Fall 2007/Pasadena
EV514
Watkins
EV514: URBAN EVANGELISM. Ralph C. Watkins.
DESCRIPTION: In this course we will examine evangelism from a historical and a
contemporary perspective. We will rely heavily on perspectives from Scripture
to inform our inquiry. We will also look at various strategies in urban
evangelism while visiting local ministries that are doing what we are
studying.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: There are five objectives to this course: (1) that students
understand and can articulate a coherent biblical, historical, and theological
basis of evangelism; (2) that students understand the importance of urban
sociology in the development and facilitation of a potentially successful
evangelism plan (how this translates into outreach); (3) that students be
aware of the institutional barriers to evangelism in churches and para-church
organizations; (4) that students be able to design an effective evangelism
plan; and finally (5) that students can better critique outreach programs,
organization, and activities in terms of their faithfulness to theological
traditions and effectiveness in reaching a particular audience that will in
turn motivate them to want to do evangelism.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The course is taught with a practical applied
focus. Students can expect to gain
- an understanding of the city as both environment and structure for
evangelism;
- an understanding of evangelism from biblical, historical, and theological
perspectives;
- an ability to plan outreach programs as well as critique outreach programs,
organization, and activities in terms of their faithfulness to theological
traditions and effectiveness in reaching particular audiences.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet weekly for a three-hour session. The course
will be discussion based. Students' active participation in every class is
expected. The course will be a centered around practical activities that help
students apply what they are learning. Multimedia approaches to learning will
be central to this course. Various songs, movie clips, documentaries, and other
cultural products will be used as a point of interrogation to consider the
promise of urban evangelism.
REQUIRED READING:
- Abraham, William J. The Logic of Evangelism. Eerdmans,
1989.
- Barna, George. Evangelism That Works: How to Reach Changing Generations
with the Unchanging Gospel. 1995.
- Cahsin, Sheryll. The Failures of Integration. Perseus Books Group,
2004.
- hooks, bell. Where We Stand: Class Matters. Routledge, 2000.
- LeGates, Richard T., and Frederic Stout, eds. The City Reader.
Routledge, 1997.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Bi-weekly three-to-five-page reading/reflection papers due every other week
(30%).
- An end-of-term project paper reflecting the student's design for an
evangelism strategy adequate to the challenge of the city, which will take
seriously the urban situation, a theology of urban ministry, the contribution
of the social sciences, and the realistic possibilities within the student's
denominational or para-denominational frame of reference. The end-of-term
project will be ten to fifteen pages (40%).
- Students will be required to participate in two scouting events during the
quarter (30%).
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Evangelism (MIN
3).
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (8/07)