DESCRIPTION: This course is about the spiritual journey of Henri Nouwen, with particular focus on his integrated ministry approach and his counterintuitive brand of spirituality. First of all, it is a synthesis of Nouwen's holistic approach to Christian formation--one that integrates spirituality, psychology, ministry, and theology together in a seamless fashion. Secondly, it is an exploration of Nouwen's spirituality of imperfection which he embodied throughout his lived experience--where the journey toward perfection is through the realities of imperfection.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The course exposes us to Nouwen's integrative approach to the ministry of Christian formation (spiritual, communal, and missional)--one that goes against the expert-driven, individualistic, and overly specialized approach that is often one-dimensional, hierarchical, and highly institutionalized in focus.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: It is hoped that by the end of the course, the student will (1) be able to acquire a balanced understanding of the inward, outward, and upward nature of the spiritual journey and appropriate its reality within one's own experience; (2) be able to embrace a more integrated understanding of such journeying experience that incorporates the coinherent realities of spirituality, psychology, ministry, and theology; (3) be exposed to Nouwen's approach to the ministry of Christian formation with its combined spiritual, communal, and missional thrust as well as recognize its relevance and application to the local church; (4) be able to grasp in both theological and practical ways a spirituality of imperfection that Nouwen embodied himself; (5) be able to apply the art and discipline of theological reflection in whatever context one finds him/herself in.

COURSE FORMAT: A mixture of class lectures, student report/discussion, and small group interaction. The class will meet weekly for three-hour sessions (total of 9 class sessions), and a required class retreat scheduled for May 22 (8:00 a.m.-1:30 pm) at the Immaculate Heart Retreat Center (Los Angeles), with an additional cost of $50 to be paid in full upon registration.

REQUIRED READING:

Hernandez, Wil. Henri Nouwen: A Spirituality of Imperfection. Paulist Press, 2006.

_______. Henri Nouwen and Soul Care: A Ministry of Integration. Paulist Press, 2008.

Choose one biography: (DO NOT purchase any of the following until after the first class session.)

Ford, Michael. Wounded Prophet: A Portrait of Henri J. M. Nouwen. Doubleday, 1999.

O'Laughlin, Michael. God's Beloved: A Spiritual Biography of Henri Nouwen. Orbis, 2004.

Nouwen, Henri J. M. Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life. Any edition.

________. The Living Reminder: Service and Prayer in Memory of Jesus Christ. Any edition.

________. In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership. Crossroad, 1989.

Choose one journal: Genesee Diary, ¡Gracias!, The Road to Daybreak, or Sabbatical Journey. Any ed.

Course Reader including selected articles by Nouwen.

• Full attendance and participation in weekly sessions, including class and personal retreats (15%).

• Thoughtful reading of the assigned textbooks and course materials (10%).

• Eight-page Integration Paper focusing on spirituality's coinherence with either psychology, ministry, or theology (15%).

• Two-page Personal Essay addressing one's own spirituality of imperfection (10%).

• Three-page Interactive Journal Analysis (choose one from Nouwen's four journals; 10%).

• One-page Retreat Reflection Paper (5%).

• Three-page Book Report: A Portrait of Nouwen (based on one of his four biographies; 10%).

• Group Presentation (based on In the Name of Jesus; 15%)

• Three-four pages Theological Reflection Worksheet (10%).