Fall 2011/Pasadema
CF554
Jensen
CF554: SPIRITUAL FORMATION IN COLLEGE & YOUNG ADULT SETTINGS. L. Paul
Jensen.
DESCRIPTION: This course helps seminarians to deepen their intimacy with God
and to disciple students and young adults in the spiritual life. It addresses
how students and young adults are formed into the image of Christ for the sake
of others as they approach and pass through the critical college years.
Theological, historical, developmental, generational, and cultural perspectives
are considered. This is a course in practical theology in which a method will
be taught that connects biblical/theological resources, socio-cultural studies,
and practices of church and personal discernment, in service of missio
Dei and the praxis of Christian faith.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE & MINISTRY: Proven approaches to spiritual formation
for the sake of others will be reflected upon in light of the seminarian's life
and current or future ministry.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: As a result of taking this course, students will: (1)
Cognitive: Learn a practical theology method that connects their
experience with a biblical philosophy of discipleship rooted in spiritual
formation, a historical overview of spiritual disciplines and spiritual
awakenings especially among students and young adults, and a generational,
developmental, and cultural approach to issues related to the spiritual
formation of college students and young adults. (2) Affective: Desire to
be spiritual guides for and serve their families, the postmodern generations,
and those who have suffered abuse, oppression or who are caught in addictions.
(3) Behavioral: Gain competency in a comprehensive approach to practical
theology and the practice of graced rhythms of spiritual discipline in both
daily and extended times of fellowship with Jesus Christ. (4)
Existential: Be non-compulsive servant leaders whose service to others
increasingly derives from love for God, for others, and for themselves.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet nine times on Thursdays for three hours and
will also participate as a class in two Friday prayer retreats on October 7,
9:00am - 3:00pm and October 28, 9:00am - 4:00pm for extended personal communion
with God. The first retreat will occur at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center in
Sierra Madre and the second at a venue to be announced. Class will not
meet on Thursday, October 8, but will meet on Thursday, October 27.
A $25 fee, charged when registering, covers the retreat cost at Mater
Dolorasa (boxed lunches are extra). Instruction methods include lecture, media,
discussion, experiential learning, and small groups.
REQUIRED READING:
- Lovelace, Richard. Dynamics of Spiritual Life: An Evangelical
Theology of Renewal. IVP, 1979. ISBN: 978-0877846260. List price $30.
- Jensen, Paul. Subversive Spirituality: Transforming Mission through the
Collapse of Space and Time. Pickwick Publishers, 2009. ISBN:
978-1606081549. List price: $43.
- Nouwen, Henri. The Way of the Heart. Ballantine, 1975. ISBN:
978-0345463357. List price: $13.
- Parks, Sharon. Big Questions, Worthy Dreams. Jossey-Bass, 2000.
ISBN: 0787941719. $22.50.
- Smith, Christian, with Patricia Snell. Souls in Transition. Oxford
University Press, 2009. ISBN: 9780195371796. Pub. price: $24.95.
- Syllabus, notes, and course reader, which includes Dallas Willard's chapter
on spiritual disciplines from the Spirit of the Disciplines (1988),
articles on spiritual formation in college and young adult settings, links to
Internet resources on college ministry, and a chapter on practical theology in
Churches, Cultures and Leadership by Mark Lau Branson and Juan F.
Martinez.
- Each small group chooses one (at first class session):
- Beaudoin, T. Virtual Faith: The Irreverent Spiritual
Quest of Generation X. Jossey-Bass, 2000. ISBN: 9780787955274. Pbk:
$17.95.
- Belcher, Jim. Deep Church: A Third Way Between Emerging and
Traditional. IVP, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-8308-3716-8. List price: $17; eBook:
$13.
- Carroll, Colleen. The New Faithful: Why Young Adults Are Embracing
Christian Orthodoxy. Loyola Press, 2002. ISBN: 0829416455. List price:
$19.95.
- *Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together. HarperSanFrancisco, 1992.
ISBN: 978-0060608538. List price not available. *(1 person per group reads
this.)
- Each individual student chooses one:
- Clinton, J. R. The Making of a Leader. NavPress,
1988. ISBN: 978-0891091929. List price: $16.
- Miller, Keith. Hunger for Healing. HarperSanFrancisco, 1991. ISBN:
0060657677 (pbk). List price: $15.
- Ritzau, Kristin. A Beautiful Mess. Conversant Media Group, 2010.
ISBN: 978-0981951546. $15.99.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
- Reading (28%): seven reading logs using the practical theology
reflection method introduced in the course.
- Inner spiritual disciplines (32%): a one-page reflection paper on
each of the three periods of extended personal communion with God and four
weeks of daily journaling-four days/week.
- Outward spiritual disciplines (16%): participation in a small group
of class members involving six one-hour sessions outside of class, visit a
ministry of compassion and do a ministry exercise based on listening prayer and
reflection using the practical theological method introduced in this
course.
- Final project (24%): a 4,000-word (seventeen page) essay on
an issue addressed in the course or a two-day spiritual retreat with a
2,500-word paper (ten pages).
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in General Ministry and
Spirituality (MIN 1); meets MA requirement in Foundational Spirituality (FSP or
SPIR).
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (July 2011)