Summer 2020/Fuller Online

YF504

Coates-Smith

YF504: INTRODUCTION TO FAMILY MINISTRY (4 Units: 160 hours). Mindy Coates-Smith.

DESCRIPTION: This course presents an analysis of the current understanding and “modes” of “family ministry” over against a theological, sociological, and developmental understanding of contemporary culture. Various models of family ministry will be examined, and through the use of case studies, lectures, and research, students will learn how to create a family ministry program and/or strategy that best suits the needs and vision of a given church or ministry organization.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will be able to (1) integrate a comprehensive theological definition of nuclear family and the church as a “family of families” to define “family ministry”; (2) critically reflect on gender, race, ethnicity, class, and ability diversity in the community of faith; (3) examine and appraise factors that influence self-proclaimed “Christians” to either withdraw from regular church attendance or to remain deeply involved and invested; and (4) create a program and/or strategy that promotes theologically and contextually sound ministry to individuals, marriages and families so as to strengthen the local household of God in the service of corporate missional living.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: Addresses the MDiv PLO that states “Students will have demonstrated capacities to engage diverse cultural contexts for transformational discipleship, mission, and ministry.” Addresses the MATM/MAT PLOs that state “Students will have demonstrated capacities for historically informed theological and ethical reflection.” Addresses MAICS Area of Interest Class “Students will have demonstrated capacities to pursue vocations that engage the mission of God globally.”

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.

Cleveland, Christena.Disunity in Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces that Keep us Apart. IVP, 2013. ISBN: 978-0830844036, Pub. Price $17.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [220 pp.].

Evans, Rachel Held. Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church. Thomas Nelson, 2015. ISBN: 978-0718022129, Pub. Price $16.99 [288 pp.].

Garland, Diana. Family Ministry: A Comprehensive Guide. 2nd ed. InterVarsity Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0830839711, Pub. Price $60.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [256 of 656 pp. required].

Gladd, Benjamin L. and Matthew S. Harmon. Making All Things New. Baker Academic, 2016, ISBN: 978-0801049606, Pub. Price: $25.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [224 pp].

McKnight, Scot. Kingdom Conspiracy: Returning to the Radical Mission of the Local Church. Brazos Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-1587433603, Pub. Price $24.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [304 pp.].

Rah, Soong-Chan. Many Colors: Cultural Intelligence for a Changing Church. Moody, 2010. ISBN: 978-0802450487, Pub. Price $14.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [108 of 208 pp. required].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 1,420 pages of required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3, and 4]. [85 hours].
  2. Weekly instruction including video lectures and Power Point presentations, among other class activities. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3, and 4]. [20 hours].
  3. 250-word weekly forum posts (10% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2 and 3]. [10 hours].
  4. 250-word weekly forum responses (10% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2 and 3]. [10 hours].
  5. Each student will complete a critical reflection paper (1,000-1,500 words) on their historical experience with diversity in a faith community setting as well as an examination of their own potential for cultural and diversity bias. (20% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and 2]. [7 hours].
  6. Reflection paper (2-3 pp.) on Searching for Sunday and Kingdom Conspiracy (10% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3, and 4]. [5 hours].
  7. Context exam on lectures and selected passages of Family Ministry (20% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3, and 4]. [8 hours].
  8. Design a “family ministry” program and/or strategy, including but not limited to every issue covered by the lectures and the majority of those covered by the texts, including a section reflecting a strategic response (10-15 pages) to potentially divisive biases in a faith community. (30% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3, and 4]. [15 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the C5 requirement in the 120 MDiv and 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2015). Meets the MIN 1 or MIN 4 requirement 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. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.