RELP 504 The Calling and Spiritual Identity of the Pastor (4)
The spiritual challenge of the pastorate; how to meet it and grow. The complicated role and self-understanding of a pastor as a public figure, leader of a congregation, minister to people in need, and private person.

RELP 506 Congregational Life and Leadership (4)
The implications in practice and theology of clergy leadership in the local congregation. Contemporary theories and praxis will be studied.

RELP 507 The Nature of the Church and Its Ministries (4)
A concise theology of the church with its implications for worship, ministry, religious experience, and praxis. The course provides the basis for theoretical and biblical analysis of the nature, function, purpose, and mission of the Church in contemporary society. The course includes two foci: theological and practical implications. Models for ministry will be explored using historical, theological, and psychological resources.

RELP 508 Mission and Strategic Planning in Ministry (4)
An exploration of ministry with its implications for worship, experience and praxis with a view to building up the body of Christ. The "what" "who" and "how" of strategic planning to maximize a church’s potential for spiritual growth. How to initiate change in a church setting with a view to helping outreach and evangelism. Evaluation and assessment is included in this comprehensive study.

RELP 514 Fieldwork in Educational Ministry (1)
Practice in teaching in an educational setting; interaction with students in a learning setting either in a school or a church. May be repeated for additional credit to a maximum of 3 units. Prerequisite: RELP 468.

RELP 515 Youth Ministry and the Local Church (4)
Designed to provide insight into the theology, organization, and methods of local youth ministry. The problem of what to do in the local setting with youth and young adults as they grow toward God. Consideration of the problems of leadership, activities, model of ministry and current materials available.

RELP 516 Practicum in Youth Ministry (4)
Supervised application (90 clock-hours) in local church or other institutional settings, based upon the student’s approved project proposal. The course requirements include the preparation and submission of a major written analysis of the project and its implementation. Prerequisite: RELP 515.

RELP 517 Religion and the Arts (4)
An exploration of the purpose and contribution of the arts in the expression of religious commitment.

RELP 518 Pastoral Ethics (4)
An introduction to the ethical dimensions of church office and pastoral care. Includes an overview of moral, societal, and legal responsibilities associated with pastoral roles and the central ethical issues which arise in the context of ministry. Special attention will be given to the appropriate use of personal power, church resources, and the influence of office.

RELP 524 Clinical Pastoral Education (4-12)
A twelve-week course for church pastors and seminary students, including supervised experience with patients, lectures by hospital staff, seminars, conferences, and hospital rounds with physicians. Five eight-hour days per week. Limited enrollment. Credit earned in this course is recognized by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Incorporated. A qualified student wishing to earn credit in clinical pastoral education must receive permission from the graduate advisor and the School of Religion prior to enrollment through the Medical Center at Loma Linda University.

RELP 525 Fieldwork in Pastoral Ministry (1)
Practical application of the practice of ministry into an overall theory of ministry. May be repeated for additional credit to a maximum of 3 units. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

RELP 527 Crisis Counseling and Intervention (4)
Crisis phenomena, current crisis theory, a Christian model of crisis care, and the dynamics and practices of crisis care.

RELP 528 Interpreting and Preaching the Old Testament (4)
The interpretation of selected parts of the Old Testament for the purpose of sermon preparation and delivery.

RELP 529 Interpreting and Preaching the New Testament (4)
The interpretation of selected parts of the New Testament for the purpose of sermon preparation and delivery.

RELP 535 Psychology of Religion (4)
An examination of psychology of religion. Religious experience and faith growth as seen from the perspective of the psychologist of religion and ministerial team.

RELP 536 Principles of Pastoral Counseling (4)
A survey of principal theories and counseling approaches for use in the pastoral ministry.

RELP 537 Equipping the Laity for Mission (4)
Methods and resources for developing lay leaders and for helping them identify and employ their spiritual gifts in support of the life of the local church.

RELP 539 Theology of Ministry (4)
Biblical and theological basis of, and the implications for methods in helping relationships as they relate to the unique role of ministry

RELP 547 Financial Management in the Local Church (4)
Church financial policies of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, with principles for the responsible accounting, handling and managing of financial resources.

