DESCRIPTION:

This course serves as a broad introduction to the church in historical and contemporary contexts. Students will explore a broad variety of ecclesiological formations, exploring the nature of churches, their liturgies, communal life, and their mission in the world. In this course, students will begin to compare and contrast historical and contemporary churches with their own particular tradition.

1. examine the global church through the study of local churches in their particular historical and cultural contexts;

2. cite their own relationship to churches outside their ecclesiastical tradition, examining their own assumptions in the process;

3. develop an understanding of the nature and mission of the church both theologically and sociologically.

This online class will require students to be on the Moodle class site at least three hours a week. Learning activities will include class readings, writing assignments, videos, small group online discussions, and other interactive activities.

Bosch, David. Misión en transformación: Cambios paradigmáticos en la teología de la misión. Libros Desafío, 1998. ISBN: 1-55883-404-4. Pub. Pr. $36.00.

Davey, Andres. Cristianismo urbano y globalización. Recursos teológicos para un futuro urbano. Sal Terrae, 2003. ISBN: 84-293-1497-0. Pub. Pr. $22.95

Driver, Juan. Imágenes de una iglesia en misión: Hacia una eclesiología transformadora. Ediciones Clara-Semilla, 1998. ISBN: 99922-43-04-X, Pub. Pr. $18.00.

Gibbs, Eddie. La iglesia del futuro. Editorial Peniel, 2005. ISBN: 987-557-058-3. Pub. Pr. $9.99.

Padilla, C. René, ed. Ser, hacer, decir: Bases bíblicas de la misión integral. Ediciones Kairós, 2006. ISBN: 987-9403-87-8. Pub. Pr. $29.00.

Padilla, C. René & Yamamori, Tetsunao. La iglesia local como agente de transformación. Ediciones Kairós, 2003. ISBN: 987-9403-53-3. Pub. Pr. $18.00.

Class Reader.

1. Map the religious landscape of their community. (15%)

2. Visit a church of another race/ethnic tradition and write a paper analyzing this community (15%).

3. Reports on all required reading (15%).

4. Weekly interactions on Moodle on various class themes related to ecclesiology and mission (20%).

5. Final research paper (2500 words) on the church in a specific global context (35%).