DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to help students grow as Christian ethicists by applying theological understanding to the issues of the day in a practical manner. Students will learn about the structures of society at the local community level, how to engage those structures from a theological basis, and how to impact them positively as a person of faith. The course will include visits to Pasadena City Council, Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education, Pasadena Police Headquarters, and/or Pasadena Star-News offices. In each case, current issues and public policy will be the focus (e.g., promoting affordable housing, helping at-risk youth and decreasing gang violence, improving secondary public education, promoting community dialogue via opinion editorials). Guest lecturers may include Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, Pasadena School Board Superintendent Edwin Diaz, Pasadena Police Chief Barney Melekian, Pasadena Star-News Editor Larry Wilson, Fuller President Richard Mouw, and Fuller Professor of Christian Ethics Glen Stassen.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: As professional ministers or therapists, as concerned citizens who seek to be good neighbors, students must be aware of and critically engage ecclesial, societal, and global issues from Christian theological perspectives and demonstrate the ability to make informed choices toward positive change.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) grow in their ability to reason ethically, (2) ground that reasoning in biblical faith, and (3) apply that reasoning effectively to current local issues.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet weekly for three-hour sessions. Students are required to

• attend all classes and actively participate in class discussions;

• attend all class meetings off campus with various community leaders, and participate in dialogue;

• keep a journal on response to class readings and experiences, and turn it in together with a critical/constructive reflection essay;

• participate in a class project in which they will learn how local governments and communities create improvement in one of the following four areas: (1) encouraging development of affordable housing in Pasadena; (2) improving public secondary education; (3) helping at-risk youth thrive and avoid gang involvement; (4) offering editorial comment to advance community dialogue.

De La Torre, M.A. Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins. New York: Orbis, 2004. (280 pgs)

Lipman-Blumen, J. Connective Leadership: Managing in a Changing World. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. (405 pgs)

Sider, R.J. & Knippers, D. Toward an Evangelical Public Policy. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005. (380 pgs)

Stassen, G. Living the Sermon on the Mount: A Practical Hope for Grace and Deliverance. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons, 2006. (220 pgs)

Reading packet to include Catholic articles and/or encyclicals on current issues; selection of Kelly's OpEds and articles on current issues; Stassen's article "Where is Niebuhr When We Need Him?"

Avlon, J. P. Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2004.

De Pree, M. Leadership is an Art. New York: Doubleday, 2004.

Mott, S. C. Biblical Ethics and Social Change. New York: Oxford University Press, 1982.

Niebuhr, R. The Children of Light and the Children of Darkness. New York: Charles Scribners, 1946.