RELP 549 The Theology and Practice of Christian Worship (4)
A historical and theological survey of Christian proclamation, liturgics, with implications for praxis in a contemporary church.

RELP 554 Small Group Ministry (4)
Theory, methods and practice of growing small group ministries in the local congregation.

RELP 556 Conflict Resolution in the Local Church (4)
Approaches and techniques for dealing redemptively with conflict and decision making within the congregation.

RELP 558 The Church in Urban Contexts (4)
Examination of the special needs of congregations in inner-city and densely urban contexts with a view to developing resources and approaches for ministry.

RELP 564 Religious Development and Moral Learning (4)
Biblical principles of emerging self-identity and faith concepts. Religious development throughout the lifecycle. Religious learning problems, moral development issues, and practical methods in communicating religious values.

RELP 565 Building Family Ministry (4)
The family as a context for ministry. The role of children’s ministry, methods, psychological and lifecycle concerns, and analysis of creative ministry for multigenerational ministry.

RELP 567 Counseling Youth and Young Adults (4)
Counseling applications for the Christian community of youth, including problem solving, decision making, values clarification, and church-related conflict issues.

RELP 569 Models of Religious Education (4)
This course employs six categories (aim, content, teacher, learner, environment, and evaluation) for ascertaining the shape of religious education endeavors through the church’s history as a backdrop to its focus on this century and the contemporary church/school religious educational system.

RELP 577 The Theology and Practice of Preaching (4)
Basic study of the practice of skills and approaches to preaching exploring the methods, theory, and function of preaching the Bible.

RELP 578 Contextual Homiletics (4)
The study of the content and methods of contextual preaching. Courses will rotate through a number of unique contexts such as youth and young adults, multicultural contexts, multigenerational contexts, and evangelism. Courses may also focus upon a particular portion of the Old or New Testament. May be taken for credit twice.

RELP 589 Christian Spiritual Resources (4)
Biblical understanding of personal faith. Exploration of three aspects of the religious life. The course will explore: (1) relationship of spirituality to the ministry of the whole church; (2) knowledge and experience as a means to Christian growth; (3) an understanding of the work of God’s grace in the process of spiritual formation in both clergy and congregation.

RELP 591 Ministry Practice and Project I (4)
An advanced project developed for and completed in a local church setting.

RELP 592 Ministry Practice and Project II (4)
An advanced project developed for and completed in a local church setting.

RELP 593 Ministry Practice and Project III (4)
An advanced project developed for and completed in a local church setting.

RELP 594 In-parish Project I (4)
An advanced project developed for and completed in a local church setting.

RELP 604 Seminar in Church and Ministry (4)
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

RELP 605 Seminar on Current Issues in Youth Ministry (4)
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

RELP 606 Seminar in Worship (4)
Advanced consideration of special topics in Christian liturgics, worship styles, parish involvement and evangelistic potential. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

RELP 608 Seminar in Outreach and Mission (4)
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

RELP 609 Seminar in Personal Ministry (4)
Topics for this seminar may include family system theory, marriage enrichment, sexuality and contemporary society, Volunteerism, evangelism, discipleship. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

RELP 614 Seminar in Pastoral Leadership (4)
Topics may include: leadership in cultural contexts; church administration; Christian educational ministry, multi-generational ministry, and ministry to singles. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

RELP 616 Seminar in Spiritual Formation (4)
Investigation of the historical, biblical, practical aspects of spiritual growth. Topics such as spiritual trauma, healing, spiritual guidance, prayer, discipleship focus the attention of this study. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

RELP 674 Reading Tutorial in Professional Studies (4)
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

RELP 695 Topics in Professional Studies (4)
May be repeated for additional credit to a maximum of 12 units. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

RELP 698 Thesis in Professional Studies (4)
May be repeated for additional credit to a maximum of 8 units.

RELP 699 Directed Study in Professional Studies (1-6)
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.