Spring 2018/Houston

IS500

McConnell

IS500: PRACTICES OF VOCATIONAL FORMATION (4 Units: 160 hours). Doug McConnell.

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 teaches students a method for integrating resources of theological method into faithful responses to the human condition. As an integrative course, it 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, discernment, guidance, lament, rhythms of rest, and stewardship) fashioning them into a Rule of Life that shapes and supports the student’s vocation in order to form students who demonstrate capacities to cultivate a theologically reflective practice of Christian discipleship.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) Students will have demonstrated capacities to critically reflect on their current and past experiences of Christian practices of vocational formation. (2) Students will have demonstrated through participation in local contexts the capacity to engage in activities and exercises related to Christian spiritual disciplines and practices of vocational formation. (3) Students will have demonstrated capacities to engage scripture, tradition, and contemporary resources to reflect theologically on historic and personal practices of vocational formation. (4) Students will have articulated how vocational 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 hybrid+ course meets nine weeks online (16 instructional hours which includes 4 hours of required synchronous and/or asynchronous participation in Vocation Formation groups) combined with one week on campus (24 hours which includes 4 hours of participation in Vocation Formation groups) for a total of 40 instructional hours. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning. The week of on-campus instruction includes four hours daily of classroom activity, as well as additional lunch meetings and evening sessions (required in hybrid+ courses).

REQUIRED READING: Approximately 850 pp. of required reading

A. Core Texts

Placher, William C. Callings: Twenty Centuries of Christian Wisdom on Vocation. Eerdmans, 2005. ISBN: 978-0802829276, Pub. Price $32.00 [150 pp. assigned].

B. Core Practices (on e-reserves)

Listening:

Barton, Ruth Haley. “Scripture: Encountering God Through Lectio Divina” in Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation. IVP Books, 2006. 45-61. [16 pp.]

Peace, Richard. “The Still Small Voice.” In Noticing God, 51-68. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2012. [18 pp.]

Phillips, Susan S. “Listening as a Way of Receiving Cultivation.” In The Cultivated Life: From Ceaseless Striving to Receiving Joy, 61-74. InterVarsity Press, 2015. [13 pp.]

Wimberly, Anne-Streaty. Called to Listen: The Imperative Vocation of Listening in Twenty First Century Faith Communities. International Review of Mission 87, no. 346, (1998): 331-341. [11pp]

Guidance:

Calhoun, Adele A. “Spiritual Direction.” in Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us, Revised edition, 130-134. IVP Books, 2015. [5 pp.]

Foster, Richard. “Guidance” in Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth. HarperSanFrancisco, 1988. pp. 175-189. [14 pp.]

Lament:

Brueggemann, Walter. “Letting Experience Touch the Psalter” in Praying the Psalms.Saint Mary's Press, 1986, pp. 15-25. [10 pp.].

Greene-McCreight, Kathryn. “Darkness” in Darkness is My Only Companion, 19-35. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2015. [17 pp.]

Rah, Soong-Chan. “Epilogue: Ferguson.” Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times, 204-212. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2015. [9 pp.]

Discernment:

Barton, Ruth Haley. “Discernment: Recognizing and Responding to the Presence of God” in Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation. IVP Books, 2006. 110-129. [19 pp.]

Stewardship:

Brueggemann, Walter. "The liturgy of abundance, the myth of scarcity." Christian Century 116, no. 10 (1999): 342-47. [5 pp.]

Volf, Miroslav. “God the Giver" in Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace, 19-54. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006. [35 pp.]

Wuthnow, Robert. “The Crisis in the Churches.” Financing American Religion. Eds. Mark Chaves, and Sharon L. Miller. AltaMira Press, 1998. [10 pp.].

Rhythms of Rest:

Scazzero, Peter. “Slow Down for Loving Union” in The Emotionally Healthy Leader: How Transforming Your Inner Life Will Deeply Transform Your Church, Team, and the World, 115-142. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2015. [29 pp.]

Walker-Barnes, Chanequa. “Introduction” and “This Thing Called Strength” in Too Heavy a Yoke: Black Women and the Burden of Strength, 1-40. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2014. [39pp.]

C. Integration Resources

Texts:

Two texts from List A OR one text from List A and one text from List B.

List A

Brown, Amena. Breaking Old Rhythms: Answering the Call of a Creative God. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-0830843015, Pub. Price $15.00. [139 pp.]

Cho, Eugene. Overrated: Are We More in Love with the Idea of Changing the World Than Actually Changing the World?. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2014. ISBN: 978-0781411127, Pub. Price $15.99. [240 pp.]

Gelinas, Robert. Finding the Groove: Composing a Jazz-shaped Faith. HarperCollins, 2012. ISBN: 978-0692371305, Pub. Price $9.99. [184 pp.]

Hoang, Bethany Hanke, and Kristen Deede Johnson. The Justice Calling: Where Passion Meets Perseverance. Brazos Press, 2017. ISBN: 978-1587433993, Pub. Price $ 18.99 [240 pp.]

Tutu, Desmond. God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time. Image, 2005. ISBN: 978-0385483711, Pub. Price $14.00 [128 pp.]

