DESCRIPTION:

This course deals with the subject of developing collaborative, inter-organizational approaches to Christian ministry. It focuses on building a necessary background in the various factors directly affecting collaboration, as well as identifying and developing the collaborative capacity of the student's own organization. This class is case-study based wherein the primary case study is the student's own context of collaboration. Grading is based primarily on the student's ability to apply concept to context.

This course's relevance for ministry is grounded in the observation that no ministry operates in strategic isolation. Each ministry, no matter the size, is part of a larger picture of what God is doing in a given place. Releasing the potential of intentional, sustained synergy among local and regional ministries is the "holy grail" of mission strategists. Though we figuratively "see through a glass darkly" we at least know what inter-group synergy looks like now, and are continually learning more. This course will provide theoretical foundations, real-world case studies, and practical tools applicable to a collaborative approach to ministry. Theologizing in the context of collaboration, funding and sustaining collaboration, characterizing and developing facilitators, assessing and developing an organization's own collaborative competency, introducing and applying systems thinking, and matching task environment to structure are examples of course content.

• develop a plan of action for further development of the student's own collaborative context;

• anticipate and prepare for roadblocks to the collaborative process in a specific context;

• appropriately match a task and its context to a specific structure of inter-organizational collaboration;

• assess and develop the collaborative capacity of an organization;

• articulate a theologically informed philosophy of partnership.

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, and web-based research.

Bamford, James D., Benjamin Robinson, and Michael Gomes-Casseres. Mastering Alliance Strategy: A Comprehensive Guide to Design, Management, and Organization. Jossey-Bass, 2003.

Butler, Phil. Well Connected: Releasing Power and Restoring Hope through Kingdom Partnerships. Authentic Media, 2005.

Mattessich, Paul, Marta Murray-Close, and Barbara Monsey. Collaboration: What Makes it Work. 2nd ed. Amherst Wilder Foundation, 2001.

Corwin, Gary, and Ken Mullholland. Working Together with God to Shape the New Millennium. EMS, 2000.

Spekman, Robert E., Lynn Isabella, and Thomas MacAvoy. Alliance Competence: Maximizing the Value of Your Partnership. Wiley, 2000.

Addicott, Ernie. Body Matters: A Guide to Partnership in Christian Mission. Interdev Partnership Associates, 2005.

Dent, Stephen M. Partnering Intelligence: Creating Value for Your Business by Building Strong Alliances. Davies-Black, 1999.

Taket, Ann, and Leroy White. Partnership and Participation: Decision-making in the Multi-Agency Setting. Wiley, 2000.

Linden, Russell M. Working across Boundaries: Making Collaboration Work in Government and Nonprofit Organizations. Jossey-Bass, 2002

Rickett, Daniel. Making Your Partnership Work. Winepress, 2002.

Ray, Karen. The Nimble Collaboration: Fine-Tuning Your Collaboration for Lasting Success. Wilder, 2003.

Arsenault, Jane. Forging Nonprofit Alliances. Jossey Bass, 1998.

1. Weekly threaded discussions and journaling (15%)

2. Book reports (all 5 required texts) 1-2 pages each (250-500 words) (15%)

3. Theological response paper 4-6 pages (1000-1,500 words) (20%)

4. Case study analysis 4-6 pages (1,000-1,500 words) (20%)

5. "Where to from Here?" paper 7-10 pages (1,750-2,500 word) (30%)