Spring 2010/Pasadena
GM578
García-Johnson
GM578: MINISTERIO URBANO HISPANO (Hispanic Urban Ministry). Oscar
García-Johnson
DESCRIPTION: The course uses a theological/sociological approach designed to
enhance the student's understanding of the complexities of doing ministry in
the urban Hispanic/Latino context, particularly working with urban poor. The
professor and guest lecturers will expose students to a variety of
disciplines, such as social/cultural studies, missiology, and theology, in
search of an integrative model of ministry in the city. The course involves
doing theological reflections and designing practical ways of developing
ministries geared towards effective social transformation in the
Hispanic/Latino communities.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The unmistakable realities characterizing
the Hispanic/Latino community require an expression of ministry that responds
to the demands of this community and empowers it to attain civic engagement.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Completion of the course should allow students to
- have a foundational understanding of a ministry model for Latino/a
communities in the urban setting;
- gain an understanding of how a variety of disciplines and Hispanic/Latino
theologies interpret the Hispanic/Latina condition and make significant
contributions toward civic engagement from a contextual-urban perspective;
- gain exposure to Hispanic/Latino ministries that are being effective in the
urban context of Los Angeles.
COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet once a week for three-hour sessions of
lecture and discussions. Some of these will take place off-campus at field
sites.
REQUIRED READING:
- Arreola, Daniel., ed. Hispanic Spaces, Latino Places: Community
and Cultural Diversity in Contemporary America. Austin: University of Texas
Press, 2004.
- Befus, David. Negocios para el Reino: La empresa productiva como
herramienta para el avance del Reino de Dios. Miami: Latin America
Misión, 2000.
- Davey, Andrew. Cristianismo Urbano y Globalización: Recursos
teológicos para un futuro urbano. España: Sal Terrae, 2003.
- Yamamori, Tetsunao, Gregorio Rake, and C. René Padilla, eds.
Servir con los Pobres en América Latina: Modelos de Ministerio
Integral. Buenos Aires: Ediciones Kairos, 1997.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
- Initial paper on one's personal view of the city and prospective for urban
ministry (10%).
- Reading assignments to be completed before each class.
- A one-page reflection paper on the reading assignments due each week
(25%).
- Minimum of 10 hours of volunteer work (25%).
- Volunteer work reflective journal (10%)
- A final paper that should incorporate a theology of the church in the city
and a proposal for civic engagement from a Hispanic/Latino perspective
(30%).
PREREQUISITES: Spanish.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Missions (MIN 8).
Also meets requirement for MDiv concentration in Multicultural Ministries
(Hispanic Church Studies) and for MA in Multicultural Ministries (Hispanic
Church Studies).
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (Posted January 2010)