DESCRIPTION:

Beyond liberating the laity to fulfill their ministry in the church and the world lies the challenge of empowering them for their tasks. This involves life-transforming growth in understanding, as well as church and world transforming depth of discipleship. The course will explore ways in which we can assist ordinary members of a congregation to equip themselves in key areas of the Christian life, viz. appropriating their Christian heritage, building community in the church, and understanding ministry in the workplace. In the process we will pursue a spirituality of Christian education that will most effectively empower the people of God for ministry.

Participation in the course will help you:

1. understand the challenge assisting ordinary Christians to equip each other through the church;

2. experience several ways in the class of actually equipping each other for ministry;

3. provide opportunity for testing the value of these ways of equipping ordinary Christians.

A mixture of presentations and discussion, guest speakers and small groups, action-reflection and field experience.

Banks, R. Redeeming the Routines: Bringing Theology to Life. Victor, 1993.

Banks, R. and J. The Church Comes Home: A New Basis for Community and Mission. Albatross, 1989.

Crabtree, D. F. The Empowering Church: How One Congregation Supports Lay People's Ministries in the World. Alban Institute, 1992.

Diehl, W. Ministry in Daily Life: A Practical Guide for Congregations. Alban Institute, 1996.

Palmer, P. J. To Know As We Are Known: A Spirituality of Education. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1983.

Students will also be expected to consult at least one set of resource material per week available to the class in the CFD Learning Center, 465 Ford Place.

1. Two-page reviews of three of the books set for required reading, focusing on how these affected your understanding of Christian formation and discipleship in the congregation.

2. Involvement during the class in demonstrating one of the ways in which people can be equipped for ministry, your reflections on this exercise to be written in a three to four page report.

3. Design of a twelve page manual for lay groups, one section of which has been tested out in a congregational, para-church, or small group setting, on any one of the areas considered in the course.

None.

Meets M. Div. core requirement in Christian Formation and Discipleship (MIN 4);
meets requirement for Ministry of the Laity Concentration of M.A.C.L.

None.