Winter 2013/Pasadena

CF507

Gorman

CF507: BUILDING CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY. Julie Gorman.

DESCRIPTION: We are made for relationship from the moment of birth onward. We text and twitter incessantly and yet find it all but impossible to actually be present to people today. Christian formation happens often in the context of community. Like it or not, we are born into a family with God as Father, with Jesus and other believers as siblings. A community of believers is essential to discipleship. Today “natural networks” of community like marriage, family, and the neighborhood are experiencing crisis and dissolution. This course focuses on the place of relational experiences among Christians as God’s design for survival and growth in the faith, provided as a secure place we can come home to, as an enriching circle of friends and as a stimulating connection that allows us to carry out missional discipleship together. Theological design, social learning contributions, practical and vocational settings structure the course as participants become involved in relational praxis and opportunities to experience transformation in head, heart, skills, and purpose.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The experiencing of relational community is at the heart of becoming the church as God envisioned it. Being “in Christ” means becoming a part of his family. Learning how to get along in that family and how to enrich and empower others because of who we are as a reflection of Christ is inherent in being God’s family. Such relational connection is attractive to persons in today’s world who want to experience belonging before believing. Ministering in the name of Jesus means enabling persons to connect with each other and with him as the venue for showing not-yet-believers what it means to be kingdom people and believers, to know the King is present wherever two or three are gathered in the name of Christ.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Learners will become cognizant of the biblical framework for relational community and be aware of what reveals the development of such in real life occasions. They will become aware of what it meant to be (and hopefully take steps toward becoming) more committed to nurturing these conditions for community-building in committees, groups, and the gatherings of Christians, prizing their heritage as members of the Body of Christ and valuing others who share that connection. Learners will actively take steps to live out the concept and principles of relational community with a missional purpose in today’s world. Existentially, learners will become persons who recognize, rejoice in, and practice relational community as foundational to ministry in the name of Jesus.

COURSE FORMAT: Class will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions with lectures, discussion, and group interactions in class. Active participation in a small group requires additional time commitment.

REQUIRED READING:

Gorman, Julie. Community That Is Christian. 2nd ed. Baker, 2002. ISBN: 0801091454. Pub. price $17.99.

Hellerman, Joseph H. When the Church Was a Family. B & H Publishing, 2009. ISBN: 9780805447798. Pub. price $19.99.

Myers, Joseph R. The Search to Belong. Zondervan, 2003. ISBN: 9780310255000. Pub. price $16.99.

Thompson, Curt. Anatomy of the Soul. Tyndale House Publishers, 2010. ISBN: 9781414334158. Pub. price $14.99.

Course Reader. Portions from 6 more books and 4 articles plus videos.