Fall 2004/Pasadena
TM522
Colletti
TM522: HOMELESSNESS, CONGREGATIONS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. Joe
Colletti.
DESCRIPTION:
- Students will study the extent, causes, complexities, and factors
concerning homeless persons. Further, biblical, theological, and personal
reflection will form our conversation as we explore options for congregations.
This course will also serve as a practical guide for urban ministry among
homeless persons that is compassionate and thoroughly rooted in the gospel.
Instruction will focus on understanding the biblical basis for urban ministry,
identifying the complex needs of homeless persons in local communities, and
starting and managing social ministries within local communities.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- The church and the world are in need of people who are faithfully
committed to demonstrate a biblical witness to communities troubled by the
persistence of homelessness. Students will be encouraged to discover a
practical approach to, and a theological basis for, understanding and
ministering to homeless persons. Students also will be personally challenged to
engage in social ministries and give bold and specific suggestions about how
that practical engagement should take place. Completion of the course should
allow students to comprehend how compassionate social action can be combined
with spiritual, social, and economic means to alleviate the plight of homeless
persons.
COURSE FORMAT:
- The class will meet once a week for a three-hour session. Each
session will consist of lectures, discussion of readings and ministry
experiences, and a guest lecturer or panel presentation combined with class
interaction.
REQUIRED READING:
- Burt, Martha, Laudan Y. Aron, and Edgar Lee with Jesse Valente.
Helping America's Homeless. Urban Institute Press, 2001.
- Cummings, Charles. Monastic Practices. Cistercian Publications,
Inc., 1986.
- Kretzmann, John P. and John L. McKnight. Building Communities from the
Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community's Assets. ACTA
Publications, 1993.
- Strategies for Reducing Chronic Street Homelessness. Office of
Policy Development and Research/U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development, 2004.
- Course Reader.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Prepare for and participate regularly in class.
- A brief "Personal View of Homeless People" paper (500 words).
- A brief theological reflection paper (250-500 words) on the readings due
each week (eight papers).
- A final paper (minimum 2500 words) on theoretical, theological, and
practical matters of starting and managing an urban ministry or about a
specific issue concerning homelessness such as mental illness, substance abuse,
domestic violence, etc.
- A minimum of 10 hours of on-site volunteer work at local homeless
ministries.
PREREQUISITES:
- None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
- Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION:
- None.