Spring 2019/Houston

PR512

Williams

PR512: PREACHING PRACTICUM (4 Units: 160 hours). Jaclyn Williams.

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DESCRIPTION: PR512 is designed as a 4-unit practicum in preaching that follows PR500 in the sequence of required preaching courses. The course provides students with an opportunity to work the “Developing” and “Mastery” levels of competence by preparing, preaching, listening to, responding to, and assessing sermons in a classroom setting. Instructors lead students through the following steps: assessing one’s prior preaching experience; setting personal goals for the class; preparing and preaching sermons; receiving feedback on sermons and engaging in self - assessment; making specific plans for continued growth and improvement; reflecting on one’s experience during the class; setting goals for continued learning and growth in preaching after completion of the class.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course students will have demonstrated (1) competence in biblical interpretation through faithful use of the whole canon of Scripture in proclaiming the gospel; (2) capacities for engaging listeners in preaching as a formative activity in the context of worship; (3) an understanding of how the theology of the Church and its historical developments, including the practice of preaching, inform the proclamation of the gospel in the present; and (4) competence in preaching as a theologically reflective practice that serves the Church’s vocation of proclaiming the gospel in the whole of life.

COURSE FORMAT: The class meets once weekly for three hours for a total of 30 hours of classroom work. The remaining 10 hours are completed in Directed Learning Activities. The course is primarily focused on practice with a moderate amount of outside reading to assist in the process of assessing and reflecting on sermon. The practicum is led by the professor and requires participation of the whole class. Students preach a minimum of three (3) sermons for which they receive feedback, evaluative comments, and guidance to encourage continued reflection, learning, and growth. Students also engage in self-assessment and reflection after each sermon. In addition to class discussions following each sermon, students are able to consult individually with the professor.

REQUIRED READING: 660 pages required. The students will pick a book from the recommended reading list to replace any texts that have already been read.

Childers, Jana. Performing the Word: Preaching as Theatre. Abingdon Press, 1998. ISBN: 978-0687074235, Pub. Price $21.99 [152pp.].

Craddock, Fred. Preaching. Abingdon, 2010. ISBN: 978-0687659944, Pub. Price $24.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [224pp].

LaRue, Cleophus J. I Believe I’ll Testify: The Art of African American Preaching. Westminster/John Knox, 2011. ISBN: 978-0664236779, Pub. Price $20.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [144pp.].

Lowry, Eugene. The Homiletical Plot: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form (Expanded Edition). Westminster John Knox, 2000. ISBN: 978-0664222642, Pub. Price $22.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [140 pp. assigned]

RECOMMENDED READING:

Brown, Sally, and Luke Powery. Ways of the Word. Fortress Press, 2016. ISBN: 978-0800699222, Pub. Price $32.00 [250 pp.].

Buechner, Frederick. Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale. Harper and Row, 1977. ISBN: 978-0060611569, Pub. Price $17.99 [112pp.].

Gonzalez, Justo L. and P.A. Jimenez. Pulpito: An Introduction to Hispanic Preaching. Abingdon, 2005. ISBN: 978-0687088508, Pub. Price $21.99 [152pp.].

Kim, Eunjoo Mary. Preaching the Presence of God: A Homiletic from an Asian American Perspective. Judson Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0817013035, Pub. Price $14.99 [160pp.].

Lischer, Richard. The Company of Preachers. Eerdmans, 2002. ISBN: 978-0802846099, Pub. Price $38.00 [496pp.].

Long, Thomas G. The Witness of Preaching, 3rd Ed. Westminster/John Knox Press, 2016. ISBN: 978-0664261429, Pub. Price $30.00 [240pp.].

LaRue, Cleophus J. The Heart of Black Preaching. Westminster John Knox, 1999. ISBN: 978-0664258474, Pub Price $30.00 [272pp.]

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 660 pages of required reading (10%). [This assignment is related to outcomes # 1, 2, 3, 4]. [35 hours].
2. Prepare and preach two (2) sermons and provide exegetical notes and self-assessment for each of the sermons. Students are required to complete the following: (a) Prepare and preach a sermon, with particular attention to the place of preaching in worship and preaching as a catechetical/formative practice of the church. Preaching will include sermons from both the Old and New Testaments. Students will submit exegetical notes with each sermon. The professor will provide guidelines for exegetical work. (b) Complete a substantive homiletic self-assessment after each sermon that reflects specifically on both strengths and weaknesses and sets goals for continuing improvement and growth in preparing and preaching sermons (35%). [This assignment is related to outcomes #1, 2, 4]. [45 hours].
3. Preach sermon #3 (2 parts): Prepare and preach a sermon and write a reflective essay—(a) Submit notes on biblical interpretation that support the sermon, including an assessment of the preaching context(s). Exegetical work should emphasize interpreting texts within the whole biblical canon for proclaiming the gospel [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. Preach the sermon as assigned. (b) Write a 900-word essay that reflects theologically on the sermon in light of the course objectives, the student’s emerging vocational plans related to the ministry of the Word, and the church’s calling to proclaim the gospel in all of life. It should address what is distinct about the student’s particular voice and perspective and identify moral, social, and cultural injustices within the student’s particular community that are addressed by the proclamation of the gospel. (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2, 4] [35 hours].
4. Attend and participate in class (10%). [This assignment is related to outcomes # 1, 2, 3, 4]. [30 hours].
5. Preaching Autobiography. Revisit your preaching autobiography from PR500. Write a 750 word addendum that will be presented in class. This addendum should reflect on: 1) the student’s evolving process as a preacher; 2) how the student’sexperience with preaching has impacted the experience as a participant in communities of faith; 3) the student’s understanding of the role of preacher as leader within God’s mission. Students will include supportive material that will enhance effective communication during the presentation. (5%). [This assignment is related to outcome #2,4] [5 hours].
6. DLA: Write weekly one-page updates to a preaching process journal (5%).[This assignment is related to outcome # 4] [10 hours]

PREREQUISITES: PR500. It is recommended that students take preaching courses towards the end of their program.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the P1 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets the core requirement in Preaching and Communication (MIN2) in the 144 MDiv program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.