PT 111 Course at a Glance (2025)
Introduction to Pastoral Theology & Ministry
Lectures By: Dr. Stafford Carson
2 Credits
Course Description
Introduction to Pastoral Theology & Ministry is the first course within the Pastoral Theology department at Westminster. Within this course, you will be introduced to answers to questions like: What does the character of a Christian leader within the church look like? What are the key qualities for effective ministry? What does it mean to be called to ministry? What theology underlies our understanding of ministry? Special attention will also be given to the place of ordained ministry in the Reformed church, and the role of prayer and preaching as core competencies of a Christian pastor. Through lectures, readings, and interaction with faculty, experienced instructors, and fellow students from a variety of contexts, you will walk away from this course with a foundation for the rest of your pastoral theology and pastoral counseling courses throughout your program.
Books to Purchase
The books listed below are required readings which students should acquire by the start of the term. Additional required readings will be listed in the course syllabus and available electronically in Canvas.
by E.P. Clowney
InterVaristy, 1995
ISBN: 9780830815340
by E.P. Clowney
P&R, 1976
ISBN: 9780875521442
by Eugene Peterson
Eerdmans, 1989
ISBN: 9780802802651
by Richard F. Lovelace
InterVaristy, 2020
ISBN: 9780830852888
Estimated Workload
Please note, the Winter Term is an accelerated 4-week term. Please expect at least 4x the workload listed here which is calculated based on a normal, full-length term.
| Lectures | Readings | Assignments |
| 0.7 | 109.2 | 1.3 |
| Hours Per Week | Pages Per Week | Hours Per Week |
Course Assignments
The assignments listed below are provided for general guidance for students to reference as they plan and register. Please reach out to support@wts.edu if you have any questions.
- 5 - Live Class Meetings (10%)
- 5 - Discussion Questions (40%)
- 1 - Final Paper (50%)
Synchronous Meeting Times
This course offers optional synchronous class meeting(s) through Zoom which will be scheduled during the term based on everyone's availability (a poll will be taken by the instructor for these meetings and they will be recorded for students who are unable to attend live). These meetings will be helpful for the formation your understanding of apologetics as well as provide an opportunity to practice the method live with your instructor.
The Following Meetings Time are for the Winter 2026 Term:
- Live Class Meeting 1:
- Live Class Meeting 2:
- Live Class Meeting 3:
- Live Class Meeting 4:
The Following Meetings Time are for the Spring 202 Term:
- Live Class Meeting 1:
- Live Class Meeting 2:
- Live Class Meeting 3:
- Live Class Meeting 4: