DESCRIPTION: This course provides an introduction to missiological reflection on the ministry of hospitality. It is important for churches to challenge themselves to welcome the stranger because hospitality is a virtue that needs to be cultivated to accomplish God's mission. The goal is to provide the background and terminology necessary for students to begin exploring the importance of welcoming "the other" in their homes, churches, and ministries.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: This course provides the student with the opportunity to reflect on fundamental issues related to welcoming newcomers and incorporating visitors into the life of the local church and ministry (sometimes called assimilation among Church Growth missiologists and church consultants). The readings and assignments are designed to facilitate reflection from the point of view of biblical, missiological, and theological perspectives with application for the ministerial practices of hospitality.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: The student will

1. articulate a biblical, theological, and missiological understanding of Christian hospitality;

2. appreciate the importance of training in the local church, by understanding the personal and communal nature of Christian hospitality;

3. gain tools for developing hospitality for newcomers and the incorporation of visitors into the life of the church;

4. evaluate current practices and create a plan for a revised model of hospitality that is culturally relevant to the student's church or ministry situation;

5. be more committed in welcoming the stranger in the context of Christian community;

6. gain skills in developing the virtue that fosters Christian hospitality.

Mendoza, Urías. "Hospitalidad como modelo misional para una iglesia que ministra en red étnica latina." DMin Ministry Focus Paper, Fuller Theological Seminary, School of Theology, 2011.

Fornari-Carbonell, Isabel M. La Escucha del huésped (Lc 10,38-42): La hospitalidad en el horizonte de la comunicación. Estella, España: Editorial Verbo Divino, 1995 [291 pp. ISBN: 9788481690552; $56].

Schnase, Robert C. Cinco prácticas de congregaciones fructíferas. Nashville: Abingdon, 2009 [149 pp. ISBN: 9781426702488; $18].

Béthune, Pierre-Francois de, Raimundo Panikkar, and Rosa Ma. de la Parra. La hospitalidad sagrada entre las religiones. Barcelona: Herder, 2009 [198 pp. ISBN: 9788425426162; $21].

Ferrell, Karie, and Paul Turner. Manual para ministros de la hospitalidad. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 2009 [63 pp. ISBN: 9781568547701; $4.50].

Giussani, Luigi. El milagro de la hospitalidad: Conversaciones con familias para la acogida. Madrid: Ediciones Encuentro, 2004 [127 pp. ISBN: 9788474908121; $22].

1. Daily homework based on Schnase's book (200 words) (10%)

2. One Book Review based on Giussani's book (1000 words) (10%)

3. Daily group discussions on Béthune's book (200 words report) (20%)

4. Interviewing newcomers (during a period of 5 weekends) in the local church following a questionnaire provided by the faculty (10%)

5. Five paper-responses (each in 300 words) on different articles on eReserve (20%)

6. Designing a church-wide plan of Hospitality to newcomers, and incorporation of recurring visitors (2000 words) (20%)

7. A 3000-word research/reflection paper on a theology of hospitality (20%)