Winter 2009/Pasadena
CF560
Gorman

CF560: ADULT FORMATION AND DISCIPLESHIP. Julie Gorman.


DESCRIPTION: The future belongs to adults! We pass on who we are to the next generation. How is the current decline in Western Christianity a wakeup call for Adult Formation? What is our response to "Jesus, yes. Church, no?" What does it mean to be adult and Christian in today's world? How does our theological thinking energize our response to culture and determine the way we are prepared to deal with the world of un-Christians? What dilemmas and questions are present in being adult, living in continuous change? How do today's adults learn? Having a birthday? What makes aging God's intentional plan? This class looks at the role adults play in the church and the world and ways to cultivate adult faith in the process. It includes our changing world, the emerging church, adults and the arts, kingdom-focused spirituality, and encourages a corporate discipleship focus for survival.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Cognitively: Learners will become conscious of the role of adults in God's plan, the impact of their development, and what enables adult faith to grow. Affectively: Learners will learn to value how God designed adults to actively participate in their own growth and will be motivated to help them discern and design transforming experiences. Behaviorally: Learners will participate in discovering their own images of adulthood and learning styles and will be involved in actively creatively new paradigms which incorporate learning experiences from class. Existentially: Learners will become persons who recognize his/her mission as an adult in God's kingdom and will cultivate continued integration of concepts taught in class in his/her ministry in church and world.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: With few exceptions everyone experiences adulthood. This course speaks to how adults can grow and learn and what to expect in working and communicating with adults., teaching skills to enable adults to participate in mission and maturity, enabling them to be fulfilled in carrying out their calling in church and world.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet twice a week for two-hour sessions. Methods of instruction will include lecture, interaction, small groups, video viewing, surveying, gaming, and skills work in class.

REQUIRED READING:

Gorman, Julie. Expanded Course Syllabus. Fuller Seminary, 2009.

Hagberg, J. & R. Guelich. The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith. Sheffield, 1995.

Kimball, Dan. The Emerging Church. Zondervan, 2003.

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

Webber, Robert E., Who gets to Narrate the world? InterVarsity Press, 2008,

RECOMMENDED READING:
Belenky, Mary Field, et al. Women's Ways of Knowing. Basic Books, 1986.

Fowler, James. Becoming Adult, Becoming Christian. Harper & Row, 1984.

George, R. & J. Krajewski. Herding Cats: Teaching Leading in a Postmodern World. College Press, 2001.

Loder, James E. The Logic of the Spirit. Jossey-Bass, 1998.

Merriam, Sharan B. & Rosemary S. Caffarella. Learning in Adulthood. 3rd ed. Jossey-Bass, 2006.

Sheehy, Gail. New Passages. Random House, 1995.

ASSIGNMENTS: (1) Insights into one's own adult development. (2) Response to postmodern influence on adulthood and results in churches. (3) Personal reflection on one's own Christian formation and discipleship journey. (4) Group classroom demonstration of an adult learning theory. (5) Creation of a personal and ministry response to adult faith and learning concepts.

PREREQUISITES: None. No audits.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Christian Formation and Discipleship (MIN 4).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (10/08)