DESCRIPTION:

This course explores the challenges of empowering the poor in a world marked by marginalization, disempowerment, abuse, and injustice. Poverty is explored from a number of perspectives, concluding with a biblical framework. Responses to poverty are then explored, including the goals of transformational development and the process and principles by which it is pursued. The focus is largely on development in the global South.

1. Able to articulate and critically apply a biblical and holistic understanding of poverty in broad Christian perspective.

2. Able to describe and critically assess some of the current theories of development.

3. Able to articulate and critically apply a biblical and holistic understanding of transformational development.

4. Introductory knowledge of development principles and practice.

Conducted online, the ten weekly lessons align with Fuller's academic calendar. The course involves reading, writing, research, and weekly interactive discussion with other students and the instructor.

1. Myers, Bryant. 2011. Walking with the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development. 2nd ed. Orbis, ISBN: 9781570759390. Publisher's Price $30.00.

2. Christian, Jayakumar. God of the Empty-Handed: Poverty, Power and the Kingdom of God. Victoria, Australia: Acorn Press, 2011. ISBN: 987132903. Publisher's Price AU$29.95.

3. Friedmann, John. Empowerment: The Politics of Alternative Development. Blackwell, 1992. ISBN: 9781557862990. Publisher's Price $41.95.

4. Centesimus Annus. Available at http://www.vatican.va/edocs/ENG0214/_INDEX.HTM.

5. Populorum Progressio. Available at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_26031967_populorum_en.html

6. Hiebert, Paul, et al. Understanding Folk Religion. Baker Books, 1999. (Chapters 1-4.) ISBN: 9780801022197. Publisher's Price $34.00.

7. Narayan, Deepa, et al. Voices of the Poor: Crying Out for Change. Oxford University Press, 2000. (Chapters 1-2.) ISBN: 9780195216028. Publisher's Price $15.00.

8. Sen, Amartya. Development as Freedom. Knopf 1999. (Introduction and chapters 1-4.) ISBN: 9780375406195. Publisher's price $17.00.

9. All articles in Course Reader.

Christian Community Development Association (USA): http://www.urbanministry.org/ccda
Center for Global Development (USA): http://www.cgdev.org
Institute for Development Studies (UK): http://www.ids.ac.uk
Institute for Sustainable Development (Canada): http://www.iisd.org
PovertyNet (World Bank): http://www.worldbank.org/poverty
INTRAC (UK): http://www.intrac.org

1. A written 4-5 page critical assessment paper using course materials and course reading covered in the first five weeks of the course.

2. Students, in groups of 4-6, will participate in weekly discussion forums. Additionally, each group will create wiki pages summarizing various organizations' understanding and approach to poverty and development.

3. A 12- to 15-page research paper on a topic related to the course, agreed to by the professor.