Spring 2018/Pasadena

PR532

Fong

PR532: TRANSFORMATIONAL PREACHING IN ASIAN AMERICAN CONTEXTS (4 Units: 161 hours). Ken Uyeda Fong.

DESCRIPTION: PR532 is designed as a 4-unit practicum in preaching that follows PR500 in the sequence of required preaching courses. The course provides students with an opportunity to work the “Developing” and “Mastery” levels of competence by preparing, preaching, listening to, responding to, and assessing sermons in a classroom setting. Instructors lead students through the following steps: assessing one’s prior preaching experience; setting personal goals for the class; preparing and preaching sermons; receiving feedback on sermons and engaging in self-assessment; making specific plans for continued growth and improvement; reflecting on one’s experience during the class; setting goals for continued learning and growth in preaching after completion of the class. Using a particular narrative approach with an eye towards Asian American’s cultural proclivities, students will learn to craft and deliver sermons that move listeners—especially Asian Americans—towards deeper gratitude to God and away from moralism. This will also include learning to design and preach with key digital slides.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course students will have demonstrated (1) competence in biblical interpretation through faithful use of the whole canon of Scripture in proclaiming the gospel; (2) capacities for engaging listeners in preaching as a formative activity in the context of worship; (3) an understanding of how the theology of the Church and its historical developments, including the practice of preaching, inform the proclamation of the gospel in the present; (4) competence in preaching as a theologically reflective practice that serves the Church’s vocation of proclaiming the gospel in the whole of life; (5) a working knowledge of moralism and why many Asian Americans are drawn to it; and (6) the skill of crafting a compelling non-moralistic, visually effective narrative sermon and delivering it with conviction, clarity, and confidence.

COURSE FORMAT: The class meets once weekly for 3.5 hours for a total of 35 hours of classroom work. The remaining 5 hours are completed in Directed Learning Activities. The course is primarily focused on practice with a moderate amount of outside reading to assist in the process of assessing and reflecting on sermon. The practicum is led by the professor and requires participation of the whole class. Students preach a minimum of three (3) sermons for which they receive feedback, evaluative comments, and guidance to encourage continued reflection, learning, and growth. Students also engage in self-assessment and reflection after each sermon. In addition to class discussions following each sermon, students are able to consult individually with the professor.

REQUIRED READING: 600 pages required

Buechner, Frederick. Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale. Harper and Row, 1977. ISBN: 978-0060611569, Pub. Price $17.99 [112pp.].

Eunjoo, Mary Kim. Preaching the Presence of God: A Homiletic from an Asian American Perspective. Judson Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0817013035, Pub. Price $14.99 [160pp.].

Green, Joel B. and Michael Pasquarello III. Narrative Reading, Narrative Preaching: Reuniting New Testament Interpretation and Proclamation. Baker Academic, 2003. ISBN: 978-0801027215, Pub. Price $22.00 [198pp.].

Lowry, Eugene L. The Sermon: Dancing on the Edge of Mystery. Abingdon Press, 1997. ISBN: 978-0687015436, Pub. Price $19.99 [128pp].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Kolbert, Elizabeth. “Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds: New discoveries about the human mind show the limitations of reason.” The New Yorker, February 27, 2017 issue. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/27/why-facts-dont-change-our-minds

Loder, James. The Transforming Moment. Helmers & Howard Publications, 1989. ISBN: 978-0939443178, Pub. Price $16.92 [260pp.]

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. A minimum of 600 pages of required reading (16%). [This assignment is related to outcomes # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] [30 hours].
  2. Prepare and preach two (2) 20-minutes visually enhanced narrative sermons and provide exegetical notes, storyboard with 5-7 key slides, and self-assessment. Students are required to complete the following: (a) Prepare and preach a sermon, with particular attention to the place of preaching in worship, preaching as a catechetical/formative practice of the church, and proximity to significant events. Preaching will include sermons from both the Old and New Testaments. Students will submit exegetical notes with each sermon. The professor will provide guidelines for exegetical work. (b) Complete a substantive homiletic self-assessment after each sermon that reflects specifically on both strengths and weaknesses (including how well the sermon followed Loder’s 4-Dimensional story arc) and sets goals for continuing improvement and growth in preparing and preaching sermons (30%). [This assignment is related to outcomes #1, 2, 4, 5, 6]. [50 hours].
  3. Preach a third 20-minute, visually enhanced narrative sermon, provide storyboard with 5-7 key slides, and an essay that includes assessment with theological reflection (2 parts): (a) Prepare and preach a sermon. Submit notes on biblical interpretation that support the sermon, including an assessment of the preaching context(s) [liturgical, ecclesial, social, cultural, economic, etc.] Exegetical work should emphasize interpreting texts within the whole biblical canon for proclaiming the gospel. (b) Write a 500-word assessment that reflects theologically on the sermon in light of the course objectives, the student’s vocational plans (in particular, if the anticipated context will include many Asian Americans) to serve the ministry of the Word, and the church’s calling to proclaim the gospel in all of life (20%). [This assignment is related to outcomes # 1, 4, 5, 6]. [25 hours].
  4. Attend and participate in class (19%). [This assignment is related to outcomes # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. [35 hours].
  5. Participation in class includes Discussion Groups on Canvas revolving around the four (4) required texts and one additional topic provided by the professor (7%). During the relevant weeks, each student will be required to submit an initial response to that week’s book or topic, and then make a minimum of two (2) responses to classmates’ initial submissions. [This assignment is related to outcomes # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. [10 hours of DLA].
  6. Preaching Autobiography. This writing assignment is due at the end of Week 1. Write an initial 900 word “preaching autobiography” that describes and reflects on: 1) your own experience of preaching - as a recipient and/or as a preacher, and (if applicable) as a participant in Asian American communities of faith; 2) your hopes and goals for the class; 3) your understanding of the ministry of the Word as a form of leadership that serves God’s mission (3%). [This assignment is related to outcome # 4] [4 hours of DLA].
  7. Final Reflection. Write a 1500 word final paper that reflects theologically on: (1) your work and experience during the class, including personal/professional goals for continued growth in the practice of preaching; (2) your vocational plans to serve God’s mission through the ministry of the Word, including theological reflection on the particular challenges, opportunities and characteristics of one’s anticipated ministry context(s); and (3) continued learning and formation appropriate for the ministry of the Word within and/or beyond congregational life (5%). [This assignment is related to outcome # 4, 5, 6]. [7 hours].

PREREQUISITES: PR500. It is recommended that students take preaching courses towards the end of their program.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the P1 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets the core requirement in Preaching and Communication (MIN2) in the 144 MDiv program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.