List B

Bill, J. Brent. Sacred Compass: The Way of Spiritual Discernment. Paraclete Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-1612612508, Pub. Price $13.99. [179 pp assigned]

Garber, Steven. Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good. InterVarsity Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-0830836666, Pub. Price $17.00. [256 pp.]

Heuertz, Phileena. Pilgrimage of a Soul: Contemplative Spirituality for the Active Life. InterVarsity Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0830836154, Pub. Price $16.00. [204 pp.]

Labberton, Mark. Called: The Crisis and Promise of Following Jesus Today. IVP Books, 2014. ISBN: 978-0830836833, Pub. Price $16.00 [176 pp.].

Palmer, Parker. Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation. Jossey-Bass, 2000. ISBN: 978-0787947354, Pub. Price $18.95. [109 pp.]

Rohr, Richard. Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life. John Wiley & Sons, 2011. ISBN: 978-1459635753, Pub. Price $19.99. [252 pp.]

Stevens, R. Paul. Aging Matters: Finding Your Calling for the Rest of Your Life. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2016. ISBN: 978-0802872333, Pub. Price $16.00 [160 pp.]

Articles & Chapters (on e-reserves):

Bolsinger, Tod. “Formed, Not Found” Fuller Magazine, Issue 1[4 pp.]

Branson, Mark Lau. “Practical Theology and Multicultural Initiatives.” In Churches, Cultures & Leadership: A Practical Theology of Congregations and Ethnicities, edited by Mark Lau Branson and Juan F. Martinez, 33-58. Downers Grove, IL: IVPAcademic, 2011. [25 pp.]

Branson, Mark Lau and Juan F. Martinez. “Introduction.” In Churches, Cultures & Leadership: A Practical Theology of Congregations and Ethnicities, edited by Mark Lau Branson and Juan F. Martinez, 11-30. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011. [19 pp.]

Branson, Mark Lau and Juan F. Martinez. “Sociocultural Structures, Ethnicity and Churches” in Churches, Cultures & Leadership: A Practical Theology of Congregations and Ethnicities, edited by Mark Lau Branson and Juan F. Martinez, 78-94. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011. [16 pp.]

Cahalan, Kathleen A. “Callings Over a Lifetime: In Relationship, Through the Body, Over Time, and For Community.” In Calling All Years Good: Christian Vocation Throughout Life’s Seasons, edited by Kathleen A. Cahalan and Bonnie J. Miller- McLemore, 12-32. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2017. [21 pp.]

Conde-Frazier, Elizabeth, S. Steve Kang, and Gary A. Parrett. “Three Stories” in A Many Colored Kingdom: Multicultural Dynamics for Spiritual Formation, 23-50. Baker Academic, 2004.

González, Justo L. “The Significance of a Minority Perspective” In Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective, 21-30. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1990.

Leong, David P. “Colorblind?” In Race and Place: How Urban Geography Shapes the Journey to Reconciliation, 39-58. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2017. [20 pp.]

Pitt, Richard. “I Heard a Voice from Heaven Say” in Divine Callings: Understanding the Call to Ministry in Black Pentecostalism, 41-71. New York: New York University Press, 2012. [30 pp.]

Reese, Randy and Robert Loane.“ A Storied Way: What We Learn from Editing Our Lives” in Deep Mentoring, 49-74. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2012. [25 pp.]

Tatum, Beverly Daniel. “The Complexity of Identity” in Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race, 18-28. Basic Books, 1997.

Tiersma Watson, Jude. “Learning the Unforced Rhythms of Grace: Creating a Rule of Life in a 24/7 World.” Fuller Youth Institute, February 26, 2014. Accessed September 1, 2017. https://fulleryouthinstitute.org/articles/learning-the-un- forced-rhythms-of-grace.

Biblical texts assigned [50 pages].

D. StrengthsFinders

*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:

850 pp. of required reading including at least 50 pages of biblical text (see list above). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [50 hours].
Online, Classroom and Vocation Formation Group (VFG) Participation: Students will participate in active learning to foster understanding of and capacity for engaging in theologically-informed reflection in the classroom and through participation in Vocation Formation Groups. (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #2, #3 and #4]. [12+20 hours+8 hours].
Directed Exercises and Disciplines: Student will participate over the quarter in disciplines and exercises outside of the classroom related to the core practices of the course. (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2] [15 hours].
Integrative Reflections: Students will engage in critical theological reflection on contextualized experiences using a practical theology or similar method, incorporating the readings for the course. (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3.] [20 hours].
Fieldwork Activity - StrengthsFinders and CoreClarity Coaching: Students will take the Strengthsfinders/CoreClarity Assessment and debrief the results via a phone call with a professional executive coach to learn more about their strengths and how to better grow them in use for God’s mission in the world. (5%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 and #2] [1 hour].
Spiritual Autobiography related to vocational formation. (5%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [2 hours].
Family and Financial autobiography related to vocational formation using the practical theology method that leads to the completion of a written financial plan for seminary that will support the student’s vocational goals (1,250 words). (5%) This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 and #3]. [8 hours].
Final Integrative Assignment: Integration paper that reflects theologically on the practices of this course and their implications for the student’s response to the CIQ and the exercises, habits, and disciplines in their current Rule of Life. (2500 words). (30%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3, 4 and 5]. [24 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.