STMA 5890 - Presbyterian History and Polity

3 credit hours
Formerly - STMA 589

The primary goal of this polity course is to prepare students to pass their Presbyterian Standard Ordination Examination in Polity. This examination requires knowledge of the Constitution and tests the student’s ability to answer situational, pastoral questions typically encountered in the practice of ministry, rather than straight recitation of the “”law”” of the denomination. The second goal is to prepare students for their role as ministers, where the ability to interpret and use the Confessions and polity of the church are matters of frequent, sometimes daily, practice. Objectives include working knowledge of the polity of the PCUSA; confidence in one’s knowledge as one takes the Standard Ordination Exams; formation of ministers for their role as presbyters in every governing body (Session, Presbytery, Synod, General Assembly); deeper appropriation of the Presbyterian ethos within an ecumenical setting; knowledge of and ability to practice within the liturgical standards of the Directory for Worship.