/ Center for Ministry Studies

Faculty Advising Resources

These materials and links can assist you and your students explore vocation and calling from a theological perspective.

FIRST YEAR SEMINAR INSTRUCTORS 鈥 FYS

Hard copies of the resources listed below are available for your use. Please let us know what you would like by providing us with the coresponding number/letter (e.g., 1a, 2e, etc.). Indicate whether you would prefer hard copies in campus mail or scanned as PDF attachments.

1: Resources primarily directed at faculty

  1. Braskamp, Larry A. and Remich, Robin G. 鈥淭he Centrality of Student Development in the Life of Faculty at Church and Faith Related Colleges and Universities.鈥 Journal of College and Character (10 June 2003). 13 double-spaced pages.
  2. Dykstra, Craig. 鈥淭he Theological Exploration of Vocation.鈥 Address given at the Third Annual PTEV Conference, Indianapolis, Ind., 1 October 2003. 6 single-spaced pages.
  3. Hardy, Lee. 鈥淏etween Us, God and the World: The Trajectory of a Christian Vocation.鈥 Address given at the College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN. Fall, 2003. 9 double-spaced pages.
  4. Jeffrey, David Lyle. 鈥淔aith, Fortitude, and the Future of Christian Intellectual Community.鈥 Address given at a conference on Christianity and the Soul of the University at Baylor University, Waco, Tex., 26 March 2004. 16 double-spaced pages.
  5. Mead, James K. 鈥淭he Divine Vocation: Reformed Theology鈥檚 Conversation with the Call of God in the Biblical Traditions.鈥 Unpublished paper. 24 double-spaced pages.
  6. Parks, Sharon Daloz. 鈥淢entoring Communities.鈥 Excerpted from chapter 9 of Big Questions, Worthy Dreams: Mentoring Young Adults in the Their Search for Meaning, Purpose, and Faith. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2000. Pp. 158鈥79.
  7. Schuurman, Douglas J. 鈥淰ocation Under Assault: Can It Be Salvaged?鈥 Chapter 1 of Vocation: Discerning Our Callings in Life. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004. Pp. 1-16.
  8. Sittser, Gerald L., 鈥淗elping Students Discover Their Calling.鈥 Excerpted from The Will of God as a Way of Life. Grand Rapids:Zondervan, 2000. 3 pages.
  9. Sullivan, William M. 鈥淰ocation: Where Liberal and Professional Education Meet.鈥 With responses by Susan Currier and George Ayoub. Addresses given at a conference on 鈥淰ocation, Vocationalism, and the Liberal Arts鈥 at Westmont College, 6 February 2004. Pp. 7-31.

2: Useful classroom handouts for students

  1. Buchannan, John M. 鈥淟ove God and Do What You Will.鈥 Sermon delivered at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Ill., 2 May 2004. 4 pages.
  2. Burtchaell, James Tunstead, C.S.C. 鈥淢ajor Decisions: How to pick your major in college.鈥 Notre Dame Magazine (Winter 1986-87). 4 pages.
  3. Chong, Shiao. 鈥淭he Calling of the Christian Student.鈥 The Banner (Oct. 2002): 36-38.
  4. Gaede, Stan D. 鈥淥n Joy & Career: Why Can鈥檛 I Play Third Base?鈥 Excerpted from An Incomplete Guide to the Rest of your Life on the Road to Meaning, Purpose & Happiness. Downers Grove, Ill.: Intervarsity Press, 2002. Pp. 104鈥13.
  5. Guinness, Os. 鈥淒o What You Are.鈥 Chapter 6 of The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life. Nashville, Tenn.: Word Publishing, 1998. Pp. 44-54.
  6. Langerquist, L. Deane. 鈥淣ow that I鈥檝e Grown Up: Mid-career Reflections on Vocation.鈥 The Cresset. Special Issue: Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts (Trinity 2003). 2 pages.
  7. Plantinga, Cornelius, Jr. 鈥淟onging and Hope.鈥 Chapter 1 of Engaging God鈥檚 World: A Christian Vision of Faith, Learning, and Living. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002. Pp. 1鈥16.
  8. Schreiner, Laurie A. 鈥淒iscover Your Calling.鈥 Address given at Eastern University, St. Davids, Pa., 29 September 2001. 8 pages.
  9. Schultze, Quentin J. 鈥淟istening to God.鈥 Chapter 1 of Here I Am: Now What On Earth Should I Be Doing? Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005. Pp. 9-21.
  10. Sittser, Gerald L. 鈥淭he Wonder of the Present Moment.鈥 Address given at 91自拍论坛, Holland, Michigan, 27 August 2000. 5 pages.
  11. Weems, Renita J. Excerpts from Listening for God: A Minister鈥檚 Journey Through Silence and Doubt. New York: Simon and Schuster, Touchstone Books, 1999. Pp. 15-41.
  12. Cairns, Scott. "The Gift of Vocation." O.E. (Oregon Extension Journal), pp. 28-29.
  13. Wallis, Jim. "What's Acceptable? What's Possible?" Commencement Address at Georgetown College, May 20, 2007.
  14. Kingsolver, Barbara. "Picking Up the Bread." Commencement Address at Centre College, May 24, 2005.

3: Useful for faculty but also (possibly) digestible by students

  1. Berry, Wendell. 鈥淎 Conversation Out of School鈥 and 鈥淭oward a Change of Standards.鈥 Chapters 6 and 7 of Life is a Miracle. Washington, D.C.: Counterpoint Press, 2000. Pp. 121鈥42.
  2. Gaede, Stan D. 鈥淓ducation for What? A Framework for the Liberal Arts.鈥 Address given at Westmont College, Santa Barbara, Ca., 31 January 2003. 6 single-spaced pages.
  3. Hardy, Lee. 鈥淲ork, Life, and Vocational Choice: Investing Yourself in the Divine Economy.鈥 Chapter 3 of The Fabric of this World: Inquiries into Calling, Career Choice, and the Design of Human Work. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990. Pp. 79鈥123.
  4. Jones, L. Gregory, 鈥淣egotiating the Tensions of Vocation.鈥 In L. Gregory Jones and Stephanie Paulsell, ed. The Scope of Our Art: The Vocation of the Theological Teacher. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002. Pp. 209-224.
  5. Parks, Sharon Daloz. 鈥淏ig Questions, Worthy Dreams: Purpose, Vocation, and the Common Good.鈥 Address given at the Institute on College Student Values, Center for The Study of Values in College Student Development, 2002. 10 pages.
  6. Rienstra, Debra and Ron. 鈥淐all Waiting.鈥 Perspectives (October 2001): 8-15.
  7. Sittser, Gerald L. 鈥淒istinguishing Between Calling and Career鈥 and 鈥淒iscovering What We鈥檙e Supposed to Do.鈥 Chapters 5 and 6 of The Will of God as a Way of Life. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000. Pp. 13-23, 63-93.

4: Bibliographies 

As noted above, the most extensive and up-to-date annotated bibliography on the theological exploration of vocation can be found online at the . If you would prefer something printed, the following options are available from our office:

  1. 鈥淏ibliography: Programs for the Theological Exploration of Vocation.鈥 Prepared by the National PTEV Coordination Office. Revised 2003. (No annotations.) 10 pages.
  2. Cartwright, Michael C. 鈥淭heological Exploration of Vocations: Recommended Readings. An Annotated List of Protestant Reflections.鈥 Unpublished paper, 2001. 10 pages.
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