Winter 2014/Fuller Online

ME506

King

ME506: Communicating the Gospel Cross-Culturally. Roberta R. King.

DESCRIPTION: In an age of ever-increasing globalization and diversity, both worldwide and within local contexts, communicating the Gospel functions within a complex of multi-dimensional issues. Thus, effectively creating understanding of the Christian message in witness, worship, spiritual formation, and church planting requires learning how human beings communicate. This course provides the student with a study of the principles and processes of communicating within both local contexts and across cultures. It focuses particularly on the communication of the Gospel and its wider implications for the church in mission and is develops a theology based on the relevance of the Incarnation as God’s model for intercultural communication.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) gain insights in the historical development of intercultural communication and its relevance for mission and the manifold ministries of the Church, (2) develop a working knowledge of principles and procedures of communicating from one culture to another and within multi-cultural contexts; (3) gain an in-depth understanding of God’s model of communication and its implications for effective communication today; (4) become familiar with foundational concepts and skills underlying the effective introduction of change within both global and local societies; and (4) acquire an ability to successfully analyze and apply these insights to communicating the Gospel that fosters cultural competency and expertise.

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar. 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: If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.

Gudykunst, William B. Bridging Differences: Effective Intergroup Communication. 4th ed. Sage, 2004. ISBN: 978-0761929376, Pub. Price $83.00 [448 pp.].

Kraft, Charles H. Communication Theory for Christian Witness. Rev. ed. Orbis, 1991. ISBN: 978-0883447635, Pub. Price $26.00 [180 pp.].

Moreau, Scott, Evvy, Campbell and Susan Greener, Introducing Intercultural Communication. 2013. Unpublished manuscript used with author’s permission. Available in E-Reserves, [398 pp.].

Samovar, Larry A., Richard E. Porter, and Edwin R. McDaniel. Intercultural Communication: A Reader. 13th ed. Cengage Learning, 2012. ISBN: 978-0495898313, Pub. Price $189.95, [528 pp.].

Smith, Donald H. Creating Understanding: A Handbook for Christian Communication across Cultural Landscapes. Zondervan, 1992. ISBN: 978-0310531210, Pub. Price $24.95 [358 pp.]. ***OUT OF PRINT.

Choose ONE of the following;

Chandler, Paul-Gordon. Pilgrims of Christ on the Muslim Road: Exploring a New Path between Two Faiths. Cowley Publications, 2008. ISBN 978-0742566033, Pub. Price $17.95 [224 pp.].

Madeiras, Carl. Muslims, Christians, and Jesus: Gaining Understanding and Building Relationships. Bethany House, 2008. ISBN: 978-0310890867, Pub. Price $9.99 [96 pp.].

Young, William P. The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity. Hodder & Stoughton, 2008. ISBN: 978-1609414115, Pub. Price $8.00 [304 pp.].

Choose ONE of the following:

Finnegan, Ruth. Communicating: The Multiple Modes of Human Interconnection. Routledge, 2002. ISBN: 978-0415241182, Pub. Price $48.95 [336 pp.].

Howley, Kevin. Understanding Community Media. Sage, 2010. ISBN: 978-1412959056, Pub. Price $61.00 [424 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Weekly Class sessions review presented by Dr. King with one required uploaded response (10%).

2. God, the Church and My Communication Style Group Poster Session: presents a Biblical theology of communication that discusses God’s Model for Communication (10%).

3. Five proposition interaction papers (250 words each) with specific application/stories from ministry: 1 post and 2 responses (20%).

4. Five forum discussions: 1 post and 2 responses (20%).

5. An Intercultural Communication Case Study composed of 1) an individual cross-cultural participant-observation of an event (10%) and 2) an assigned online group project that develops and presents a comparative analysis of contrasting observations with suggestions for effectively communicating the Gospel. Assignment is developed via a wiki-website (10%).

6. A 750-1,000-word analysis of a written ministry report for its relevance to a specific cultural context (10%).

7. A 1,500-2,500-word Comparative Literature Review of Case-Study Research Context (10%); ThM Students: a 5,000-word paper (10%).

PREREQUISITES: None, although three years of cross-cultural ministry experience or ME500 is beneficial.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets core competency for MA Intercultural Studies program (ISCC). Foundational course for concentration or certificate in Global Christian Worship.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.