Summer 2015/Fuller Online

IS503

Herppich

IS503: PRACTICE OF MISSION (4 Units: 160 hours). Birgit Herppich.

DESCRIPTION: This is one of the three foundational practice courses. In this course students will be challenged to rethink the meaning of God’s mission and the Church’s practice of mission in light of their own experiences of mission. The overall concern is to understand God’s mission biblically, theologically, and practically considered.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, (1) students will describe theological perspectives on the missio Dei including the topics of ecclesiology, Trinity, and Christology; (2) students will demonstrate a Practical Theology approach to mission and evangelism including actual contextual engagement. In doing this, they will demonstrate the use of the basic disciplines of missiology, and (3) students will participate as reflective practitioners in embodied practices of mission in their personal lives and in small group activities. 

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 8 hours of participation in formation/Bible study groups focusing on the meaning of the Gospel in Luke and Philippians). 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: 1,200 pages of required reading.

Newbigin, J.E. Lesslie. The Gospel in a Pluralist Society. Eerdmans, 1989. ISBN: 978-0802804266, Pub. Price $25.00 [166 pp. assigned].

Sanneh, Lamin. Disciples of All Nations, Pillars of World Christianity. Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0195189612, Pub. Price $19.95 [320 pp. assigned].

Sunquist, Scott W., Understanding Christian Mission: Participation in Suffering and Glory. Baker Academic, 2013. ISBN: 978-0801036156, Pub. Price, $34.99 [411 pp. assigned].

Documents of the Lausanne Movement http://www.lausanne.org/en/documents/all.htmlThe Lausanne Covenant [5 pp.], The Manila Manifesto [11 pp.], and The Cape Town Commitment [38 pp.] [54 pp. total].

Documents of the Roman Catholic Church Vatican IIhttp://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/, Nostra Aetate [3 pp.] and Evangelii Gaudiumhttp://www.vatican.va/evangelii-gaudium/en/ [pp. 3-17 and 214-215 (16 pp.)]. [19 pp. total].

Documents of the World Council of Churches, Together towards Life: Mission and Evangelism in Changing Landscapes http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/commissions/mission-and-evangelism/together-towards-life-mission-and-evangelism-in-changing-landscapes [38 pp assigned].

Course Reader including articles by John Azumah, Lamin Sanneh, Wilbert Shenk, Andrew F. Walls and others [192 pp. assigned].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Bosch, David J. Transforming Mission, Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission. Orbis Books, 2011. ISBN: 978-1570759482, Pub. Price $35.00.

Escobar, Samuel. Changing Tides, Latin America and World Mission Today. Orbis Books, 2002. ISBN: 978-1570754142, Pub. Price $28.00 .

Muck, Terry and Frances S. Adeney. Christianity Encountering World Religions, The Practice of Mission in the Twenty-first Century. Baker Academic, 2009. ISBN: 978-0801026607, Pub. Price $30.00.

Robert, Dana L. American Women in Mission, A Social History of Their Thought and Practice. Mercer University Press, 1997. ISBN: 978-0865545496, Pub. Price $40.00.

Shenk, Wilbert R. Changing Frontiers of Mission. Orbis Books, 1999. ISBN: 978-1570752599, Pub. Price $28.00.

Walls, Andrew F. The Missionary Movement in Christian History, Studies in the Transmission of Faith. Orbis Books, 1996. ISBN: 978-1570750595, Pub. Price $26.00.

Wright, Christopher J.H. The Mission of God, Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative. IVP Academic, 2006. ISBN: 978-0830825714, Pub. Price $40.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 1,200 pages of required reading [80 hours].

2. Weekly instructional media [22 hours].

3. Each student will write an initial (first week) 500-word self-reflection paper on their understanding of mission and missional practices in light of their own experiences. This will be rewritten at week 10 (10% each, 20% total). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 and #3] [6 hours].

4. Three 500-word Moodle reflections on the reading, experience, and lecture topics and how your understanding of mission is changing in both thinking and practice. (5% each, 15% total). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2, and #3] [9 hours].

5. Eight forums and replies (post 150 words, responses 50 words each) in formation/ Bible study groups on selected texts focusing on the meaning of the Gospel in Luke and Philippians. (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and #3] [8 hours].

6. Observe and describe in 1,000 words the social and religious landscape of a community (or the community) around your church and ask how your church is dealing with this context (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2] [6 hours].

7. Visit to a formal religious expression different than your own, and describe in 750 words what is happening and analyze the experience in light of the course material (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2] [5 hours].

8. Three forums and replies (post 250 words, responses 100 words each) after watching short video-clips on cultural diversity (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2] [9 hours].

9. 2,500-words final paper which integrates the course material, focused on a particular mission practice. Students may choose from the following mission practices: interreligious dialog, youth outreach, poverty alleviation, evangelism, or at risk youth (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2, and #3] [15 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.