Spring 2004/Pasadema
CF554
Jensen
CF554: SPIRITUAL FORMATION IN COLLEGE & YOUNG ADULT SETTINGS. Paul
Jensen.
DESCRIPTION:
- How does spiritual formation occur in ministries to students/young
adults as they approach and pass through the critical college years? How can an
inner spirituality which overflows in compassionate service become central for
leaders of these ministries? Proven approaches to spiritual formation for the
sake of others will be applied to the leader's life and ministry.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- The purpose of this course is to deepen the spiritual formation of
those discipling/mentoring college students and young adults so they can
enhance the spiritual formation of others. The goals of the course are: (1)
Cognitive: Formulate a biblical philosophy of discipleship rooted in
spiritual formation; survey the history of spiritual disciplines and spiritual
awakenings especially among students and young adults; learn a model of
leadership development based upon spiritual formation; and understand the
generational and developmental issues to be addressed in the spiritual
formation of college students and young adults. (2) Affective: Increase
the desire to serve and be spiritual guides for the members of one's family,
the postmodern generations and those who have suffered abuse, oppression or who
are caught in addictions; (3) Behavioral: Practice spiritual disciplines
in both daily and extended times of fellowship with the Lord.(4)
Existential: Be a non-compulsive servant leader whose service to others
is derived increasingly from love for the Lord and himself/herself.
COURSE FORMAT:
- The class will meet eight times on Thursdays for three hours and
will also participate in two one-day prayer retreats (April 16, 9:00am - 3:00pm
and April 30, 9:00am - 4:00pm) for two times of extended personal communion
with God. (Class will not meet on Thursday, April 15 and April 29.) The
retreats will involve no additional charge to students. Instruction methods
include lecture, video, discussion, experiential learning, and small
groups.
REQUIRED READING:
- Carroll, Colleen. The New Faithful: Why Young Adults Are
Embracing Christian Orthodoxy. Loyola Press, 2002.
- Clinton, J. R. The Making of a Leader. NavPress, 1988.
- Lovelace, Richard. The Dynamics of Spiritual Life. InterVarsity
Press, 1979.
- Miller, Keith. Hunger for Healing. HarperSanFrancisco, 1991.
- Nouwen, Henri. The Way of the Heart. Ballantine, 1975.
- Parks, Sharon. Big Questions, Worthy Dreams. Jossey-Bass, 2000.
- Willard, Dallas. The Spirit of the Disciplines. Harper & Row,
1988.
- Syllabus/course reader of articles and notes.
- Choose one of the following:
- Beaudoin, T. Virtual Faith: The Irreverent Spiritual
Quest of Generation X. Jossey-Bass, 1998.
- Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together. HarperSanFrancisco, 1992.
- Zoba, Wendy. Generation 2K. InterVarsity Press, 1999.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- A one-page reflection paper on each of the three periods of
extended personal communion with God; participation in a small supportive
fellowship of class members (six one-hour sessions); four weeks of journaling
(four days/week); a reading log; visiting a student group involved in a
ministry of compassion; a fifteen- to eighteen-page essay on an issue addressed
in the course or a two-day spiritual retreat with a ten-page paper.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
- Meets M.A. requirement in Spirituality (SPIR).
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.