Spring 2006/Pasadema
CF554
Jensen

CF554: SPIRITUAL FORMATION IN COLLEGE & YOUNG ADULT SETTINGS. L. Paul Jensen.


DESCRIPTION: This course helps seminarians deepen their own intimacy with God and disciple students/young adults in the spiritual life. It addresses how students and young adults are formed into the image of Christ for the sake of others as they approach and pass through the critical college years. Theological, historical, developmental, generational, and cultural perspectives are considered.

COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: As a result of taking this course: (1) Cognitive: Students will understand a biblical philosophy of discipleship rooted in spiritual formation; know a historical overview of spiritual disciplines and spiritual awakenings especially among students and young adults; understand a model of leadership development based upon spiritual formation; and know generational, developmental, and cultural issues to be addressed in the spiritual formation of college students and young adults. (2) Affective: Students will desire to serve and be spiritual guides for the members of their families, the postmodern generations, and those who have suffered abuse, oppression, or who are caught in addictions. (3) Behavioral: Students will practice spiritual disciplines in both daily and extended times of fellowship with the Lord. (4) Existential: Students will be noncompulsive servant leaders whose service to others increasingly derives from love for the Lord, for others, and for themselves.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Proven approaches to spiritual formation for the sake of others will be applied to the seminarian's life and current or future ministry.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet eight times on Thursdays for three hours and will also participate in two one-day prayer retreats (April 7, 9:00am-3:00pm, and May 5, 9:00am-4:00pm) for two times of extended personal communion with God. (Class will not meet on Thursday, April 6 and May 4.) The retreats will involve no additional charge to students. Instruction methods include lecture, video, discussion, experiential learning, and small groups.

REQUIRED READING:

Carroll, Colleen. The New Faithful: Why Young Adults Are Embracing Christian Orthodoxy. Loyola Press, 2002.

Clinton, J. R. The Making of a Leader. NavPress, 1988.

Lovelace, Richard. Dynamics of Spiritual Life: An Evangelical Theology of Renewal. InterVarsity Press, 1979.

Miller, Keith. Hunger for Healing. HarperSanFrancisco, 1991.

Nouwen, Henri. The Way of the Heart. Ballantine, 1975.

Parks, Sharon. Big Questions, Worthy Dreams. Jossey-Bass, 2000.

Syllabus and notes/Course Reader.

Choose one of the following:
Beaudoin, T. Virtual Faith: The Irreverent Spiritual Quest of Generation X. Jossey-Bass, 1998.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together. HarperSanFrancisco, 1992.

Pagitt, Doug. Reimagining Spiritual Formation. Zondervan, 2004

Zoba, Wendy. Generation 2K. InterVarsity Press, 1999.

ASSIGNMENTS: Reading: seven reading logs (28%). Inner spiritual disciplines: a one-page reflection paper on each of three periods of extended personal communion with God and four weeks of daily journaling, four days/week (32%). Outward spiritual disciplines: participation in a small group of class members involving six one-hour sessions outside of class, visit a ministry of compassion and do a ministry exercise based on group spiritual direction (16%). Final project: a 4,000-word (17 page) essay on an issue addressed in the course or a two-day spiritual retreat with a 2,500-word (10 page) paper (24%).

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MA requirement in Spirituality (SPIR).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.