Fall 2020/Fuller Online

EV532

Ryan

EV532: RECOVERY MINISTRY AND OUTREACH IN THE LOCAL CHURCH. Dale S. Ryan.

DESCRIPTION: This course will examine the theological foundations of recovery ministry as well as the personal dynamics of recovery and practical considerations for developing recovery ministries in the local church.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: There are three objectives for this course. First, that students will be well-informed about the ways in which the dynamics of addiction are likely to influence local church ministry. Second, that students will understand the biblical, historical, and theological resources that might assist them to develop effective ministry to people struggling with addictions. And third, that students will be better able to envision and develop effective recovery ministries in a variety of settings.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will teach students concepts and skills for Evangelism, which is consistent with the SOT/SIS PLOs that state that, “Students will have demonstrated capacities to cultivate a theologically reflective practice of Christian discipleship.” (MDiv, MAT, MATM, MAICS), “Students will have demonstrated capacities to engage diverse cultural contexts for transformational discipleship, mission, and ministry,” and “Students will have demonstrated capacities for being theologically reflective practitioners for Christian 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. 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:

Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. AA World Services, 2002. Available free at http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/ or order ISBN: 978-1893007161, Pub. Price $13.95 (paperback) 2.99 (Kindle) [first 164 pp. assigned]. Not available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

May, Gerald. Addiction and Grace: Love and Spirituality in the Healing of Addictions. Harper & Row, 2007. ISBN: 978-0061122439, Pub. Price $12.29 [208 pp.]. Not available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

Nowinski, Joseph. If You Work It, It Works!: The Science Behind 12 Step Recovery. Hazelden, 2015. ISBN-13: 978-1616495718. Pub. Price 12.97 (paperback) 9.99 (kindle). [240 pp] Not available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

Ryan, Dale and Juanita Ryan. A Spiritual Kindergarten: Christian Perspectives On The Twelve Steps CreateSpace, 2008. ISBN-13: 978-1440444814 Pub. Price 12.95 [112 pp]

and ONE of the following memoirs:

Bullitt-Jones, Margaret. Holy Hunger: A Woman's Journey from Food Addiction to Spiritual Fulfillment. Vintage Books, 2000. ISBN: 978-0375700873, Pub. Price $16.00 [272 pp.].Not available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

Lamott, Anne. Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith. Anchor Books, 2000. ISBN: 978-0385496094, Pub. Price $16.00 [275 pp.] Not available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

Kopp, Heather. Sober Mercies: How Love Caught Up with a Christian Drunk. Jericho Books, 2013. ISBN: 978-1455527748, Pub. Price $19.99 [224 pp.] Not available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

RECOMMENDED READING will be listed in the course syllabus.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Introduction Assignment : 500 words or 5 min of video. [4% of grade] [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3] [2 hours].
2. View weekly online presentations and discuss them in the forums. Minimum expectation is to post one 250-word weekly post starting a new thread and one 250-word weekly reply to an existing thread [36% of grade] [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, & 3] [45 hours].
3. Interview Assignment. Write a 1,000 word (roughly 4 page) summary of an interview with a person in recovery about their spiritual journey [10% of grade] [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [4 hours].
4. Reading Assignment. Read all required texts plus additional reading for a total of 1,200 pages. Submit a reading log showing each book/article read [10% of grade] [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1,2 and 3]. [80 hours].
5. Visit an open AA meeting or other twelve step fellowship and write a 250 word reflection on the experience. Options will be discussed in class. [10% of grade] [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3] [4 hours].

6. Research/Ministry Design Project. Submit a 2,500 word paper which either (a) develops a proposal for a new church start-up optimized to be responsive to the needs of the person you interviewed in assignment #3 or (b) explores a theological issue related to recovery (30% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, & 3] [25 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective. Required for MATM in Recovery Ministry and required for MDiv with a concentration in Recovery Ministry.

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.