North Central Jurisdiction United Methodist Church
Upcoming Courses
October 14-18, 2019
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota (exact address and motel TBD). Plan to arrive October 13th. Enrolled Students are welcome to stay through October 18 to travel on October 19. Book hotel accommodations at special NACOS rate here: Best Western Plus, Isanti Minnesota.
COS 124 Transformative Leadership
Course Dates: October 14 at 9:00 A.M. through October 16 ending at 11:30 A.M.
This course forms the student’s identity as a pastoral leader and change agent in congregations, The United Methodist Church, and the world.
Objectives:
Identify and understand the attributes of good leaders, biblically and theologically.
Evaluation and strengthen their own identifies and skills as pastoral leaders.
Explain and reflect on the nature of change in the local congregation and wider society.
Implement visioning, strategizing and planning processes in their local congregations.
Texts (Some books might be available in Kindle/digital):
Your Bible.
Bruce Birch and Lewis Parks, Ducking Spears, Dancing Madly, A Biblical Model of Church Leadership;
Brandon O’Brien and Jim Belcher, The Strategically Small Church: Intimate, Nimble, and Effective.
Joseph M. Marshall III, The Power of Four (Leadership Lessons of Crazy Horse)
321 Bible III Gospels
Course Dates: October 14 at 9:00 A.M. through October 16 ending at 11:30 A.M.
Instructor: Rick Bell
Course Dates: October 14 at 9:00 A.M. through October 16 ending at 11:30 A.M.
This course focuses on the content and message of the Gospels, as well as the theological perspectives of the Gospel writers. The practice of exegesis will be emphasized.
Students will be able to:
Understand the origin, message, and purpose of each Gospel.
Exegete this form of literature.
Apply exegesis to preaching, other pastoral responsibilities, and issues of the present day.
Texts:
Mark Allen Powell, Introducing the New Testament
Frederick Murphy, An Introduction to Jesus and the Gospels
Alan Culpepper, Anatomy of the 4th Gospel
Supplementary:
Sharon Ringe, Luke (Westminster Bible Companion)
Moody Smith, Abingdon New Testament Commentary on John
COS 424 Ethics
Course Dates: October 16 at 2:00 P.M. through October 18 at 5:00 P.M.
Instructor: Fred Shaw
This course introduces the biblical and theological bases for Christian behavior, emphasizing the pastoral skills needed for moral leadership in the congregation and community.
Students will be able to:
Articulate a biblical and theological basis for ethical thinking and moral behavior, and distinguish major approaches to ethical reasoning.
Comprehend the relationship between their personal stories, pastoral vocation, local contexts, and responsibility as moral leaders.
Develop a Christian framework for moral reason and action, and apply it to the use of power and the setting of boundaries in ministry.
Demonstrate familiarity with and make use of the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church as a resource for ethical reflection and action.
Texts:
Robin Lovin, An Introduction to Christian Ethics: Goals, Duties and Virtues
Patricia Jung and Darryl W. Stephens, Professional Sexual Ethics
Reference: Social Principles, Book of Resolutions
Supplementary:
Rebekah Miles, The Pastor as a Moral Guide
Richard Hays, Moral Vision of the New Testament
Stephen Mott, Biblical Ethics and Social Change
COS 523 Evangelism
Course Dates: October 16 at 2:00 P.M. through October 18 at 5:00 P.M.
This course introduces students to the theology and practices of evangelism as an expression of the mission of God.
Objectives:
Reflect on and articulate the meaning of the Gospel and an understanding of the Church as bearers of God’s Word to the world.
Ground a theology of evangelism in scripture, the Gospel, and the mission of God.
Interpret of the Wesleyan heritage of evangelism.
Reflect on and implement strategies and models for evangelism by the congregation.
Texts:
Dana Robert, Christian Mission (main text)
Miroslav Volf, A Public Faith: How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good
Selected Wesley Sermons (from a text of your choice)
How to Sign Up for a NACOS Course
Step 1
Select a Course & click on the “Add the Registration Fee to Cart” button.
Step 2
Download and print the Course Approval Signature Form. All students who are Pastors under appointment (Full or Part time) must have DS and Registrar approval signatures, even if they are returning students. Follow all instructions on the form.
Step 3
A: I am paying my Tuition:
Click on the “Add Tuition to Cart” button for each desired Course.
B: Someone else is paying my Tuition:
Click here.
Step 4
Go to the Cart and Checkout.*
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History
In response to needs identified by members of the West Michigan Indian Workers Conference, and a Racial Ethnic Task Force report of 1998, serious conversation about starting a Native American Course of Study was begun. Classes began in the Spring of 2003.
Content
The intent is to make pastoral training economically accessible, culturally interpreted, contextually relevant and communally comfortable for those attending the class. A typical course includes: Two four-day sessions, reading texts and preparing papers prior to class, interactive sessions with dialogue, field application and feedback that will include some written and oral work.
Who May Attend
Our mission is to educate and train Native American local pastors in the United Methodist Church. The school uniquely prepares students to work cross-culturally in a variety of settings. In addition to Native Americans, NACOS is open to pastors of all races/ethnicities serving Native American people within their congregations and communities, as well as those pastors responding to a call to work in Native American Ministries.
Accreditation
This school is an extension school of the Course of Study School of Ohio at Methodist Theological School in Ohio. It is under the accreditation of the United Methodist General Board of Higher Education, and has been approved as a national school, accredited for both the basic and advanced course of study. Although a course of study does not terminate in a degree, classes are accredited and can be applied toward a seminary degree.
An Extension of Methodist Theological School of Ohio
A Course of Study Program Under the accreditation of the United Methodist General Board of Higher Education