Winter 2020/Fuller Online

Branson

PM514: MISSIONAL CHURCHES AND LEADERSHIP (4 Units: 160 Hours). Mark Lau Branson.

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DESCRIPTION: This is a practical theology course that engages biblical, theological, and practical matters in ecclesiology and leadership. The work of lay and clergy leadership is explored in regard to fostering an environment in which all participants are to be formed into an interpretive community that is engaged with God personally and corporately in congregation formation, spiritual formation, and missional formation. Working from a praxis-theory-praxis perspective, the course will attend to topics as they are integrated in a practical theology methodology with an emphasis on missio Dei.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) articulate an understanding of missional ecclesiology for the student’s anticipated ministry context; (2) articulate an understanding of the tasks of congregational leadership; (3) apply course frameworks for ecclesiology, contexts, and leadership to exercises regarding specific cases; and (4) articulate reflectively concerning one’s own gifts and calling in relationship to course frameworks for ecclesiology, contexts, and leadership.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: Addresses MDiv PLO4, MATM/MAT PLO2, “Students will have demonstrated capacities for historically informed theological and ethical reflection.”

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. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions (text and video), reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: 1000 pp. required. (980pp listed below; items will be added on Canvas)

Branson, Mark Lau, and Juan F. Martinez. Churches, Cultures and Leadership: A Practical Theology of Congregations and Ethnicities. IVP Academic, 2011. ISBN: 978-0830839261, Pub. Price $27.00. Available as an e-book from Fuller Library [233 pp. assigned].

Branson, Mark Lau, and Nicholas Warnes. Starting Missional Churches: Life with God in the Neighborhood. InterVarsity, 2014. ISBN: 978-0830841165, Pub. Price $20.00. Available as an e-book from Fuller Library [185 pp. assigned].

Roxburgh, Alan. Missional: Joining God in the Neighborhood. Baker, 2011. ISBN: 978-0801072314, Pub. Price $16.99. Available as an e-book from Fuller Library [180 pp. assigned].

Wimberly, Anne Streaty. Soul Stories: African American Christian Education. Rev. ed. Abingdon, 2005. ISBN: 978-0687494323, Pub. Price $22.99 [167 pp.].

Theology and Leadership Articles/Chapters on Canvas (some items will be added as the term progresses):

Argyris, C. “Teaching Smart People How to Learn” Harvard Business Review, 1991 [16 pp.].

Branson, Mark Lau. “Forming Church, Forming Mission,” International Review of Mission, 2003 [11 pp.]

Branson, Mark Lau & Alan Roxburgh. Theology of Leadership: Attending to God’s Agency. Unpublished manuscript, 2019. [58 pages assigned]

Heifetz, Ronald “The Work of Leadership” HBR, 2001 [16 pp.].

Lee, Byungohk. Listening to the Neighbor. Pickwick, 2015. ISBN-13:978-1498219464, Pub. Price $46.00; pp 1-16.

Sedmak, Clemens. Doing Local Theology. Orbis, 2003. ISBN: 978-1570754524, Pub. Price $26.00; pp. 1-42.

Senge, Peter, “The Leader’s New Work,” Sloan Management Review, 1990 [17 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 1000 pp. of required reading; weekly video lectures/presentations (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-4] [85 hours].
2. Weekly group video meetings—synchronous, with groups arranging times (DLAs) (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-4] [10 hours].
3. Weekly hour in activities in your geographic/relational context, per details in syllabus/Canvas (10%). [10 hours].
4. Web text-based discussions (DLAs) of 200-300 words with responses of 50 words (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-4] [10 hours]
5. Reflective essay (750 words): Autobiographical reflections on Christian life, church involvement, and leadership (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4] [5 hours].
6. Reflective essay (750 words): your leadership capacities in light of class, midway through class (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2, 4]. [5 hours].
7. Practical Theology Case Study & Online Presentation, per Canvas (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3]. [10 hours].
8. Write a 2,000 word term paper, per syllabus/Canvas, that integrates issues of ecclesiology, missiology, context, and leader­ship; demonstrating a practical theology method; includes the student’s reflection on progress concerning course goals (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 4]. [25 hours].

PREREQUISITES: This course assumes significant prior studies. It is highly recommended that students take PM514 during or after Field Ed, or toward the end of a masters program. It is also highly recommended that students have completed IS500, IS501, IS502, and IS503.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the LDR requirement for the 120 MDiv Program. Meets 144 MDiv core requirement MIN6 or the requirement in Ministry Foundations (MIN F) for other master’s degrees.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.