Winter 2016/Online

IS503

King

IS503: PRACTICES OF MISSION (4 Units: 160 hours). Roberta R. King.

DESCRIPTION: Christian practices constitute the Christian life. The combined Christian practices of vocational formation, worship, community, and mission facilitate the integration of personal, spiritual, academic, and global formation into the vocational coherence of a Christian leader through reflection, relationships, and practices. IS503 in an integrative course that explores the identity and practices of Christian mission as a people called, gathered, and sent by God. Together, professor and students study and enact historic Christian disciplines necessitated by this distinctive identity (Witness, Mercy, Reconciliation, Inter-Religious Dialogue, Inculturation, Friendship, Creation Care, Advocacy).

LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) Students will reflect on their current and past experiences of Christian practices of mission; (2) Students will participate in local context and demonstrate the capacity to engage in activities and exercises related to Christian spiritual disciplines and practices of mission; (3) Students will demonstrate the capacity to engage scripture, tradition, and contemporary resources to reflect theologically on historic practices of mission; (4) Students will articulate how mission practices impact their response to the Central Integration Question (CIQ) and will identify exercises, habits, and disciplines to embody these practices within their sociocultural context.

COURSE FORMAT: This course meets ten weeks online (which includes 8 hours of participation in vocation and formation groups) 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: 832 pp. of required reading and/or the equivalent time in viewing, including 50 assigned pages from the Bible.

Bevans, Stephen B., and Roger P. Schroeder. Prophetic Dialogue: Reflections on Christian Mission Today. Orbis, 2011. ISBN: 978-1570759116, Pub. Price $35.00 [208 pp. assigned].

Bible: Exodus and Luke. [50 pp. assigned].

Elmer, Duane. Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christ-like Humility. InterVarsity Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-0830833788, Pub. Price $17.00 [200 pp. assigned].

Finke, Greg. Joining Jesus on His Mission: How to Be An Everyday Missionary. TenthPower Publishing, 2014. ISBN: 978-1938840029, Pub. Price $15.99 [75 pp. assigned].

Sunquist, Scott W. Understanding Christian Mission: Participation in Suffering and Glory. Baker Academic, 2013. ISBN: 978-0801036156, Pub. Price $34.99[193 pp. assigned].

Video and Website viewing [7 hours] – TBA (i.e. The Mission, 1 TV Episode, and websites)

E-Reserves Course Reader: See below for additional chapters assigned for Core Practices [TOTAL: 106 pp. assigned]

CORE PRACTICES:

1. Witness

Finke, Greg. Joining Jesus on His Mission: How to Be An Everyday Missionary. TenthPower Publishing, 2014. [Required Text].

Medearis, Carl. Muslims, “Love your Neighbor: Practical Ways to Reach Out to Muslims.” Chapter 8 in Christians, and Jesus: Gaining Understanding and Building Relationship. Bethany House, 2008. [pp. 151-184]. Available on e-Reserves.

Sunquist, Scott W. Ch. 9 “Church: The Community of Worship and Witness” in Understanding Christian Mission: Participation in Suffering and Glory. Baker Academic, 2013. [Required Text]

Sunquist, Scott W. Ch. 10 “Witnessing Community: Evangelism and Christian Mission” in Understanding Christian Mission: Participation in Suffering and Glory. Baker Academic, 2013. [Required Text].

2. Mercy

Kirk, J. Andrew. What Is Mission?: Theological Explorations. Fortress Press, 2000. [pp. 96-117.] Available on e-Reserves.

3. Reconciliation

Bevans, Stephen B., and Roger P. Schroeder. Chapter 5 Unraveling a “Complex Reality” in Prophetic Dialogue: Reflections on Christian Mission Today. Orbis, 2011 [Required Text].

4. Dialogue

Bevans, Stephen B., and Roger P. Schroeder. Chapter 2: “’We Were Gentle Among You:’ Christian Mission as Dialogue,” in Prophetic Dialogue: Reflections on Christian Mission Today. Orbis, 2011 [Required Text].

McConnell, C. Douglas. "Missional Principles and Guidelines for Interfaith Dialogue." Evangelical Interfaith Dialogue 1, no. 1 (Winter 2010): 3-5. Available on e-Reserves.

5. Inculturation

Pocock, Michael, Gailyn Van Rheenen, and Douglas McConnell. "Contextualization." Chap. 12 in The Changing Face of World Missions: Engaging Contemporary Issues and Trends. Baker Academic, 2005. [pp. 321-48]. Available on e-Reserves.

6. Friendship

Elmer, Duane. Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christlike Humility. IVP Books, 2006. [Required Text].

7. Creation Care

Kirk, J. Andrew. What Is Mission?: Theological Explorations. Fortress Press, 2000. [pp. 164-183]. Available on e-Reserves.

8. Advocacy

Bevans, Stephen B., and Roger P. Schroeder. Chapter 7 “Letting God and Speaking Out” in Prophetic Dialogue: Reflections on Christian Mission Today. Orbis, 2011. [Required Text].

Sunquist, Scott W. Ch. 11 “Urban Community: Mission and the City” in Understanding Christian Mission: Participation in Suffering and Glory. Baker Academic, 2013. [Required Text].

Sunquist, Scott W. Ch. 12 “Global Community: Partnership in Mission” in Understanding Christian Mission: Participation in Suffering and Glory. Baker Academic, 2013. [Required Text].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Bosch, David J. "Evangelism: Theological Currents and Cross-Currents Today." International Bulletin of Missionary Research 11, no. 3 (1987): 98-103.

Medearis, Carl, Muslims, “Love your Neighbor: Practical Ways to Reach Out to Muslims.” Chapter 8 in Christians, and Jesus: Gaining Understanding and Building Relationship. Bethany House, 2008. ISBN: 978-0764205675, Pub. Price $15.99.

Pocock, Michael, Gailyn Van Rheenen, and Douglas McConnell. The Changing Face of World Missions: Engaging Contemporary Issues and Trends. Baker Academic, 2005. ISBN: 978-0801026614, Pub. Price $30.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 832 pages reading and videos, including 50 pages of biblical text, 7 hours of video, TV, and website viewing [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #2, #3]. [62 hours].

  2. Online: for each practice, students will engage, reflect, create (utilizing instruction, participation, presentation, discussion, engaging practice-based theology, case studies) (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #2, #3]. [40 hours].

  3. Students will participate in directed practices and disciplines over the course of the quarter (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [15 hours].

  4. Four fieldwork activities and reflections (20%). [This assignment is related learning outcome #2]. [8 hours + 8 hours = 16 hours].

  5. Autobiography related to core course concept (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [2 hours].

  6. Signature Assignment: 100 word CIQ response, Integration paper related to course practices, and Rule of Life (2,500 words total) (20%). [This assignment is related learning outcome #1, #3, and #4]. [25 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None. Recommended in first year of study.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets a core integrative requirement in the 120 MDiv Program and the 80 MAT, 80 MATM, 80 MAICS Programs.

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.

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