Spring 2015/Houston

EV532

Russell

EV532: RECOVERY MINISTRY IN THE LOCAL CHURCH (4 units: 160 hours). Matthew Russell.

DESCRIPTION: This course will examine the theological foundations of recovery ministry as well as the personal dynamics of recovery and practical considerations for developing recovery ministries in the local church.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: There are three objectives for this course; (1) students will be well-informed about the ways in which the dynamics of addiction, abuse, and trauma are likely to influence local church ministry; (2) students will understand the biblical, historical, and theological resources that might assist them to develop effective ministry to people struggling with these issues; and (3) that students will be better able to envision and develop effective recovery ministries in a variety of settings.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three-hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours. Class time will consist of lecture, discussions, and case studies.

REQUIRED READING: 1200 total number of pages required

Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. AA World Services, 2002. ISBN: 978-1893007178. (Any edition acceptable). Available online for free at http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/. [first 164 pages in 4th edition]

May, Gerald. Addiction and Grace. Harper & Row, 2007. ISBN: 978-0061122439, Pub. Price $15.99 [208 pp.].

One of the following memoirs:

Bullitt-Jones, Margaret. Holy Hunger: A Woman's Journey from Food Addiction to Spiritual Fulfillment. Vintage Books, 2000. ISBN: 978-0375700873, Pub. Price $16.00 [272 pp.].

Kopp, Heather. Sober Mercies: How Love Caught Up with a Christian Drunk. Jericho Books, 2013. ISBN: 978-1455527748, Pub. Price $19.99 [224 pgs]

Lamott, Anne. Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith. Anchor Books, 2000. ISBN: 978- 0385496094, Pub. Price $15.95 [275 pp.].

A list of books that can be chosen to bring your total pages read up to 1200 will be available in the class syllabus.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Read the three required texts plus additional reading for a total of at least 1200 pages. Submit brief critiques of each book read (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 1]. [65 hours].

2. Submit a 3-page summary of an interview with a person in recovery about their spiritual journey (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 3]. [10 hours].

3. View the videos about the twelve steps of AA at http://www.nacr.org/wordpress/4313 and videos http://www.nacr.org/wordpress/4814 and write a 3-page report explaining the assumptions about the conversion process found therein and assessing them as a tool for Christian ministry in your own faith tradition (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 1,2 and 3]. [20 hours].

4. Write a 10-12 page research paper, either a reflection on the theological and biblical foundations for some aspect of recovery ministry or a design for a recovery ministry in your current ministry setting (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 2 and 3]. [25 hours].

5. Directed Learning Assignments (Visit to open AA meeting, Local recovery ministry – options will be discussed in class). (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 3] [10 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Required for MA in Recovery Ministry and MDiv with a concentration in Recovery Ministry. Option to meet the Contextualizing: Engaging Local Contexts (C3) requirement in the 120 MDiv program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.