Fall 2011/Pasadena
Fuller Live!
GM509
Garcia-Johnson
GM509: LAS BASES DEL MINISTERIO [Foundations for Ministry]. Oscar
Garcia-Johnson.
DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this course is to identify and develop the central
themes related to the practice of ministry. As a course in Practical Theology,
it will connect Christian spirituality with the work of leadership, including
special attention to developing the character and skills a person needs for
this vocation. Students will be exposed to various Christian spiritual
traditions. The principal objective is to help the students refocus their
calling and their relationship with God according to a mature perspective on
ministry.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Students already in ministry need to take
time to reflect on their call, on their self-understanding and its relationship
to effective ministry, and on spiritual formation as the foundation for
ministry.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: In this class students will
- develop a deepened and renewed understanding of the nature of ministry to
help them rediscover their personal dimension of ministry, vision, and
motivation;
- gain greater conceptual clarity concerning practical theology as a method
that serves ministry praxis by observing and describing experiences;
integrating various disciplines including classical theologies (biblical
studies, philosophical theology, church history, etc.), socio-cultural
resources, personal and communal spiritualities; and pursuing the work of
shaping and evaluating ministry activities;
- participate in a formational small group that seeks to actualize in their
own experience the spiritual practices or disciplines that emerge from the
course as well as reflect on the content of the course;
- develop a deepened and renewed relationship with God as the foundation for
their ministry.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet on five Saturdays: Oct. 8, 22; Nov. 5, 19;
Dec. 3. The course will be developed through presentations by the professor and
guest speakers, group activities in class, regular small group sessions, class
discussions, personal interviews, and a spiritual retreat. Students in the
class will take the 16PF exam, which has an additional cost of $30.00.
REQUIRED READING:
- Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Vida en comunidad. Ediciones
Sígueme, 1985. ISBN: 978-8430108930; $17.00.
- Conde-Frazier, Escuchemos a los niños/Listen to the Children.
Judson, 2011. ISBN: 978-0817016616; $13.99.
- Segura, Harold. Más allá de la Utopía: Liderazgo de
Servicio y Espiritualidad Cristiana. Kairos, 2005. ISBN: 9879403800;
$10.00.
- Course reader, including readings on Christian ministry and also the book
of Robert Clinton, La hechura de un líder (private
translation).
- Choose only one:
- Boff, Leonardo. El águila y la gallina: Una
metáfora de la condición humana. Buenos Aires, Bonum, 2004.
ISBN: 978-8481642773; $24.75.
- Gutiérrez, Gustavo. Beber en su Propio Pozo. Sígueme,
1998. ISBN: 8430109420; 978-8430109425; $20.00.
- Nouwen, Henri. In the Name of Jesus: Reflection on Christian
Leadership. Crossroad, 1998. ISBN: 978-0824512590; $15.00.
- Choose only one:
- Foster, Richard. Alabanza a la disciplina.
Betania, 1986. ISBN: 978-1597523523. $24.00.
- Willard, Dallas. Renueva tu Corazón: Sé como Cristo.
Clie, 2004. ISBN: 8482674161. $15.00.
- Nouwen, Henri. La Compasión en la Vida Cotidiana. Lumen,
1996. ISBN: 9507245472. $20.00.
RECOMMENDED READING
- García-Johnson, Oscar. ¡Jesús, hazme
como tú! 40 maneras de imitar a Cristo. Kerigma, 2010. ISBN:
0976734141; $10.00.
- Driver, Juan. Convivencia radical espiritualidad para el siglo 21.
Kairós, 2007. ISBN: 987135505X; 978-9871355051; $13.50.
- McDonald, Gordon. Ponga orden su mundo interior. Editorial Caribe,
n.d. ISBN: 9780881132465; $8.99.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
- Regular attendance and participation in all aspects of the course (10%).
- Reflection paper: The Meaning of the Call to Ministry Today (2-3 pages)
(5%).
- Reflection papers on three of the books in the bibliography (1-2 pages
each) (15%).
- Practical theology paper: personal response to a ministry/life situation
where theological competence, spiritual discernment, and the praxis of servant
leadership is exercised (5-6 pages) (20%).
- Participation in the spiritual retreat and reflection on the experience
(3-5 pages) (20%).
- Participate in a small group and maintain a spiritual journal
(30%).
PREREQUISITES: Spanish.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in General Ministry
& Spirituality (MIN 1) and the Foundational Spirituality (FSP or SPIR)
requirement for MA degrees requiring it.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (July 2011)