DESCRIPTION: This course will teach students to integrate faith, spiritual
traditions, spiritual practices, ecclesiology, and urban ministry. Such
integration has helped ordinary people live extraordinary lives. Students will
apply and cultivate their faith, learn and practice spiritual disciplines
(e.g., reflection, contemplation, compassion) and be involved in urban ministry
which will help them understand more broadly and profoundly their call to a
deeper spiritual life that includes being agents of change within the
communities and congregations in which they live, work, worship, and serve.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing the class will (1) learn about several
historic and contemporary Christian leaders who have shaped spiritual
traditions and practices by their faith and urban ministry (cognitive); (2)
learn and practice several spiritual activities such as lectio divina,
examination of consciousness, and night-watch vigils that have been used by
others to integrate their faith and social ministries (skills); and (3)
experience a deepened commitment towards their own personal relationship with
God and with their urban neighbors (affective).
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Students will be challenged to engage in social
ministry during the course and integrate their ministry experiences with
spiritual practices that will be introduced in class each week. Ministry will
involve interactions with persons engaged in experiences such as arts/music,
affordable housing, domestic violence, gangs, chronic health care needs,
homelessness, mental illness, parks/recreation, and substance abuse.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet once a week for a three-hour session. Each
session will consist of a lecture, spiritual exercises, introduction to
spiritual traditions, discussion of readings, sharing of ministry experiences,
and include guest panelists combined with class interaction. Class activities
will also include interaction in the community.
REQUIRED READING: