Fall 2018/Fuller Online

YF500

Combes

YF500: FOUNDATION OF YOUTH MINISTRY (4 Units: 160 hours). Thomas Combes.

DESCRIPTION: This course provides the foundational concepts and best practices to prepare the student for ministry to the young in both a church and non-church setting in any context. The course will provide a basic understanding of adolescent development, contemporary culture, and historical and contextual models of youth ministry thinking and practice. The course is designed to help the student to think and respond theologically to the needs and expectations of the young and their families in a church or organization, and provides practical tools enabling the student to design a theologically sound youth ministry program suitable in any context.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will be able to: (1) demonstrate an ability to describe significant characteristics associated with early and midadolescence, especially focused on contextual issues and dynamics related to gender, ethnicity, and class; (2) articulate an understanding of developmental, social, cultural, and spiritual challenges associated with early and midadolescence in various cultural contexts; (3) design a comprehensive practical theology of youth ministry that prescribes a ministry emphasizing an “Adoptive” youth ministry approach in a local church community.

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. Each student will also complete a contextualized final project.

REQUIRED READING: 1,001-1,137 pages required.

Clark, Chap. Hurt 2.0: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers (Youth, Family, and Culture). 2nd ed. Baker Academic, 2011. ISBN: 978-0801039416, Pub. Price $21.99 [77 pp.]. Chapters 1-3, 12 assigned. Available on eReserves.

Clark, Chap (ed.). Adoptive Youth Ministry: Integrating Emerging Generations Into the Family of Faith. Baker Academic, 2016. ISBN: 978-0801049705, Pub. Price $34.99 [246 pp. assigned]. Select chapters assigned.

Clydesdale, Tim. The First Year Out: Understanding American Teens after High School. University of Chicago Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0226110660, Pub Price $28.00 [106 pp. assigned]. Chapters 1-2, 5-6 assigned. Available on eReserves.

Powell, Kara & Brad Griffin & Jake Mulder. Growing Young: Six Essential Strategies to Help Young People Discover and Love Your Church. Baker Books, 2016. ISBN: 978-0801019258, Pub. Price $19.99 [336 pp. assigned].

Smith, James K.A., You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit. Brazos Press, 2016. 978-1587433801, Pub. Price $19.99 [Chapter 6, 34 pp. assigned]. Available on eReserves.

***ADDITIONALLY, students will choose from ONE (1) of the following, based on the student's interest and/or ministry setting:

Drury, Amanda Hontz, Saying is Believing: The Necessity of Testimony in Adolescent Spiritual Development. IVP Academic, 2015. ISBN: 978-0830840656. Pub. Price $22.00 [176 pages]

Hodge, Daniel White, The Soul of Hip Hop: Rims, Timbs and a Cultural Theology. IVP Books, 2010. ISBN: 978-0830837328. Pub Price $19.00 [250 pages]

Root, Andrew. Exploding Stars, Dinosaurs and Zombies: Youth Ministry in the Age of Science. Fortress Press, 2018. ISBN: 978-1506446745. Pub Price $19.99 [312 pages]

RECOMMENDED READING: See the course syllabus.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1,001-1,137 pages of required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #2, #3]. [65 hours].
Weekly posts (250-400 words) reflecting on lecture/online activity and weekly response to a classmate’s post (150-200 words each) - (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3, #4 [25 hours].
Weekly posts (250-400 words) reflecting on assigned reading and weekly response to a classmate’s post (150-200 words) - (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #2, #3] [25 hours].
An exam on the class material and reading (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #2, #3] [5 hours].
Research paper that focuses on two particular issues and/or dynamics related to either early or midadolescence: (1) applies current theories on adolescence to identify formational challenges, contextual nuances, and unique ministry considerations [e.g. family status/stability, ethnicity/class, socioeconomics, etc.] and critically reflects on the strengths and limitations of these theories pertaining to their focused population; and (2) applies readings and outside research on generational, racial and/or class, and gender fragmentation and disempowerment in the church, with recommendations on how a healthy youth ministry can proactively engage these issues. 2500 words (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2 & #3]. [25 hours]
A 5-6 page final project summary paper that reflects a programmatic interpretation of the course content in a given context OR a comprehensive Final Exam that is a combination of multiple choice, matching and short answer questions. (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #2, #3, #4] [15 Hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet C2 or C5 requirement in the 120 MDiv and 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2015). Meets the 144 MDiv core requirement in General Ministry & Spirituality (MIN 1), 144 MDiv core requirement in Christian Formation & Discipleship (MIN 4), or Ministry Foundations requirement (MIN F) for other master’s degrees.

FINAL EXAMINATION: Choice of final paper or final exam (see Assignment #6).