Summer 2017/New York City
TC518
Johnson
TC518: CALLING: THE HISTORY, THEOLOGY, AND EXPERIENCE OF CHRISTIAN VOCATION (4 Units: 160 Hours). Todd E. Johnson and Dale Savidge.
DESCRIPTION: This is a master’s level course which will meet for one week in New York City, July 17-21. It will meet online through MOODLE both in preparation for our time together in New York City and as a means of processing that experience in light of course material afterwards. This course will explore the concept of Christian vocation. Vocation comes from the Latin word vocare, meaning to summon or call, from which we get the concept of receiving a calling. Often a calling is understood as being called to ordained ministry. In this course, the focus will be much broader, that is the vocation or calling of all baptized. Reflecting on Biblical, theological and historical models of calling, students will explore the relationship between the individual, the community and the grace of God related to vocation. Students will also be exposed to a number of Christians living working in New York who understand their work as a calling, in particular a number of people who work in and with the arts community in Manhattan. The end result will be a honing of the student’s own understanding of vocation in their life and their tradition.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the conclusion of this seminar a student will: (1) be able to articulate a Biblical and historical survey of ministry and vocation in the Christian churches; (2) have a working knowledge of the theological models of Christian vocation; (3) to be able to describe and assess the models of ministry and vocation operative in one’s own tradition; (4) describe in general ways the difference between Christian models of vocation and Jewish and Muslim views; (5) have an in-depth knowledge of one particular theology of vocation, either of a tradition or individual; (6) be able to articulate one’s own theology of vocation and one’s understanding of what that theology looks like applied to their own life.
COURSE FORMAT: This is a hybrid course, meaning that it is a ten-week course with nine weeks of online instruction and one week of classroom instruction in New York City during week 5 of the quarter. The week of classroom instruction will include five hours daily of class time, as well as additional evening sessions. The week in New York City will include times of lecture and discussion, interviews with Christian artists working in New York City, as well as various activities that utilize the city and its offerings as a classroom. Classroom and online instruction will include lecture and discussion 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. REGISTRATION NOTE: Students are not permitted to register for a class that meets during the same period as a non-campus immersion class unless they obtain faculty approval. If the faculty grants permission to miss class meeting(s) in order to attend the immersion class, it is the student's responsibility to be familiar with that faculty's attendance policy, including any penalties that would result from the planned absence. Students must work with their advisor to register in such cases.
REQUIRED READING: 1,200 pages required.
Course Reader [on eReserves through Moodle] [120 pp.].
Badcock, Gary. The Way of Life: A Theology of Christian Vocation. Eerdmans, 1998. ISBN: 978-0802844903, Pub. Price $17.50 [150 pp. assigned].
Bass, Dorothy, ed. Practicing our Faith: A Way of Life for Searching People, 2nd ed. Jossey-Bass, 2010. ISBN: 978-0470484111, Pub. Price $19.95 [150 pp. assigned].
Chrysostom, Saint John. On the Priesthood, at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf109.iv.i.html. [100 pp.].
Haughey, John, ed. Revisiting the Idea of Vocation: Theological Explorations. Catholic University Press, 2004. ISBN: 978-0813213613, Pub. Price $29.95 [140 pp. assigned].
John Paul II. The Meaning of Vocation. Scepter Publishers, 1998. ISBN: 978-0933932999, Pub. Price $3.99 [40 pp.].
Johnson, Todd E. and Dale Savidge. Performing the Sacred: Theology and Theatre in Dialogue. Baker Academic, 2009. ISBN: 978-0801029523, Pub. Price $22.00 [140 pp. assigned].
Neafsey, John. A Sacred Voice is Calling: Personal Vocation and Social Conscience. Orbis Books, 2006. ISBN: 978-1570756450, Pub. Price $22.00 (200 pp. assigned].
Palmer, Parker. Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation. Jossey-Bass, 1999. ISBN: 978-0787947354, Pub. Price $18.95 [110 pp. assigned].
Rilke, Rainer Maria. Letters to Young Poet. Hythloday Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-0692289112, Pub. Price $6.85 [50 pp. assigned].
REQUIRED VIEWING (view one of these two films):
Duigan, John, director. Romero. Lions Gate, 2000. ASIN: B00004W203. List Price: $11.99. Run time: 102 minutes.
Duncan, Patrick Sheane, screen writer. Mr. Holland’s Opus. Hollywood Pictures, 1999. ASIN: 6305428352. List Price: $5.99. Run time: 143 minutes.
RECOMMENDED READING (Books that provide helpful supplemental material to our course):
Guiness, Os. The Calling: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life. Thomas Nelson, 2003. ISBN: 978-0849944376, Pub. Price $17.99.
Volf, Miroslav. Work in the Spirit: Toward a Theology of Work. Wipf and Stock, 2001. ISBN: 978-1579106416, Pub. Price $29.00.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Grading is done on a total point basis. There are four sets of assignments in this seminar:
Completion of assigned readings, participation in our class discussions and attendance (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-6] [65 hours].
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH5 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.