Spring 2015/Fuller Online

IS502

Gutenson

 

IS502: PRACTICE OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY (4 Units: 160 hours). Charles Gutenson.

 

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 (including 10 hours of participation in vocation and formation groups). Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through weekly YouTube mini-lectures, online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

 

REQUIRED READING: 1,000 pp. of required reading.

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

B. Van Gelder, Craig. The Essence of the Church. Baker, 2000. ISBN: 978-0801090967, Pub. Price $22.00 [173 pp. assigned].

C. Wright, Christopher. The Mission of God. InterVarsity, 2006. ISBN: 978-0830825714, Pub. Price $40.00 [101 pp. assigned].

 

D. CORE PRACTICES

 

1. Christian Education / Formation

 

Everist, Norma Cook. “A Community of Teachers & Learners” and “Creating Different Learning Environments to be Different Together,” in The Church as Learning Community. Abingdon, 2002. ISBN: 978-0687045006, Pub. Price $31.00 [pp. 21-101].

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].

 

2. 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.

Priest, Robert and Alvaro Nieves. This Side of Heaven. Oxford University Press, 2007. ISBN: 987-0195310573, Pub. Price $35.00 [77 pp. assigned].

Reading includes the following chapters:

Paris, Jenell. “Race: Critical Thinking and Transformative Possibilities.” 19-31.

Meneses, Eloise Hiebert. “Science and the Myth of Biological Race.” 33-45.

Jindra, Michael. “Culture Matters: Diversity in the United States and Its Implications.”  63-76.

Tienou, Tite. “The Samaritans: A Biblical-Theological Mirror for Understanding Racial, Ethnic, and Religious Identity? 211-221.

Kang, S. Steve. “The Bible and the Community of Saints: A Churchly Plural Reading of Scripture.” 223-238.

Cha, Peter. “Constructing New Intergenerational Ties, Cultures, and Identities among Korean American Christians: A Congregational Case Study.” 259-274.

 

E. REQUIRED CORE PRACTICES:

 

Testimony/Story-telling:

Either Daniel, Lillian. Tell It Like It Is: Reclaiming the Practice of Testimony. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2005. ISBN: 978-1566993180, Pub. Price $17.00 [selections] or comparable readings.

 

Forgiveness/Reconciliation: This reading connects practices regarding human sins, social and ethical brokenness with practices that lead to forgiveness and 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].

 

Required Articles:

Branson, Mark Lau and Juan Martínez, “Sociocultural Structures, Ethnicity, and Churches” and “Practices for the Calling,” in Churches, Cultures and Leadership. InterVarsity, 2011. ISBN: 978-0830839261, Pub. Price $25.00 [pp. 78-94 and 232-244 assigned].

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. 61-70 assigned].

Biblical Texts: Deuteronomy [50 pp.], Matthew [50 pp.].

 

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Read assigned 1,000 pp. and view posted videos and YouTube mini-lectures as scheduled; complete report sheet (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 & #4] [78 hours].

  2. A descriptive autobiographical essay (1,000-1,200 words) on experiences of Christian community, with specific attention to practices, including what the student believes about the roots and consequences of those practices (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1] [4 hours].

  3. Two weekly posts (125-250 words) reflection on assigned reading and one weekly response to a classmate’s post (150-250 words) based on discussion questions posted by the professor. (25%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 2 & 4] [30 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 (2,200-2,500 words) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 & #3] [35 hours].

  5. In a class small group, engage scripture reading and other practices (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [8 hours].

  6. Revise your response to the Central Integration Question ("At this point in your Christian journey, how do you envision your calling to God's mission in the world?") integrate your experiences, readings, lectures and reflection on Christian community. Discuss and revise, if necessary based on feedback from your small group (1,000 – 1,200 words) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 & #4] [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.