Winter 2018/Online

MB533

Ramirez-Johnson

MB533: SOCIAL ANALYSIS AND CONTEXTUALIZATION (4 Units: 160 hours). Johnny Ramirez-Johnson.

DESCRIPTION: A course on Social Analysis and Contextualization will teach you how to exegete the culture and context of a church plant to help develop churches that are relevant and transformative.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the end of the course students will demonstrate having further developed conceptual understandings and skills for engaging in: (1) in-depth analysis of a community’s cultural, social, economic, and spiritual identity in order to effectively contextualize and embody the gospel, leading to personal and social transformation (critical thinking); (2) exploration of a community’s cultural and ethnic diversity as an expression of the gospel as a boundary-crossing endeavor (ethical thinking); (3) using a creative and adaptive approach to foster new networks and methods for including non-traditional participants in evangelism (creative thinking).

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: 1,433 total number of pages required.

Branson, Mark Lau and Juan F. Martínez. Churches, Cultures and Leadership: A Practical Theology of Congregations and Ethnicities. InterVarsity Press Academic, 2011. ISBN: 978-0830839261, Pub. Price $27.00 [244 pp.].

Flemming, Dean. Contextualization in the New Testament: Patterns for Theology and Mission. InterVarsity Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0830828319, Pub. Price $30.00 [344 pp.].

Gornik, Mark R. To Live in Peace: Biblical Faith and the Changing Inner City. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2002. ISBN: 978-0802846853, Pub. Price $26.00 [261 pp.].

Katongole, Emmanuel and Rice, Chris. Reconciling All Things: A Christian Vision for Justice, Peace and Healing. InterVarsity Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0830834518, Pub. Price $17.00 [184 pp.].

Keller, Timothy. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City. Zondervan, 2012. ISBN: 978-0310494188, Pub. Price $34.99 [400 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

Weekly lessons (video lectures and PowerPoint presentations). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 & 2]. [20 hours].
Weekly quizzes based on readings and lecture materials (15%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, & 3]. [6 hours]
250-word weekly posts (about weekly lessons, readings & project application) (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2 & 3]. [10 hours].
250-word weekly responses (about weekly lessons, readings & project application) (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2 & 3]. [10 hours].
1,433 pages of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2 & 3]. [83 hours].
Class creative praxis project proposal (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2 & 3]. [5 hours].
Creative praxis project application as approved via proposal (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 & 2]. [10 hours].
Creative praxis project report as approved via proposal (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 & 2]. [16 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet requirement in the 80 MAICS (2017). Option to meet the C5 requirement in the 120 MDiv and 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2015).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.