DESCRIPTION:

This class proposes a theology of evangelism that nurtures an appreciation for and a selective appropriation of our media culture. The class will provide a creative environment to discern the communication patterns in the Biblical text and learn from contemporary technologies of communication. What does it mean to be witnesses to the Kingdom of God? How are we to understand Christ and culture? Why should we become competent viewers of images? How does the proliferation of images irreversibly change how people learn? Can evangelism survive and thrive in popular culture? What are the probing questions intrinsic to the Gospel that challenge the hegemony of media culture? These crucial queries inform the nexus of evangelism and media culture to be considered in this course.

1. Reflecting on the inescapable influence of media culture that impacts church communications.

2. Designing a theological framework for participatory evangelism in our culture.

3. Identifying ways that evangelism can be authentically Gospel and visually stimulating.

The course will meet twice weekly for four-hour sessions for five weeks. The class will be conducted in seminar style: utilizing presentation, student work groups, field trips, guest panelists, media exhibits, and discussion. The class will invite a variety of perspectives on the practices of evangelism and the habits of media.

Brueggemann, W. Biblical Perspectives on Evangelism. Abingdon, 1993.

Detweiler, C. and B. Taylor. A Matrix of Meanings. Baker, 2003.

Kellner, D. Media Culture. Routledge, 1995.

Stephens, M. The Rise of the Image, The Fall of the Word. Oxford, 1998.

Arias, Mortimer. Announcing the Reign of God. Fortress, 1984.

Bauckham, Richard. Bible and Mission. Baker Academic, 2003.

Guder, Darrell L. The Continuing Conversion of the Church. Eerdmans, 1999.

Kallenberg, Brad. Live to Tell. Eerdmans, 1999.

Webber, Robert E. Ancient-Future Evangelism. Baker, 2003.

1. Student group oral presentation (Work Groups): 20% of grade.

2. Two-to-three-page paper reflecting on a particular media experience and a notebook on media culture (15 pieces): 30% of grade.

3. Eight-to-ten-page paper developing a theology of evangelism in the context of media culture: 25% of grade.

4. 1500 pages of reading/4-5 pages of discussion notes: 25% of grade.

Meets M. Div. core requirement in Evangelism (MIN 3).