Spring 2005/Pasadena
SP511
Hernandez
SP511: HENRI NOUWEN: A SPIRITUALITY OF IMPERFECTION. Willy Hernandez.
DESCRIPTION:
- This course is about the spirituality of Henri Nouwen, with
particular focus on his approach and his person. First of all, it
is a synthesis of Nouwen's holistic approach to spiritual formation and soul
care--one that integrates spirituality, psychology,
ministry, and theology together in a seamless fashion. Secondly,
it is an exploration of Nouwen's spirituality of imperfection which he
embodied throughout his lived experience--where the journey toward perfection
is through the realities of imperfection.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- The course exposes us to Nouwen's integrative approach to the
ministry of spiritual formation and soul care--one that goes against the
expert-driven, individualistic, and overly specialized approach that is often
one-dimensional, hierarchical, and highly institutionalized in focus.
COURSE FORMAT:
- A mixture of class lectures, student report/discussion, and small
group interaction. The class will meet seven times for three hours and will
participate in a two-hour public lecture (April 27) and an overnight, two-day
retreat (April 28-29) to be led by the Henri Nouwen Society leaders from Canada
(Class will not meet on May 11, May 18, and June 8). The total cost for the
retreat is $80 and is payable upon registration.
REQUIRED READING:
- Choose one biography: (DO NOT purchase any of the following
until after the first class session.)
- Jürgen Beumer. Henri Nouwen: A Restless Seeking
for God. Crossroad, 1997.
- Michael Ford. Wounded Prophet: A Portrait of Henri J. M. Nouwen.
Doubleday, 1999.
- Deirdre LaNoue. The Spiritual Legacy of Henri Nouwen. Continuum,
2000.
- Michael O'Laughlin. God's Beloved: A Spiritual Biography of Henri
Nouwen. Orbis, 2004.
- Nouwen, Henri J. M. Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the
Spiritual Life. Any edition.
- __________. The Living Reminder: Service and Prayer in Memory of Jesus
Christ. Any edition.
- Choose one journal: Genesee Diary, ¡Gracias!, The
Road to Daybreak, or Sabbatical Journey. Any edition.
- Nouwen Course Reader.
- Excerpted Essay Materials on Nouwen (On Reserve in the library).
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Full attendance and participation in weekly class sessions including
retreat and public lecture (20%).
- Thoughtful reading of the assigned textbooks and course materials (20%).
- One-page Reaction Paper based on the two-hour public lecture (5%).
- Eight-page Integration Paper focusing on spirituality's coinherence with
either psychology, ministry, or theology (20%).
- Two-page Personal Essay addressing one's own spirituality of imperfection
(10%).
- Three-page Interactive Journal Analysis (choose one from Nouwen's four
journals - 10%).
- One-page Retreat Reflection Paper (5%)
- Group Report: A Portrait of Nouwen (based on any of his four biographies -
10%).
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
- Meets MA in Theology requirement in Spirituality (SPIR).
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.