Fall 2015/Houston

IS500

Parchman

IS500: PRACTICES OF VOCATIONAL FORMATION (4 Units: 160 hours). Karen Parchman, Ph.D.

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-and-a-half-hour sessions for a total of 35 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion (which includes 8 hours of participation in vocation and formation groups) plus 5 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 900 pp. of required reading and/or the equivalent time in viewing.

To be Purchased

Farrington, Debra K. Living Faith Day by Day. Perigee Books, 2000. ISBN: 978-0399526206, Pub. Price $19.00. [74 pages assigned]

Labberton, Mark. Called: The Crisis and Promise of Following Jesus Today. IVP Books, 2014. ISBN: 978-0830836833, Pub. Price $16.00 [Approx. 172pp pages assigned].

Newell, J. Philip. Listening for the Heartbeat of God. Paulist Press, 1997. ISBN: 978-0809137596, Pub. Price $10.95 [Approx. 107 pages assigned].

Palmer, Parker. Let Your Life Speak. Jossey-Bass, 1999. ISBN: 978-0787947354, Pub. Price $18.95. [Approx 109 pp assigned]

Placher, William C., ed. Callings: Twenty Centuries of Christian Wisdom on Vocation. Eerdmans, 2005. ISBN: 978-0802829276, Pub. Price $30.00 [Approx 170 pages assigned]

Biblical texts as assigned [Approx. 50 pages]

Videos to be purchased/rented:

West Wing Episode from Season 1: “Take this Sabbath Day” ($1.99 or free with Netflix subscription)

Additional readings and videos in Moodle (approximately 50pp or equivalent).

Required Reading for Practices

Listening

Farrington, Debra K. (see citation above) [27 pages assigned]

Newell, J. Philip. (see citation above) [Approx. 107 pages assigned].

Guidance

Farrington, Debra K. (see citation above). [17 pages assigned]

Johnson, Ben Campbell and Andrew Dreitcer. Beyond the Ordinary: Spirituality for Church Leaders. Eerdman’s, 2001. ISBN: 978-0802847737, Pub. Price $19.50. [17 pages assigned]. Available in eReserves.

Discernment

Helland, Roger, and Leonard Hjalmarson. Missional Spirituality: Embodying God’s Love from the Inside Out. InterVarsity Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0830838073, Pub. Price $16.00 [22 pages assigned] Available in eReserves

Johnson, Luke Timothy. Scripture and Discernment: Decision Making in the Church. Abingdon Press, 1996. ISBN: 978-0687012381, Pub. Price $22.99 [24 pp. assigned]. Available in e-reserves.

Palmer, Parker. (see citation above) [Approx 109 pp assigned]

Stewardship and Simplicity

Cavanaugh, William T. Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire. Eerdmans, 2008. ISBN: 978-0802845610, Pub. Price $14.00 [25 pp. assigned]. Available in e-Reserves.

Wuthnow, Robert. Crisis in the Churches: Spiritual Malaise, Fiscal Woe. Oxford University Press, 1997. ISBN: 978-0195110203, Pub. Price $60.00 [18 pages assigned] Available in eReserves

Rhythms of Rest

Johnson, Ben Campbell and Andrew Dreitcer. (see citation above) [15 pages assigned]. Available in eReserves.

Kenneson, Philip D. Life on the Vine: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit in Christian Community. InterVarsity Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0830822195, Pub. Price $20.00. [25 pages assigned]. Available in eReserves

Honoring the Body

Farrington, Debra. (see citation above) [30 pages assigned].

Kenneson, Philip D. (see citation above) [18 pages assigned]. Available in eReserves

Students in IS500 are required to take the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment, receive a CoreClarity coaching packet based off of their top 5 strengths, and participate in a 45-minute coaching call with a CoreClarity coach. There will be a $40 charge for StrengthFinder® assessment, Coaching Packet, and Coaching Session which will automatically be charged to your student account.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 900 pages reading and videos, including at least 50 pages of biblical text. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3] [43 hours].
2. Classroom: for each practice, students will engage, reflect upon, and create content (utilizing instruction, participation, presentation, discussion, engaging practice-based theology cycle for theological reflection, case studies). (25%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3] [27 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%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 4] [8 hours].
4. Students will participate in directed practices and disciplines relating to Lectio Divina over the course of the quarter. (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2] [15 hours].
5. Four fieldwork activities (8 hours) and reflections (8 hours). (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2] [16 hours total].
6. Signature Assignment: Students will write a 100 word CIQ response, and integration paper related to course practices, and a Rule of Life (2,500 words total). (25%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 3, 4] [25 hours].
7. Students will connect in 5 online forums during the quarter in which they will address topics related to practices and disciplines discussed in class. (5%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #3, 4] [5 hours of DLAs].
8. Students will create a written financial plan that will support their vocational goals. During the quarter, students will keep a journal and respond to a series of 30 reflection questions that will help them frame their written financial plan (750 words). (15%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes LO #1, #3] [15 hours + 6 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None. Recommended in first year of study.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets a core integrative requirement in the 120 MDiv and the 80 MAT, 80 MATM, 80 MAICS Programs (Fall 2015).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.