DESCRIPTION:

This is an introductory course on biblical, theological, and practical matters in ecclesiology and leadership. The work of lay and clergy leadership is explored in relationship to congregation formation, spiritual formation, and mission formation. All participants in a church are to be formed into an "interpretive community" that is engaged with God personally and corporately in spiritual formation and in missional outreach.

Concepts: theological studies in ecclesiology & organizational development theory on leadership. Skills: theological reflection and small group interpretive skills relevant to congregational life & leadership. Conation: commitment and habits fronting church development & redevelopment.

The class will meet for two hours, twice weekly, for ten weeks. Class times will include lectures, individual & group exercises, reflective discussions of materials and experiences, and guest speakers.

Budde, Michael. The (Magic) Kingdom of God. Boulder, CO: Westview, 1997.

Dietterich, Inagrace. Cultivating Missional Communities. Chicago: The Center for Parish Development, 1995.

Lohfink, Gerhard. Jesus and Community. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1984.

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.)

Roxburgh, Alan. Crossing the Bridge. Percept, 2000 (not in bookstore; web pdf will be supplied).

Class Reader including James Brownson, James Evans, Stanley Hauerwas, David Ng, Elizabeth O'Connor, Manuel Ortiz, Eugene Peterson.

Anderson, Ray. Ministry on the Fireline. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1993.

Banks, Robert. Paul's Idea of Community. Rev. ed. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1994.

Brownson, James, et al. Stormfront: The Good News of God. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.

Clapp, Rodney. A Peculiar People. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1996

Guder, Darrell, ed. The Missional Church. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989

Hauerwas, Stanley and William Willimon, Resident Aliens. Nashville: Abingdon, 1989.

Van Gelder, Craig. The Essence of the Church. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000.

Yoder, John Howard. Body Politics: Five Practices of the Christian Community Before the Watching World. Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 1994.

(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 and books (5%). (4) Write a 500-600 word Adler-style book critique on Budde and Lohfink (10%). (5) Team visits to a church; write 1000-word paper reflecting on "gospel" and "church" as experienced in comparison with class (10%). (6) Write a 2500-3000 word term paper that integrates issues of ecclesiology, context, and leadership (25%). (7) To pursue an A, complete an Adler-style overview of 3 other recommended books; read Colossians and write a 1500-2000 word paper in reference to the course and your term paper.

Meets MDiv core requirement in Pastoral Ministry & Theology (MIN 6) or the requirement in Ministry Foundations (MIN F) for other master's degrees.