DESCRIPTION:

This course explores how the gospel might be contextualized in today's post-modern culture, and includes practical exploration of ways to facilitate this, grounded in the emerging culture as well as in the Bible and the experience of the world church. It takes account of current debates on the theology of creativity and the arts and related discussions of creation-centered spirituality and the impact of New Spirituality on the Christian community.

This course models culturally relevant ways of worship and evangelism while providing a safe environment in which students can work with their own personal issues. It is specifically designed to be both challenging and spiritually empowering. Class members may wish to plan to attend a clown service featuring the ministry of Olive Fleming Drane on Sunday morning July 11, at First Baptist Church of Los Angeles (directions will be given in class).

The class will meet in four-hour sessions daily for two weeks. Classes will include plenaries, small groups, and experiential exploration of personal spirituality and creativity, using a variety of formats and a strong emphasis on learning by doing.

Detweiler, Craig and Barry Taylor. A Matrix of Meanings: Finding God in Pop Culture. Baker, 2003.

Drane, John. Cultural Change and Biblical Faith. Paternoster Press, 2000.

_________. The McDonaldization of the Church. Smyth & Helwys, 2001.

Fleming Drane, Olive M. Clowns, Storytellers, Disciples. Augsburg, 2004.

Fung, Raymond. The Isaiah Vision. WCC, 1992.

Moynagh, Michael. Changing World, Changing Church. Kregel, 2001.

Bosch, David J. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission. Orbis, 1991.

Clifford, Ross and Philip Johnson. Jesus and the Gods of the New Age. Lion, 2001.

Hagberg, Janet and Robert Guelich. The Critical Journey. Sheffield Publishing Co., 1995.

Munger, Robert Boyd. My Heart, Christ's Home. Rev. ed. InterVarsity Press, 1992.

Sample, Tex. The Spectacle of Worship in a Wired World. Abingdon, 1999.

1. Attendance: students who miss more than three class meetings will not receive a passing grade.

2. Preparation: students will be expected to engage in adequate advance preparation and participate fully in all activities in class meetings.

3. Course work, to consist of (a) a personal journal with an entry for each class meeting; (b) a piece of work in a medium chosen by the student and given advance approval in writing by the professors, deemed to be the equivalent to approximately ten pages of written work. Each piece counts for 50% of the final course grade. Completed work is due September 13.

None.

Elective.