Winter 2018/Houston

GM554

Ortiz

 

GM554: LEADERSHIP AND DIVERSITY: GENDER, MULTI-CULTURAL, AND ETHNICITY (4 units: 161 hours). Hector Ortiz.

                                                                             

 

DESCRIPTION: This course provides an overview of the different dimensions and sensitivities that frame the multicultural leadership context primarily in North America. Gender, multicultural and ethnicity issues will be examined as opportunity for leaders to provide theological reflection within particular cultural frameworks of faith communities. Readings, assignments, and learning activities are aimed at helping students develop their own self-assessment and strategies for personal multicultural competency and constructive conflict management.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:  Upon successful completion of this course, students will (1) construct their own cultural autobiography (race, ethnicity, gender, social class, and national origin); (2) develop a vocabulary to understand issues cultural differences; (3) demonstrate the capacity to engage Scripture and other resources to reflect theologically on the diversity of God’s image as seen through the lens of gender, multi-cultural, and ethnicity; (4) examine the theological framework, intentions, and practices of multi-ethnic churches; (5) conduct a self-assessment and strategy for leading others in cultural proficiency and constructive conflict management.

 

COURSE FORMAT:  The course will meet on Friday and Saturday for three weekends, for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

 

REQUIRED READING: Approximately 1286 pages of required reading.

Branson, Mark Lau and Juan F. Martinez. Churches, Cultures and Leadership: A Practical Theology of Congregations and Ethnicities. InterVarsity Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0830839261, Pub. Price $20.00 [254 pp.].

Mathews, Alice. Gender Roles and the People of God:  Rethinking What We Were Taught about Men and Women in the Church. Zondervan, 2017. ISBN: 978-0310529392, Pub. Price $19.99 [228 pp.].

Priest, Robert J. and Alvaro L. Nieves. This Side of Heaven: Race, Ethnicity, and Christian Faith. Oxford University Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0195310573, Pub. Price $36.95 [330 pp.].

Yong, Amos. The Future of Evangelical Theology: Soundings from the Asian American Diaspora. Intervarsity Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-0830840601, Pub. Price $27.00 [231 pp.].

Yong, Amos and Estrelda Y. Alexander, eds. Afro-Pentecostalism: Black Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity in History and Culture. New York University Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0814797310, Pub. Price $30.00 [243 pp.].

 

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: 

1. Required reading plus one page for each indicating at least two to three themes/ideas that will enhance your understanding of the context of diversity, culture, gender and ethnicity (1 page per book, approx. 1,250 words) (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5]. [90 hours].
2. Construct a personal autobiography (race, ethnicity, gender, social class and national origin) of three pages (approx. 750 words) (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [6 hours].
3. Attend a worship service representing a different ethnic tradition. Write up a content analysis describing the physical setting, the people and demographics, the worship event itself, and its leadership make up. Be prepared to participate in small group discussions in class. 2 pages (approx. 500 words) (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #3 & #4]. [8 hours, including 5 hours of DLAs].
4. Conduct one interview with a person who represents a cultural diversity you would like to learn more about. 3 pages (approx. 750 words) (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #5]. [8 hours, including 5 hours of DLAs].
5. Signature Assignment: Write a final essay on holistic interaction with course readings, lectures and discussions about diversity, gender, culture and ethnicity, and give four or five concepts/themes which will improve your leadership in multi-cultural understanding/relationships (8 pages, approx. 2000 words) (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #5]. [19 hours].

 

PREREQUISITES: None.

 

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets requirement in Ministry Foundations (MINF) and Ethnicity (ETHN). Option to meet the C5 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program.

 

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.