Spring 2003/Pasadena
TM520
Branson/Colletti
TM520: CHURCH-BASED URBAN RESEARCH: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES.
Mark Lau Branson and Joseph Colletti.
DESCRIPTION:
- A congregation needs to understand its social and cultural context
and its own character and identity in relationship to its surrounding
community. Any urban environment can be described in terms of demographics,
organizations, present-day activities, historical events, networks, economics,
political structures, and how churches embody certain characteristics and
engage their community. Research tools and resources will be explored and
implemented by students in selected geographic settings.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- Concepts: ecclesiology and missiology regarding church
interface with the world, and theory concerning quantitative and qualitative
research. Skills: quantitative and qualitative research in congregations
and nearby communities and report development and use. Conation:
commitment and habits accentuating church development and redevelopment, and
congregational outreach to a community.
COURSE FORMAT:
- The class will meet weekly for 3 hours, for ten weeks. Class times
will include lectures, individual and group exercises, modeling, web
demonstrations, and reflective discussions of materials and experiences.
Students will also work individually and in groups outside of class.
REQUIRED READING:
- Bakke, Ray. A Theology as Big as the City. Downers Grove:
InterVarsity Press, 1997.
- Dudley, Carl. Community Ministry. Washington, DC: Alban, 2001.
- Jacobsen, Dennis. Doing Justice: Congregations and Community
Organizing. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2001
- Class Reader.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Alinsky, Saul. Rules for Radicals. New York: Random House,
1971.
- Dudley, Carl. Next Steps in Community Ministry. Washington, DC:
Alban, 1996.
- Kretzmann, John & McKnight, John. Building Communities from the
Inside Out. Chicago: ACTA, 1993.
- Myers, Bryant, ed. Working with the Poor. Monrovia, CA: MARC,
1999.
- Sider, Ronald, et al. Churches that Make a Difference. Grand Rapids:
Baker, 2002.
- Watkins, Jane Magruder & Bernard Mohr. Appreciative Inquiry.
Jossey-Bass, 2001.
- Wood, Richard. Faith in Action. University of Chicago Press,
2002.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Attend and participate in class. (25%)
- Read assignments as scheduled; read 200 additional (from "Recommended,"
Reader bibliography, or pre-approved); keep a reading log for submission.
(25%)
- Complete 30 hours of social research on congregations and neighborhoods,
including demographics, community assets, and interviews. (25%)
- Complete individual and group reports on research and analysis. (25%)
- For students pursuing an A or A-, a 2000-word paper or curriculum on
congregational mission.
- Note: Students may apply for summer internships for follow-up
learning and experiences.
PREREQUISITES: None
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
- Meets M.Div. core requirement in Missions (MIN8) and the
requirement in Globalization (GLBL) for M.A. degrees.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None