Spring 2015/Fuller Online

IS502

Gorrell

 

IS502: PRACTICE OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY (4 Units: 163 hours). Angela Gorrell.

 

DESCRIPTION: This is an integrative course that explores the identity and practices of Christian community as a people called, gathered, and sent by God. Together, professor and students study and enact historic Christian disciplines necessitated by this distinctive identity (e.g., hospitality, prayer, promise-keeping, Scripture reading, reconciliation, and testimony).

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) Students will reflect on their current and past experiences of Christian practices of community; (2) Students will demonstrate the capacity to engage Scripture, tradition, and other resources to reflect theologically on the historic practices of Christian community in particular contexts; (3) Students will demonstrate the capacity to embody specific practices of Christian community within their socio-historical context; (4) Students will articulate biblical and theological understanding of the community of God as a people called, gathered, and sent by God.

 

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: 1,100 pp. of required reading.

Pohl, Christine. Living into Community: Cultivating Practices That Sustain Us. Eerdmans, 2011. ISBN: 978-0802849854, Pub. Price $20.00 [178 pp. assigned].

Lohfink, Gerhard. Jesus and Community. Fortress, 1984. ISBN: 978-0800618025, Pub. Price $29.00 [187 pp. assigned].

Smith, C. Christopher & John Pattison. Slow Church. InterVarsity, 2014. ISBN: 978-0830841141, Pub. Price $16.00 [226 pp. assigned].

Branson, Mark Lau and Juan Martínez, Churches, Cultures and Leadership. InterVarsity, 2011. ISBN: 978-0830839261, Pub. Price $25.00 [pp. 11-28 and 33-57 and 78-94 and 232-244 assigned].

 

CORE PRACTICES:

  1. Christian Education / Formation

Smith, James K.A. ”Introduction: Beyond Perspectives” and “Homo Liturgicus: The Human Person as Lover,” in Desiring the Kingdom. Baker, 2009. ISBN: 978-0801035777, Pub. Price $22.99 [pp. 17-35 and 37-73].

  1. Hospitality/Inclusion

Conde-Fraser, Elizabeth. “From Hospitality to Shalom” in A Many Colored Kingdom. Baker, 2004. ISBN: 978-0801027437, Pub. Price $24.00 [pp. 167-210].

Wimberly, Anne-Streaty. “Called to Listen: The Imperative Vocation of Listening in Twenty-First Century Faith Communities.” International Review of Mission LXXXVII, No. 346: 331-341.

  1. Discernment

Bedford, Nancy. “Little Moves Against Destructiveness,” in Practicing Theology by Miroslav Volf and Dorothy Bass. Eerdmans, 2001. ISBN: 978-0802849311, Pub. Price $22.00 [pp. 157-183].

  1. Testimony/Story-telling

Various blog postings by several authors with testimonies and stories related to community and practices, especially forgiveness, reconciliation, discernment, and gratitude. [approx. 15 pgs.]

5. Forgiveness/Reconciliation

Volf, Miroslav. “How Can We Forgive,” in Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a World Stripped of Grace. Zondervan, 2005. ISBN: 978-0310265740, Pub. Price $12.99 [pp. 193-224].

6. Accountability/Truth-telling

8. Promise-keeping

9. Gratitude

 

Required Articles:

Greene-McCreight, Kathryn. “Darkness” in Darkness is my Only Companion: A Christian Response to Mental Illness. Brazos Press, 2006 [pp. 19-35 assigned].

Olds, Jacqueline and Richard Schwartz, “The Elephant in the Room,” in The Lonely American: Drifting Apart in the Twenty-first Century. Beacon Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0807000359, Pub. Price $19.00 [pp. 1-12 assigned].

Roxburgh, Alan. “Practices of a Missional People,” in Journal of Missional Practice Fall 2013 (online http://themissionalnetwork.com/index.php/alan-j-roxburgh [10 pp. assigned].

Yoder, John Howard. “The Fullness of Christ” in Body Politics. Discipleship Resources, 1992. ISBN: 978-0836191608, Pub. Price $14.99 [pp. 47-60 assigned].

Biblical Texts: Exodus [55 pp.] and Matthew [50 pp.].

 

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Read assigned 1,100 pp. and view posted videos as scheduled; complete report sheet (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 & #4] [72 hours].

  2. Participation in interactive course activities and weekly lessons for class online experience: such as introduction, choice polls, Instructor’s presentations, and sharing of testimony (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 & #4] [20 hours].

  3. Eight short (250 words), regular written reflections on course readings, videos, and scripture in light of Learning Outcomes in Moodle forums and limited substantive engagement with the posts of other students (250 words weekly) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 & #4] [10 hours].

  4. Participate weekly (8 out of 10 weeks) in the life of a congregation as a participant-observer; conduct two interviews with individuals/families to hear their stories; reflect on practices from an integrative perspective, participate in your small group discussions about your churches and their practices; write a summary paper on your research and reflections (2,500-3,000 words) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 & #3] [35 hours].

  5. Four reflection papers, 500-750 words each, integrating course learning and reading with past and current experiences of Christian community with specific attention to practices, including what the student believes about the roots and consequences of those practices. Students will also integrate the Central Integration Question ("At this point in your Christian journey, how do you envision your calling to God's mission in the world?") and Branson PT cycle into each reflection (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2 & 4] [21 hours].

  6. Online Presentation: personal sharing/distribution of information with regard to the practice you choose to explore. Each student will pick one week/practice to share perspective and thoughts regarding the practice with peers through blogging, Storify, pictures, video, Prezi, and/or any other creative means approved by the course Instructor (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 & 3] [5 hours].

 

PREREQUISITES: None. Recommended in first year of study.

 

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets a core integrative requirement in the 120 MDiv Program.

 

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.