Heart of a Leader: Insights on the Art of Influence. Tulsa: Honor Books,1999.McNeal, Reggie. A Work of Heart: Understanding How God Shapes Spiritual Leaders. SanFrancisco: Jossie-Bass, 2000.Miller, Calvin. The Empowered Leader: 10 Keys to Servant Leadership. Nashville: Broadman &Holman, 1995.Rinehart, Stacy T. Upside Down: The Paradox of Servant Leadership. Colorado Springs:NavPress, 1998.COURSE REQUIREMENTS1. Read the three textbooks and write a two to three page reflection paper on each noting theelements that you found most significant for your current ministry.2. Write a five to eight page reflection paper on the sectional council leadership-trainingseminar. Include the key elements from the seminar and reflect on whether you are/aren’tintegrating some or all of these leadership qualities and strategies in your current ministry.3. Provide an outline of your research paper.4. Write a ten to twelve page research paper on a topic of interest related to the content ofthe seminar or your additional reading assignment. The paper should demonstrate anPTHE 640 Ministry in the Smaller or Rural ChurchRalph AdcockPage 3adequate understanding of ministry in the small rural church with regard to God’s call, thecharacteristics of the small rural church, culture as it relates to the small rural church, andconflict in the small rural church. A documented bibliography with a minimum of 1000pages (including texts) is required. It should also focus on an aspect of your currentministry setting in which you need improvement. Use the Turabian 6th edition handbookfor the style and format of the paper.Due Date: All course work must be completed (postmarked) no later than 90 days from theconclusion of the seminar.NOTE: A $15 change of grade fee will be required of all participants who fail to turn intheir work on the due date, even if an extension on submission is granted.Submit all course work to:Dr. Ralph AdcockPO Box 319Buffalo, Ok 73834COURSE EVALUATIONEach assignment will be weighted as follows in figuring the final course grade:Reading/Reflection papers 30%Seminar Reflection paper 25%Research paper 45%BIBLIOGRAPHYSMALL CHURCHAcker, Robert, and David Hansen.“Acceptable Losses.” Leadership (summer 1998): 38. Adcock, Ralph. “Small Church Conflict.” Poem written for a conflict resolution class. November25, 2000, Buffalo, Okla. Anderson, Leith. A Church for the 21st Century. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1992.Bierly, Steve R. Help for the Small Church Pastor: Unlocking the Potential of Your Congregation. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995.PTHE 640 Ministry in the Smaller or Rural ChurchRalph AdcockPage 4________. “Evangelism for the Ordinary Church.” Leadership (summer1997): 43.________. “Finding Excellence in a Small Church.” Leadership (summer1998): 87.________. How to Thrive as a Small-Church Pastor: A Guide to Spiritual and Emotional Well-Being. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998.Bowman, Tim. “What's a Significant Ministry?” Leadership (summer 1999): 99.Brown, Carolyn C. Developing Christian Education in the Smaller Church. Nashville: AbingdonPress, 1982.Bubna, Donald L. “Building People.” Leadership 14, no. 1 (winter 1993): 69-72.Burt, Steven E. Activating Leadership in the Small Church: Clergy and Laity Working Together.Valley Forge, Pa.: Judson Press, 1988.Burt, Steven E., and Hazel A. Roper. Raising Small Church Esteem. Washington, D.C.: TheAlban Institute, 1992.Callahan, Kennon L. Small, Strong Congregations. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2000.Carroll, Jackson W., ed. Small Churches Are Beautiful. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1977.Chromey, Rick. Youth Ministry in Small Churches. Loveland, Colo: Group Books, 1990.Coote, Robert B., ed. Mustard-Seed Churches: Ministries in Small Churches. Minneapolis:Fortress Press, 1990.Crandall, Ronald K. Turnaround Strategies for the Small Church. Nashville: Abingdon Press,1995.Damon, Glenn. “Fellowship: The Benchmark of Health.” Mikros 4, no. 6 (1998): 2.Doebler, Richard. “Staying Sharp in a Small Town.” Leadership (summer 1999): 53.Duckworth, Patricia. “Large Ministry in a Small Package.” Leadership (fall 1996): 99.Dudley, Carl S. Unique Dynamics of the Small Church. Washington, D.C.: The Alban Institute,1977.________. Making the Small Church Effective. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1978.PTHE 640