DESCRIPTION: This is a course on biblical, theological, and practical matters in ecclesiology and leadership. The work of lay and clergy leadership is explored in relationship to congregation formation, spiritual formation, and mission formation. All participants in a church are to be formed into an "interpretive community" that is engaged with God personally and corporately in spiritual formation and in missional life. Working from a praxis-theory-praxis perspective, the course will attend to topics as they are integrated in a practical theology methodology.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Concepts: a practical theology approach to the theological praxis of missional ecclesiology and leadership. Skills: theological reflection and interpretive skills relevant to congregational life & leadership. Conation: commitment and habits fronting church development and redevelopment.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) Greater commitment to participating in congregational life, worship, and mission. (2) Increased understanding of the tasks of pastoral leadership. (3) Increased skills related to the work of a pastor. (4) Increased clarity concerning one's own gifts and calling in relationship to pastoral ministry.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet weekly for three-hour sessions, and will include lectures, individual and group exercises, site visits, reflective discussions of materials and experiences, and guest speakers. (Class will not meet on Jan. 17 MLK Day; class will meet on March 14 during exam week.)

REQUIRED READING:

Branson, Mark Lau. Memories, Hopes, and Conversations. Alban, 2004. ISBN: 978-1566992886; $18.

Branson, Mark Lau, and Juan Martínez. Churches, Cultures, and Leadership. InterVarsity Press, in press (on Moodle; n/c).

Lohfink, Gerhard. Jesus and Community. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1984. ISBN: 978-0800618025; $22.

Roxburgh, Alan, and M. Scott Boren. Introducing the Missional Church. Baker, 2009. ISBN: 978-0801072123; $18.

Walsh, Brian, and Sylvia Keesmaat. Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2004. ISBN: 978-0830827381; $23.

Articles on Moodle.

1. Attend class, read textbooks and assigned articles; maintain Student Report Sheet (20%).

2. Web interaction on readings prior to class (10%).

3. Write a 500-600 word Adler-style book critique on Lohfink and Walsh/Keesmaat (10%).

4. Reflective essay (700-900 words) on your leadership capacities in light of class through week 5 (10%).

5. Team visits to a church; personal 1000-word research paper (observation/interpretation), per syllabus (10%).

6. Reflective blogging on the pastoral praxis of 2 guest speakers (10%).

7. Write a 2000-2500 word term paper, per syllabus, that integrates issues of ecclesiology, missiology, context, and leadership (30%).