Spring 2004/Pasadena
CF526
Branson
CF526: THE CONGREGATION AS LEARNING COMMUNITY. Mark Lau Branson.
DESCRIPTION:
- This is a course on biblical, theological and practical foundations
for creating a learning community in which the whole people of God, laity and
clergy, are formed for community and mission. Many aspects of a church's life
and activities (worship, small groups, story telling, education, spiritual
disciplines, organizational development) will be viewed regarding their role in
forming and equipping the congregation toward gospel faithfulness. Topics
include ecclesiology and missiology, the relationship between clergy and lay
leaders, the relationship between personal and corporate formation,
intergenerational and intercultural life, the relationship of careers to the
life and mission of a church, and resources in spiritual formation.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- Cognitive: conceptual connections between theology, church
models, leadership, and the idea of a learning community; Skills:
curriculum planning to advance congregational life that promotes formation,
including learning, deepened relationships, full participation, and missional
characteristics; Conation: vision for and commitment to forming
congregations as learning, missional, spiritual communities of faith.
COURSE FORMAT:
- The class meets weekly for three-and-a-half-hours for ten weeks.
Class will include lectures, individual and group exercises, reflective
discussions of materials and experiences, and group presentations.
REQUIRED READING:
- Guder, D., ed. Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending Church
in North America. Eerdmans, 1998.
- O'Connor, Elizabeth. Servant Leaders, Servant Structures. The
Servant Leadership School, 1991.
- Pazmino, Robert. Latin American Journey: Insights for Christian
Education in North America. United Church Press, 1994.
- Ogden, Greg. Unfinished Business: Returning the Ministry to the People
of God. Zondervan, 2003. (If student has previously read Ogden, then read
Stevens, R. Paul & Phil Collins. The Equipping Pastor. The Alban
Institute, 1993.)
- Wimberly, Anne Streaty. Soul Stories: African American Christian
Education. Abingdon, 1994.
- Class Reader (including Ng, Yoder, Westerhoff, Hauerwas, Gelpi,
Brueggemann).
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Brownson, James et al. Stormfront: The Good News of God.
Eerdmans, 2003.
- Everist, Norma Cook. The Church As Learning Community. Abingdon,
2002.
- Foster, Charles. Educating Congregations. Abingdon, 1994.
- Ng, David & Virginia Thomas. Children in the Worshiping
Community. John Knox Press, 1981.
- Westerhoff, John H. Will Our Children Have Faith? Rev. ed.
Morehouse, 2000.
- Yoder, John Howard. Body Politics: Five Practices of the Christian
Community Before the Watching World. Discipleship Resources, 1994.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- (1) Attend class, maintain Student Report Sheet (25%). (2) Read
texts and assigned articles on time (25%). (3) Complete a one-page form on all
articles (5%). (4) Write a 500-600 word book critique on each of the five main
textbooks (20%). (5) Write a 2500-3000 word term paper on what a
missional, learning congregation is and how leaders pursue this work
(25%). (6) To pursue an A, complete an Adler-style overview of 4 other
recommended books; read the Sermon on the Mount and write an 1500-2000 word
paper in reference to the course and your term paper.
PREREQUISITES: None. NOTE: This class is not available to students who took
CF565 from Branson.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
- Meets the M. Div. core requirement in Christian Formation and
Discipleship (MIN 4).
FINAL EXAMINATION: No.