DESCRIPTION:

This course begins with a definition of urban and the need for middle class investigators to be sensitized to poverty, racism, and classism. It proceeds with an analysis of urban realities and the subcultures of urban youth. Issues of gangs, drugs, crime, pregnancy, and welfare will be considered before dealing with social strategies and responses of youth leaders.

Students will:

1. gain an introductory understanding of urbanology, the city, its people, and its systems;

2. evaluate an existing urban youth ministry for effectiveness;

3. be introduced to former gang members to understand the current issues facing youth and violence;

4. familiarize themselves with the Hip-Hop culture and how it influences ministry to youth;

5. acquaint themselves with diverse urban youth leaders and their ministries as proposed models for ministry.

Lectures, optional field trips to urban programs, talking with gang members and urban youth, class presentations, general and small group discussions, intensive reading and research will provide you with a realistic overview of urban youth ministry. The course will meet weekly for three-and-a-half-hour sessions.

Borgman, Dean. When Kumbaya Is Not Enough: A Practical Theology for Youth Ministry. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1997.

Dean, Kenda Creasy, Chap Clark, and Dave Rahn. Starting Right: Thinking Theologically about Youth Ministry. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001.

Fields, Doug. Purpose Driven Youth Ministry. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998.

Jones, Tony. Postmodern Youth Ministry: Exploring Cultural Shift, Cultivating Authentic Community, and Creating Holistic Connections. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001.

Kunjufu, Jawanza. Hip-Hop vs. MAAT: A Psycho-Social Analysis of Values. Chicago: African American Images, 1993.

Wiener, Valerie. Winning the War against Youth Gangs: A Guide for Teens, Families, and Communities. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999.

Decker, Scott H. and Barrik Van Winkle. Life in the Gang: Family Friends, and Violence. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996.

Parker, Matthew and Eugene Seals. Planting Seeds of Hope: How to Reach A New Generation of African Americans with the Gospel. The Institute for Black Family Development.

Stevenson, D. and Barbara L. Schneider. The Ambitious Generation: American's Teenagers: Motivated but Directionless. Yale University Press, 1999.

Stout, Federic and Richard T. LeGates. The City Reader. Routledge, 2000.

In addition to readings, students will: (1) keep and submit a personal journal (20%); (2) do community research of a given target area and write a 7-10 page paper on that research(40%); and (3) evaluate or plan a youth program in a 7-10 page paper (40%).

Meets the M.A. Globalization requirement (GLBL). Satisfies requirements for Youth, Family & Culture concentration in M. Div., M.A. in Youth, Family & Culture, and M.A.C.L. (Youth, Family & Culture).