Spring 2019/Pasadena

ET551

Dufault-Hunter

ET551: THE ETHICS OF DIVERSITY IN UNITY (4 Units: 160 hours). Erin Dufault-Hunter.

DESCRIPTION: In Romans, Paul exhorts us to "present our bodies [plural] as a living sacrifice [singular]….” As individual humans, eachbody remains distinct from another’s multiple ways such as mental and physical ability, talents and weaknesses, or age. In addition, people identify by traits that can unite us to one another but can threaten unity amidst diversity, such as race, ethnicity, gender, ability, and socioeconomic class. Drawing from sociological, biblical, and historical sources, this course first seeks to comprehend these differences and interpret them theologically. Finally, we will articulate an ethic of diversity that does not mirror secular visions of multiculturalism, relativism, isolationism, nor assimilationism, but rather one that aims at the building up each member of Christ’s diverse body for shared work and faithful witness.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated the ability to (1) critically reflect on gender, race, ethnicity, class, and ability diversity for transformational discipleship, mission, and ministry; (2) articulate the biblical-theological basis of Christian moral convictions for ethical decision-making in ecclesial and public ethics regarding diversity; and (3) develop a theological ethic of human diversity that distinguishes modes of secular relativism or ethnocentrism from a Christian approach to diversity in unity.

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.

REQUIRED READING: 1,250 total pp. required/3 hours viewing.

“13th” Documentary released October, 2016. Available via Netflix.

Duncan, Cynthia M. Worlds Apart: Why Poverty Persists in Rural America. Yale University Press, 2014 (2nd edition; cannot use older edition). ISBN: 9780300210514. Pub price: $25.00. Available as an e-book through Fuller library [100 pages assigned].

Fields, Barbara and Karen Fields. Racecraft: the soul of inequality in American life. Verso, 2012. ISBN: 9781844679959, Pub. Price $18.95. Available as an e-book through Fuller library [150 pages assigned].

ONE of the following:

Cleveland, Christena. Disunity in the Body of Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces that Keep us Apart. IVP, 2013. ISBN: 9780830844036, Pub. Price $17.00 Available as an e-book through Fuller library [220 pp.].

Steele, Claude. Whistling Vivaldi and other clues for how stereotypes affect us and what we can do. Norton, 2010. ISBN: 9780393339727. Pub. Price $15.95. [256 pp.].

ONE of the following:

Swinton, John. Becoming Friends with Time: Disability, Timefulness, and Gentle Discipleship. Baylor University Press, 2016. ISBN:9781481304085, Pub. Price $29.95. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [255 pages].

Swinton, John. Dementia: Living in the Memories of God. Eerdmans, 2012. ISBN: 9780802867162. Pub. Price $25.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [250 pages assigned].

Sechrest, Love et al. Can ‘White’ People be Saved? Triangulating race, theology, and mission. IVP, 2018. ISBN: 9780830873753. Pub. Price $30.00. Available as an e-book through library database. [100 pages assigned].

eReserves (accessed via course Canvas page): includes excerpts, videos, and articles from Delores Williams, Robin DiAngelo, Mark Yarhouse, Miroslav Volf, Charles Taylor, Helen Lee, Julie Park, Sarah Coakley, Linda Woodhead, and Jonathan Tran [approx. 300 pp.].

Mandatory viewing for course also includes several short videos (total viewing approximately 6 hours).

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 1,250 pages of required reading and 3 hours of viewing. [72 hours].
  2. Attendance and participation (latter includes doing reading/viewing for the course); cannot pass course unless 75% of assigned reading/viewing completed (10%). [40 hours].
  3. Blog posts (approximately 100-120 words each week). Critical summarizes and engagements with the course reading/viewing (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and 2]. [10 hours].
  4. Two 800-1000 word reflections on your life and learning to be shared in small groups [10 hours] (25%). Note: Students may discuss options here for creative or artistic responses. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and 2]. [8 hours].
  5. 2,000-2,500 word final paper comparing two approaches to an aspect of diversity, one of which must be a theologically-informed perspective. You must articulate how your Christian convictions shape your vision and practices, noting overlap and/or divergence from these other approaches. Paper must derive implications for implementation in your local congregation both internally (i.e., how this impacts your community’s patterns or habits) and externally (i.e., how this shapes your congregation’s mission and witness within the larger socio-cultural context). (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [30 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH5 or C5 requirement in the 120 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. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.