DESCRIPTION:

This is a course on biblical, theological and practical foundations for creating a learning community in which the whole people of God, laity and clergy, are formed for community and mission. Many aspects of a church's life and activities (worship, small groups, story telling, education, spiritual disciplines, organizational development) will be viewed regarding their role in forming and equipping the congregation toward gospel faithfulness. Topics include ecclesiology and missiology, the relationship between clergy and lay leaders, the relationship between personal and corporate formation, intergenerational and intercultural life, the relationship of careers to the life and mission of a church, and resources in spiritual formation.

Cognitive: conceptual connections between theology, church models, leadership, and the idea of a learning community; Skills: curriculum planning to advance congregational life that promotes formation, including learning, deepened relationships, full participation, and missional characteristics; Conation: vision for and commitment to forming congregations as learning, missional, spiritual communities of faith.

The class meets weekly for three-and-a-half-hours for ten weeks. Class will include lectures, individual and group exercises, reflective discussions of materials and experiences, and group presentations.

Guder, D., ed. Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending Church in North America. Eerdmans, 1998.

O'Connor, Elizabeth. Servant Leaders, Servant Structures. The Servant Leadership School, 1991.

Pazmino, Robert. Latin American Journey: Insights for Christian Education in North America. United Church Press, 1994.

Ogden, Greg. Unfinished Business: Returning the Ministry to the People of God. Zondervan, 2003. (If student has previously read Ogden, then read
Stevens, R. Paul & Phil Collins. The Equipping Pastor. The Alban Institute, 1993.)

Wimberly, Anne Streaty. Soul Stories: African American Christian Education. Abingdon, 1994.

Class Reader (including Ng, Yoder, Westerhoff, Hauerwas, Gelpi, Brueggemann).

Brownson, James et al. Stormfront: The Good News of God. Eerdmans, 2003.

Everist, Norma Cook. The Church As Learning Community. Abingdon, 2002.

Foster, Charles. Educating Congregations. Abingdon, 1994.

Ng, David & Virginia Thomas. Children in the Worshiping Community. John Knox Press, 1981.

Westerhoff, John H. Will Our Children Have Faith? Rev. ed. Morehouse, 2000.

Yoder, John Howard. Body Politics: Five Practices of the Christian Community Before the Watching World. Discipleship Resources, 1994.

(1) Attend class, maintain Student Report Sheet (25%). (2) Read texts and assigned articles on time (25%). (3) Complete a one-page form on all articles (5%). (4) Write a 500-600 word book critique on each of the five main textbooks (20%). (5) Write a 2500-3000 word term paper on what a missional, learning congregation is and how leaders pursue this work (25%). (6) To pursue an A, complete an Adler-style overview of 4 other recommended books; read the Sermon on the Mount and write an 1500-2000 word paper in reference to the course and your term paper.

Meets the M. Div. core requirement in Christian Formation and Discipleship (MIN 4).