Winter 2018/Fuller Online
PM514
Branson
PM514: MISSIONAL CHURCHES AND LEADERSHIP (4 Units: 160 Hours). Mark Lau Branson.
DESCRIPTION: This is a practical theology course that engages biblical, theological, and practical matters in ecclesiology and leadership. The work of lay and clergy leadership is explored in regard to fostering an environment in which all participants are to be formed into an interpretive community that is engaged with God personally and corporately in congregation formation, spiritual formation, and missional formation. Working from a praxis-theory-praxis perspective, the course will attend to topics as they are integrated in a practical theology methodology with an emphasis on missio Dei.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) articulate an understanding of missional ecclesiology for the student’s anticipated ministry context; (2) articulate an understanding of the tasks of congregational leadership; (3) apply course frameworks for ecclesiology, contexts, and leadership to exercises regarding specific cases; and (4) articulate reflectively concerning one’s own gifts and calling in relationship to course frameworks for ecclesiology, contexts, and leadership.
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: 1050 pp. required.
Branson, Mark Lau, and Juan F. Martinez. Churches, Cultures and Leadership: A Practical Theology of Congregations and Ethnicities. IVP Academic, 2011. ISBN: 978-0830839261, Pub. Price $27.00 [233 pp. assigned].
Branson, Mark Lau, and Nicholas Warnes. Starting Missional Churches: Life with God in the Neighborhood. InterVarsity, 2014. ISBN: 978-0830841165, Pub. Price $18.00 [185 pp. assigned].
Roxburgh, Alan. Joining God, Remaking Church, Changing the World. Morehouse, 2015. ISBN: 978-0819232113, Pub. Price $16.00. [127 pp. assigned].
Lohfink, Gerhard. Jesus and Community. Fortress, 1984. ISBN: 978-0800618025, Pub. Price $29.00 [185 pp. assigned].
Sedmak, Clemens. Doing Local Theology. Orbis, 2003. ISBN: 978-1570754524, Pub. Price $26.00 [161 pp. assigned].
Leadership Articles/Chapters on Canvas (some items will be added as the term progresses):
Argyris, C., “Teaching Smart People How to Learn” Harvard Business Review, 1991 [16 pp.].
Branson, Mark Lau, “Forming Church, Forming Mission,” International Review of Mission, 2003 [11 pp.]
Ely, R. and Meyerson, D., “Theories of Gender in Organizations,” Working Paper #8, Center for Gender in Organizations, Simmons College , 2000. (www.simmons.edu/som/docs/cgo_wp8_DNC.pdf) [46 pp.].
Heifetz, Ronald, “The Work of Leadership” HBR, 2001 [16 pp.].
Senge, Peter, “The Leader’s New Work,” Sloan Management Review, 1990 [17 pp.].
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
1050 pp. of required reading (10%). [75 hours].
Online instruction including video lectures, peer and professor presentations, brief essays, Blue Jeans online classroom discussions, etc; maintain weekly course checklists. (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3, 4]. [25 hours]
Web interaction weekly (DLAs): interactive reflective activities including videos, spiritual disciplines such as group lectio divina, and forum posts, [often a 250-word post and follow-up 250-word forum response] (30%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4]. [25 hours]
Reflective essay (750 words) on your leadership capacities in light of class, midway through class (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2, 4]. [5 hours].
Practical Theology Case Study & Online Presentation, per Canvas (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3]. [10 hours].
Write a 2,000 word term paper, per syllabus/Canvas, that integrates issues of ecclesiology, missiology, context, and leadership; demonstrating a practical theology method; includes the student’s reflection on progress concerning course goals (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 5]. [20 hours].
PREREQUISITES: It is recommended that students take PM514 during or after Field Ed, or toward the end of a masters program. It is also highly recommended that students have completed IS500, IS501, IS502, and IS503.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the LDR requirement for the 120 MDiv Program. Meets 144 MDiv core requirement MIN6 or the requirement in Ministry Foundations (MIN F) for other master’s degrees.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.