Winter 2015/Fuller Online

MP520

Thacker

MP520: TRANSFORMING CONTEMPORARY CULTURES (4 Units: 160 Hours). Kimberly Thacker.

DESCRIPTION:This course will explore Christian understanding of and engagement with the cultures, which surround us, with focus on postmodernism, media, globalization, consumerism, and ethnic and other subcultures. We will discuss a biblical basis and different theological approaches to Christian interaction with culture and the role of the church in its cultural context. Major topics include: missional theology, transforming culture as part of the reign of God, attention to the poor and oppressed, contextualizing the gospel, and practical application for church ministry.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated: (1) increased understanding of God’s mission in the world and our participation in the reign of God; (2) greater appreciation for different worldviews; (3) growth in cross-cultural sensitivity and the ability to analyze, learn from, and dialogue with different cultures; (4) increased skills for contextualizing the gospel; and (5) theological and practical social and missional concern in their particular ministry contexts.

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.

REQUIRED READING: (1,500 pages total, some books will be read only in part).

Bolger, Ryan. The Gospel After Christendom. Baker, 2012. ISBN: 978-0801039430, Pub. Price $30.00 [175 pp. assigned].

Crouch, Andy. Culture Making. InterVarsity, 2008. ISBN: 978-0830833948, Pub. Price $25.00 [268 pp.].

Goudzwaard, Bob et al. Hope in Troubled Times. Baker, 2007. ISBN: 978-0801032486, Pub. Price $22.00 [125 pp. assigned].

Kreider, Alan and Eleanor Kreider. Worship and Mission After Christendom. Herald Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0836195545, Pub. Price $20.00 [257 pp.].

Ramachandra, Vinoth. Subverting Global Myths. InterVarsity, 2008. ISBN: 978-0830828852, Pub. Price $23.00 [261 pp.].

Woodward, JR. Creating A Missional Culture. InterVarsity, 2012. ISBN: 978-0830836536, Pub. Price $16.00 [223 pp.].

Further reading from articles distributed in class will fulfill required reading for diversity [appx. 200 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING: Recommended reading included in syllabus.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Instruction hours through outlines, PowerPoint presentations, and video material [20 hours; instructional hours also include weekly connecting discussions and personal weekly interaction with professor in journals, both discussed later].

  2. Weekly posts (200-300 words) and responses to classmates’ posts (totaling 200-400 words) in weekly connecting discussions reflecting, critiquing, and applying reading and other course material (25%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5] [3 hours/week = 30 hours].

  3. Posts (100-200 words) and responses to classmates’ posts (totaling 100-150 words) in forums sharing websites, cultural examples, and other material (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 3, 5] [1 hour assigned 5 weeks out of 10 = 5 hours].

  4. Read required texts and articles and complete a reading log with brief critiques of reading material (10% plus reflected in assessment of connecting discussions and journal assignments) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5] [approx. 1,500 pp. of reading, 7 hours/week= 70 hours].

  5. Weekly journal assignments (initial entries and responses to professor’s comments on alternating weeks) reflecting, critiquing, and applying reading and other course material (200-300 words). (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1, 3, 5] [1 hour/week= 10 hours].

  6. Write two short papers (800-1,000 words) due during the course of the class; one exploring a cultural worldview other than your own and the second reflecting on missional service possibilities in your church or ministry context (10% ea. – 20%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 2, 3 (paper 1) and # 1, 5 (paper 2)] [10 hours].

  7. Write one major paper (1,800-2,000 words) due at the end the course applying required course reading and content to a specific area of cultural engagement in your ministry context. (25%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1, 4, 5] [15 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the C2 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets 144 MDiv core requirement in Missions (MIN 8). Meets culture requirement for the (new SOT) MA (CULT). Option to count in the Church in Contemporary Culture emphasis.

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.

For your convenience, order these texts online through the Archives Bookshop.