Congregational and ministry studies at Calvin
Formed in 2009, the congregational and ministry studies department aims to provide opportunities for classroom learning, research and apprenticeships to help students critically examine how every other major and program in the college contributes to the life of the church and its ministries. In addition, the department will be a focal point for faculty scholarship and professional development in this field of study.
Program offerings
The department will promote student and faculty engagement with the church by:
- offering ministry studies courses, including ministry-related interim courses
- housing the youth ministry minor and the new church, society and ministry minor
- holding biweekly interdisciplinary discussions among students and faculty members on relevant research related to the church and society
- promoting a ministry internship program and the Jubilee Fellows program
- making ministry-related books and multimedia available through the Ministry Resource Center
Why congregational and ministry studies at Calvin?
Along with other contributions in culture and society more broadly, academic preparation for knowledgeable contributions to the church is crucial. The concern for the academic study of lay ministry is grounded in the Reformed tradition’s emphasis on the role of all people in ministry and in the emerging vitality of ministry studies as an academic field.
Other roles for the department
The congregational and ministry studies department will be the academic home for faculty who serve in the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, for the college chaplain, and for the college’s programs related to ecumenical organizations, especially the emerging union of the Reformed Ecumenical Council and World Alliance of Reformed Churches.
The department also sponsors an interdisciplinary working group of faculty and staff who teach or conduct research related to congregational and ministry studies. Participants in the working group for 2009-2010 include the following:
B. Becksvoort (Christian Reformed Church Agencies)
K. Bosma (Congregational & Ministry Studies)
J. Bouman (Service Learning)
M. Bruinooge (Christian Reformed Church Agencies)
M. Buteyn (French & German)
S. Bytwerk (Christian Formation office)
N. Carlson (Center for Social Research)
T. Cioffi (Congregational & Ministry Studies/Calvin Institute of Christian Worship)
D. Cooper (Congregational & Ministry Studies/Calvin Institute of Christian Worship)
J. Curry (Geology)
L. DeHaan (Psychology)
L. Barger Elliott (Congregational & Ministry Studies)
D. Glassford (Seminary)
K. Groenendyk (Communication Arts & Sciences)
M. Gunnoe (Psychology)
B. Haney (Economics)
B. Hugen (Social Work)
B. Keeley (Education)
D. Kelderman (Seminary)
Y. Kim (History)
K. Kooyman (Christian Reformed Church Agencies)
J. Lawrence (Campus Store)
M. Lundberg (Religion)
M. Marie (English)
T. McWhertor (Christian Reformed Church Agencies)
M. Mulder (Sociology)
J. Penning (Center for Social Research)
B. Polman (Music)
C. Rienstra (College Relations)
D. Rienstra (English)
S. Roels (Congregational & Ministry Studies)
L. Schemper (Ministry Resource Center)
C. Smidt (Political Science)
J. Smith (Philosophy)
K. Smith (Seminary & Calvin Institute of Christian Worship)
P. Snyder (Business)
L. Vander Zee (Faith Alive Christian Resources)
H. Vanderwell (Calvin Institute of Christian Worship)
S. VanZanen (Christian Reformed Church Agencies)
A. Winkle (Christian Formation office)
