Fall 2015/San Diego

YF733/533

Clark

YF733, 533: YOUTH MINISTRY IN PRACTICE: YOUTH SPECIALITIES CONFERENCE (4 Units: 160 hours). Chap Clark.

DESCRIPTION: In preparing to lead and lead others in ministry, there is no greater opportunity for theological reflection than to engage with 3,000 youth workers from dozens of denominations and nations. This is especially true in youth ministry, where the population served is constantly changing and ministry to them is highly contextual, intense and fluid. This course brings together Doctor of Ministry Youth, Family and Culture students who have either completed their cohort course requirements or have one course to go, and masters’ students studying the practice of youth ministry. For the DMin student, this course provides the opportunity to apply theory and learning with analysis and critique of contemporary ministry practice while leading masters students in theological, psychosocial and cultural reflection. This is a 4-unit course that for masters’ students fulfills a Youth, Family and Culture emphasis requirement and for DMin this fulfills the final course requirement beyond the three cohort classes.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will (1) have a greater understanding of the broad range of contextually applied youth ministry practices; (2) engage in theological, psychosocial and cultural reflection on contemporary practices of youth ministry so as to develop their own practical theology of youth ministry in a given cultural context; (3) have the ability to lead others in a practical theology of youth ministry practice that leads to intergenerational integration; and (4) recognize how to recognize and confront issues that disempower others based on gender and ethnicity.

COURSE FORMAT: The course takes place at the Youth Specialties National Youthworkers Convention in San Diego, CA from Thursday afternoon, October 8 to Sunday afternoon, October 11, 2015.

For DMin Students: This class will engage in 5 hours of online preparation with the instructor, and be involved in direct learning opportunities and leadership for approximately 20+ hours during the convention.

For Masters Students: This course will be conducted an as online hybrid course on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar, with 20+ instructional hours at the convention and a minimum of an additional 20 hours 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: (1659 required pages; *an additional 500 pages for DMin students of their choosing)

Barton,Ruth Haley. Life Together in Christ: Experiencing Transformation in Community, IVP, 2014. ISBN: 978-0830835867, $18 [192 pp. assigned]

Bergler, Tom. The Juvenilization of American Christianity. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2012. ISBN: 978-0802866844, $25.00 [291 pp. assigned]

Bergler, Tom. From Here to Maturity: Overcoming the Juvenilization of American Christianity. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2014. ISBN: 978-0802869449, $25.00 [192 pp. assigned]

Clark, Chap (ed.). 21^st Century Youth Ministry: 5 Views. Baker Academic, 2015. ISBN-13: 978-0801049675, $21.99 [224 pp. assigned]

Clark, Chap (ed.). Adoptive Youth Ministry: Integrating Emerging Generations Into the Family of Faith. Baker Academic, 2015. ISBN-13: 978-0801049705, $34.99 [400 pp. assigned]

Heflin, Houston. Youth Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Youth Ministry. Abingdon Press, 2009, ISBN: 978-0687650545, $16.99 [160 pp. assigned]

200 additional pages articles assigned, particularly focusing on gender and ethnicity in youth ministry.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: (*DMin assignments)

1. *1,659 pages of required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3 and 4]. [88 hours].
2. Completion of two (2) 3-4-page essays on readings (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3 and 4]. [12 hours].
3. Participate in weekly Moodle forums by writing a minimum of one (1) 90-­120 word posts and at least one (1) response to someone else’s post via Moodle (18 posts total) offering critical reflection on course content and peer reviewing of others’ work (18%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3 and 4] [18 hours].
4. Interview at least two (2) speakers and/or exhibitors, one of which must be a female person of color at convention (included in assignment #5) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3 and 4] [6 hours].
5. A 5-7-page analysis and critique reflection on convention experience, including research, with particular emphasis on the church as community and related issues (e.g., gender, ethnicity, socio-economics) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3 and 4]. [16 hours].
6. *Submit a summative paper (no more than 12 pages) detailing a practical theology of youth ministry in a specific ministry context (32%; 100% for DMin students). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3 and 4]. [20 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the C5 requirement in the 120 MDiv and 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2015). Option to meet a requirement in the Youth, Family, and Culture emphasis.

FINAL EXAMINATION:None.