Fall 2009/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.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The course is taught with a practical applied focus. Students can expect to gain

  1. an understanding of the city as both environment and structure for evangelism;

  2. an understanding of evangelism from biblical, historical, and theological perspectives;

  3. 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.

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; (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; and (6) that this understanding will in turn motivate them to want to do evangelism.

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:
Butler, Octavia. The Parable of the Sower. Warner Books, 2000.

Chilcote, Paul, and Laceye C. Warner, eds. The Study of Evangelism: Exploring a Missional Practice of Church. Eerdmans, 2008.

hooks, bell. Where We Stand: Class Matters. Routledge, 2000.

Rainer, Thom, and Sam S. Rainer III. Essential Church? Reclaiming a Generation of Dropouts. B & H Publishing Group, 2008.

Savage, Mike, Alan Warde, and Kevin Warde. Urban Sociology, Capitalism and Modernity. Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.

Stetzer, Ed. Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them. B & H Publishing Group, 2009.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
  1. Bi-weekly three-to-five-page reading/reflection papers due every other week (30%).

  2. 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%).

  3. 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).

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (7/09)