Spring 2016/Pasadena

IS500

Bolger

Lim

IS500: TOUCHSTONE: PRACTICES OF VOCATIONAL FORMATION (4 Units: 160 hours). Ryan Bolger, Peter Lim.

DESCRIPTION: Christian practices constitute the Christian life. The combined Christian practices of vocational formation, worship, community, and mission facilitate the integration of personal, spiritual, academic, and global formation into the vocational coherence of a Christian leader through reflection, relationships, and practices. IS500 is an integrative course that explores the identity and practices of Christian vocational formation as a people called, gathered, and sent by God. Together, professor and students study and enact historic Christian disciplines necessitated by this distinctive identity (Listening, Guidance, Lament, Discernment, Stewardship, Simplicity, Rhythms of Rest, Honoring the Body).

LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) Students will reflect on their current and past experiences of Christian practices of vocational formation. (2) Students will participate in local contexts and demonstrate the capacity to engage in activities and exercisesrelated to Christian spiritual disciplines and practices ofvocational formation. (3) Students will demonstrate the capacity to engage scripture, tradition, and contemporary resources to reflect theologically on historic practices of vocational formation. (4) Students will articulate how vocational formation practices impact their response to the Central Integration Question (CIQ) and will identify exercises, habits, and disciplines to embody these practices within their sociocultural context.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets twice weekly for two hour sessions for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom for lecture and discussion (which includes 8 hours of participation in vocation and formation groups).

REQUIRED READING: 800 pp. of required reading and/or the equivalent time in viewing, including:

A. Placher, William C. Callings: Twenty Centuries of Christian Wisdom on Vocation. Eerdmans, 2005. ISBN: 978-0802829276, Pub. Price $30.00 [approx. 135 pages assigned].

B. Labberton, Mark. Called: The Crisis and Promise of Following Jesus Today. IVP, 2014. ISBN: 978-0830836833, Pub. Price $16.00 [135 pages].

C. Garber, Steven. Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good. IVP, 2014. ISBN: 978-0830836666, Pub. Price $16.00 [135 pages assigned].

D. Palmer, Parker. Let Your Life Speak. Jossey-Bass, 1999. ISBN: 978-0787947354, Pub. Price $18.95. [Approx 100 pp assigned]

E. Barton, Ruth Haley. Sacred Rhythms.  IVP Books, 2006. ISBN: 978-0830833337. Pub. Price $18.00 [135 pp.].

F. 50 pp. of Bible Reading from Old and New Testaments (given in class).

G. CORE PRACTICES:

Articles, chapters, videos, websites, etc., that engage the following required practices (Listening, Guidance, Lament, Discernment, Stewardship, Simplicity, Rhythms of Rest, Honoring the Body) for IS500:

a. Listening:

See Called: The Crisis and Promise of Following Jesus Today, Mark Labberton, above.

b. Guidance:

See Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation, Parker Palmer, above.

See Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good, Steven Garber, above.

c. Lament:

Brueggemann, Walter. Praying the Psalms. Saint Mary's Press, 1986. Chapter One: Letting Experience Touch the Psalter, pp. 15-25; Chapter Four: Christians in Jewish Territory, pp. 51-65. In E-Reserves.

Witvlliet, John. Worship Seeking Understanding. Baker Books, 2003. Chapter Two: Praise and Lament in the Psalms and Liturgical Prayer, pp. 39-63. In E-Reserves.

d. Discernment:

See Let Your Life Speak in Palmer, above.

See Visions of Vocation in Garber, above.

e. Stewardship:

Miroslav Volf's "God the Giver" from Free of Charge.In E-Reserves.

Walter Brueggemann, “The Liturgy of Abundance, the Myth of Scarcity,” Christian Century, March 24–31, 1999, 342-347. In E-Reserves.

f. Simplicity:

Richard Foster, “Simplicity” (Part 3) Celebration of Disciplines Curriculum - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bY8oaNPTI0

Foster, Richard. 1988. “Simplicity” in Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, 3rd Edition. San Francisco, CA: HarperCollins, 79-95. In E-Reserves.

g. Rhythms of Rest:

See “Sabbath: Establishing Rhythms of Work and Rest” and “A Rule of Life: Cultivating Rhythms for Spiritual Transformation” in Barton above.

h. Honoring the Body:

See “Honoring the Body: Flesh and Blood Spirituality” in Barton above.

Students in IS500 are required to take the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment, receive a CoreClarity coaching packet based off of their top 5 strengths, and participate in a 45-minute coaching call with a CoreClarity coach. There will be a $40 charge for StrengthFinder® assessment, Coaching Packet, and Coaching Session which will automatically be charged to your student account.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 800 pp. of required reading, including 50 pages of biblical text, and/or the equivalent time in viewing videos (see list above). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [40 hours].
2. Classroom: for each practice, students will engage, reflect, create (utilizing instruction, participation, presentation, discussion, engaging practical theology cycle for theological reflection, case studies) (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3, 4]. [32 hours].
3. Vocation Formation Group (VFG) - In a vocation formation group, engage spiritual disciplines, practices, and discussion. Students will also be engaging in some of the practical theology steps by describing current praxis, studying the Bible, and sharing and listening to stories. (Vocation Formation Group Leader (VFGL) will let professor know if students have been present and engaged) (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 4, and 5]. [8 hours].
4. Students will participate in directed practices and disciplines relating to Lectio Divina and other core disciplines over the course of the quarter. (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [25 hours].
5. Four fieldwork activities and reflections. (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [8 hours + 8 hours].
6. Autobiography related to core course concept of vocational formation. (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [5 hours].
7. A written financial plan that will support students’ vocational goals. (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 and 3]. [9 hours].
8. Signature Assignment: 100-word CIQ response, Integration paper related to course practices, and Rule of Life (2,500 words total). (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 3, and 4]. [25 hours].

PREREQUISITES:  None. Recommended in first year of study.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:  Meets a core integrative requirement in the 120 MDiv Program and the 80 MAT, 80 MATM, 80 MAICS Programs (Fall 2015).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.