Winter 2016/Sacramento

IS500

Howell

IS500: PRACTICES OF VOCATIONAL FORMATION (4 Units: 160 hours). Bradley Howell.

DESCRIPTION: Christian practices constitute the Christian life. The combined Christian practices of vocational formation, worship, community, and mission facilitate the integration of personal, spiritual, academic, and global formation into the vocational coherence of a Christian leader through reflection, relationships, and practices. IS500 is an integrative course that explores the identity and practices of Christian vocational formation as a people called, gathered, and sent by God. Together, professor and students study and enact historic Christian disciplines necessitated by this distinctive identity (Listening, Guidance, Lament, Discernment, Stewardship, Simplicity, Rhythms of Rest, Honoring the Body).

LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) Students will reflect on their current and past experiences of Christian practices of vocational formation. (2) Students will participate in local contexts and demonstrate the capacity to engage in activities and exercises related to Christian spiritual disciplines and practices of vocational formation. (3) Students will demonstrate the capacity to engage scripture, tradition, and contemporary resources to reflect theologically on historic practices of vocational formation. (4) Students will articulate how vocational formation practices impact their response to the Central Integration Question (CIQ) and will identify exercises, habits, and disciplines to embody these practices within their sociocultural context.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion (which includes 8 hours of participation in vocation and formation groups) plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 800 pp. of required reading and/or the equivalent time in viewing.

Barton, Ruth Haley. Sacred Rhythms. IVP Books, 2006. ISBN: 978-0-8308-3333-7. Pub Price $18.00 [165 pp. assigned].

Labberton, Mark. Called, The Crisis and Promise of Following Jesus Today. IVP Books, 2014. ISBN: 978-0830836833, Pub Price $16.00 [174 pp. assigned].

Phillips, Susan. The Cultivated Life: From Ceaseless Striving to Receiving Joy. IVP, 2015. ISBN: 978-0830835980, Pub. Price $17.00 [125 pp. assigned].

Placher, William C. Callings: Twenty Centuries of Christian Wisdom on Vocation. Eerdmans, 2005. ISBN: 0802829279, Pub. Price $30.00 [150-200 pp. assigned].

1 Samuel 16, 21:10-14, Psalm 34, Jeremiah 1, 18:18-23, Lamentations 1:1, 19-39; Luke 1:26-56; Luke 2:21-33; Matthew 12:46-50; John 19:23-26; Acts 1:4-14.

Listening:

Newell, Philip J. Listening for the Heartbeat of God. Paulist Press, 1997. ISBN: 978-0809137596, Pub. Price $10.95 [112 pp. assigned].

Guidance:

Palmer, Parker. Let Your Life Speak. Jossey-Bass, 1999. ISBN: 978-0787947354, Pub. Price $19.00 [100 pp. assigned].

Lament:

Billman, Kathleen D. and Daniel Migliore. Rachel's Cry: A Prayer of Lament and Rebirth of Hope. United Church Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0829813531, Pub. Price $6.99 [192 pp.].

Discernment:

Palmer, Parker. Let Your Life Speak. Jossey-Bass, 1999. ISBN: 978-0787947354, Pub. Price $19.00 [100 pp. assigned].

Stewardship:

Cavanaugh, William. Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire. ISBN: 978-0802845610, Pub. Price $14.00 [115 pp. assigned].

Simplicity:

Cavanaugh, William. Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire. ISBN: 978-0802845610, Pub. Price $14.00 [115 pp. assigned].

Rhythms of Rest:

Newell, Philip J. Listening for the Heartbeat of God. Paulist Press, 1997. ISBN: 978-0809137596, Pub. Price $10.95 [112 pp. assigned].

Honoring the Body:

Chandler, Diane J. Physical Health in Christian Spiritual Formation: An Integrated Approach for Personal and Relational Wholeness. IVP Academic, 2014. [38 pp. assigned]. Available on e-Reserves.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 1,040 pages reading and videos, including at least 50 pages of biblical text (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [52 hours].

  2. Classroom: for each practice, students will engage, reflect, create (utilizing instruction, participation, presentation, discussion, engaging practice-based theology cycle for theological reflection, case studies) (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #2, #3]. [22 hours].

  3. Vocation Formation Group (VFG)-In a Vocation Formation Group, students will engage spiritual disciplines, practices, and discussion. Students will study the Bible, and share and listen to stories related to the practices (10%). (Vocation Formation Group Leader (VFGL) will let professor know if students have been present and engaged) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #2, and #4]. [8 hours].

  4. Students will participate in directed practices and disciplines over the course of the quarter (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [15 hours].

  5. Four fieldwork activities and reflections (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [8 hours + 8 hours].

  6. Autobiography related to core course concept (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [2 hours].  

  7. Signature Assignment: 100 word CIQ response, Integration Research paper related to course practices, and Rule of Life (2,500 words total) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #3, and #4]. [25 hours].

  8. DLA’s (Distributed Learning Activities). Each week, students will participate in content that will guide preparation for in class engagement and reflection for class and small group discussions and activities. DLA’s will vary between videos, online posts, wiki pages and personal reflections. (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 and #2]. [10 hours].

  9. Financial Plan: Using the practical theology method taught in the course, create a written financial plan for seminary that will support the student’s vocational goals (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 and #3]. [10 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None. Recommended in first year of study.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets a core integrative requirement in the 120 MDiv Program and the 80 MAT, 80 MATM, 80 MAICS Programs.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.

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