Winter 2020/Fuller Online

MB533

Ramirez-Johnson

MB533: SOCIAL ANALYSIS AND CONTEXTUALIZATION (4 Units: 160 hours). Johnny Ramirez-Johnson.


DESCRIPTION: A course on Social Analysis and Contextualization will teach you how to exegete the culture and context of a church plant to help develop churches that are relevant and transformative.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the end of the course students will demonstrate having further developed conceptual understandings and skills for engaging in: (1) in-depth analysis of a community’s cultural, social, economic, and spiritual identity in order to effectively contextualize and embody the gospel, leading to personal and social transformation (critical thinking); (2) exploration of a community’s cultural and ethnic diversity as an expression of the gospel as a boundary-crossing endeavor (ethical thinking); (3) using a creative and adaptive approach to foster new networks and methods for including non-traditional participants in evangelism (creative thinking).

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will teach students concepts and skills for understanding how their own cultural views interact, are different, and or the same facilitating and or negating the communication of the gospel in the specific context otherwise identified as the place for research and study as part of the class, which is consistent with MAICS PLO3 that states"Students will have demonstrated sensitivity to cultural and ethnic diversity for building relationships and for the communication of the Gospel,” MAT PLO4 that states “"Students will have demonstrated academic capacities appropriate to an area of focus in a theological discipline or to interdisciplinary theological study," MATM PLO2 that states “"Students will have demonstrated capacities for historically informed theological and ethical reflection," and MDiv PLO2 that states, “Students will have demonstrated capacities to engage diverse cultural contexts for transformational discipleship, mission, and ministry.”

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours, which is outlined below in the assignment and assessment section. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: 1,433 total number of pages required.

Branson, Mark Lau and Juan F. Martínez. Churches, Cultures and Leadership: A Practical Theology of Congregations and Ethnicities. InterVarsity Press Academic, 2011. ISBN: 978-0830839261, Pub. Price $30.0. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [244 pp.].

Flemming, Dean. Contextualization in the New Testament: Patterns for Theology and Mission. InterVarsity Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0830828319, Pub. Price $32.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [344 pp.].

Gornik, Mark R. To Live in Peace: Biblical Faith and the Changing Inner City. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2002. ISBN: 978-0802846853, Pub. Price $28.50. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [261 pp.].

Katongole, Emmanuel and Rice, Chris. Reconciling All Things: A Christian Vision for Justice, Peace and Healing. InterVarsity Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0830834518, Pub. Price $18.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [184 pp.].

Keller, Timothy. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City. Zondervan, 2012. ISBN: 9780310494188, Pub. Price $36.99 [400 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Weekly lessons (video lectures and PowerPoint presentations). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 & 2]. [20 hours].
  2. Weekly quizzes based on readings and lecture materials (15%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, & 3]. [6 hours]
  3. 250-word weekly posts (about weekly lessons, readings & project application) (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2 & 3]. [10 hours].
  4. 250-word weekly responses (about weekly lessons, readings & project application) (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2 & 3]. [10 hours].
  5. 1,433 pages of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2 & 3]. [83 hours].
  6. Class creative praxis project proposal (500 words) (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2 & 3]. [5 hours].
  7. Creative praxis project application as approved via proposal (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 & 2]. [10 hours].
  8. Creative praxis project report as approved via proposal (7-12 pages)(30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 & 2]. [16 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet requirement in the 80 MAICS (2017).

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.