Spring 2005/Pasadena
TM520
Branson/Kernaghan
TM520: CHURCH-BASED URBAN RESEARCH: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES.
Mark Lau
Branson and Ronald Kernaghan.
DESCRIPTION:
- A congregation needs to understand its social and cultural context
and its own character and identity in relationship to its surrounding
community. Any urban environment can be described in terms of demographics,
organizations, present day activities, historical events, networks, economics,
political structures, and how churches embody certain characteristics and
engage their community. Research tools and resources will be explored and
implemented by students in selected geographic settings.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- Concepts: ecclesiology and missiology regarding church
interface with the world, and theory concerning quantitative and qualitative
research. Skills: quantitative and qualitative research in congregations
and nearby communities and report development and use. Conation:
commitment and habits accentuating church development and redevelopment, and
congregational outreach to a community.
COURSE FORMAT:
- The class will meet weekly for three-hour sessions for ten weeks.
Class times will include lectures, individual and group exercises, modeling,
web demonstrations, and reflective discussions of materials and experiences.
Students will also work individually and in groups in Highland Park.
REQUIRED READING:
- Branson, Mark Lau. Memories, Hopes, & Conversations.
Herndon, VA: Alban, 2004.
- Dudley, Carl. Community Ministry. Washington, DC: Alban, 2001.
- Jacobsen, Dennis. Doing Justice: Congregations and Community
Organizing. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2001
- Jacobsen, Eric. Sidewalks in the Kingdom. Grand Rapids: Brazos,
2003.
- Kretzmann, John and McKnight, John. Building Communities from the Inside
Out. Chicago: ACTA, 1993
- Course Reader.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Alinsky, Saul. Rules for Radicals. New York: Random House,
1971.
- Dudley, Carl. Next Steps in Community Ministry. Washington, DC:
Alban, 1996.
- Myers, Bryant, ed. Working with the Poor. Monrovia, CA: MARC,
1999.
- Sider, Ronald, et al. Churches that Make a Difference. Grand Rapids:
Baker, 2002.
- Wood, Richard. Faith in Action. Chicago: University of Chicago
Press, 2002.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Attend and participate in class (20%).
- Read assignments as scheduled; keep a reading log for submission (20%).
- Complete 30 hours of social research in Highland Park on Faith Presbyterian
Church and its neighborhood, including demographics, churches, community
networks, and congregational interviews (30%).
- Complete individual and group reports on research and analysis (30%).
- For students pursuing an A or A-, read an additional recommended book and
write a 500-word Adler-style review; write a 2000-word paper or curriculum on
congregational mission.
- Note: Students may apply for summer internships for follow-up
learning and experiences.
PREREQUISITES: Permission of instructor.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
- Meets MDiv core requirement in Mission (MIN8) and Globalization
(GLBL) for MA degrees.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.