DESCRIPTION:

This course examines perceptions of the family within the Christian tradition, and their relationship to wider cultural concerns in a variety of different historical and contemporary settings.

Understanding our own experience of family and empathizing with the experience of others is a fundamental part of effective Christian life and ministry.

• reflect on their own family stories;

• understand Christian perspectives on the family, within the context of postmodern culture;

• acquire pastoral skills for supporting families in the church and in the wider community;

• develop skills in theological reflection in partnership with other people of both genders and diverse ethnicities.

The class will be conducted on the Internet using a 10-week lesson program aligned with Fuller's academic calendar. Each week, students and the instructor will interact with the material and each other through journaling, threaded discussions, web-based research, and other assignments.

Anderson, Herbert, and Don Browning et al. The Family Handbook. Westminster John Knox, 1998.

Drane, John, and Olive M. Fleming Drane. Family Fortunes: Faith-Full Caring for Today's Families. Darton, Longman & Todd, 2004.

Fleming Drane, Olive M. Spirituality to Go: Rituals and Reflections for Everyday Living. Darton, Longman & Todd, 2006.

Ruether, Rosemary Radford. Christianity and the Making of the Modern Family. Beacon Press, 2000.

Thatcher, Adrian, Theology and Families. Blackwell, 2006.

Course Reader available in the online course.

Balswick, Jack O., and Judith K. Balswick, The Family: A Christian Perspective on the Contemporary Home. 3rd ed. Baker Academic, 2007.

Barton, Stephen C., ed. The Family in Theological Perspective. T & T Clark, 1996.

Garland, Diana R. Family Ministry: A Comprehensive Guide. InterVarsity Press, 1999.

Hess, Richard S., and M. Daniel Carroll R., eds. Family in the Bible. Baker Academic, 2003.

Westerhoff, John H. Will Our Children Have Faith? 2nd ed. Morehouse, 2000.

1. Weekly threaded discussions (25%) and personal journaling including reflections on students' own family of origin (10%)

2. A report on personal experiential processing of course material undertaken throughout the course (15%)

3. A paper or field-work study of 12-15 pages on a subject relevant to the concerns of the course (50%).

All assignments must be submitted to gain a grade.