Fall 2013/Pasadena
PM849/549
Branson
PM849/549: LEARNING COMMUNITIES: PRACTICAL THEOLOGY & CHRISTIAN EDUCATION. Mark Lau Branson.
DESCRIPTION: This is a 6-unit Practical Theology seminar; at the 500-level, the 4-unit course is offered to a limited number of master’s level students as approved by the professor. The seminar engages methods of practical theology with a focus on Christian education in relationship with studies in learning organizations and communities of practice.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Those who teach and practice Christian ministry need clarity and competency concerning methods that connect theories and practices. Such competencies include being able to draw on the interpretation of texts (biblical, historical, theoretical), to engage the resources and challenges of cultures, and to develop habits of thoughtful and faithful praxis, including teaching and leadership.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will demonstrate an understanding of Christian education as a discipline of Practical Theology, participate and reflect as participant-observer in church formative practices, and demonstrate the abilities to create curriculum and instruction for a church.
SEMINAR FORMAT: The seminar will meet for three hours weekly, for ten weeks, and will utilize web-based media and interaction. Class times will include lectures, individual and group exercises, reflective discussions of materials and experiences, and student presentations. Students will also visit and reflect on a church other than their own and reflect on their own involvement in church life and ministry.
REQUIRED READING: PhD will read ca. 3000 pages and MA/MDiv students need to scan all books and read a minimum of 1500 pages, approved by professor. The primary theoretical texts are indicated by *; there will be additional materials on Moodle and on practicingourfaith.org (The Valparaiso Project)
Practical Theology core: Read all books not previously read for a credit class
*Anderson, Ray. The Shape of Practical Theology./InterVarsity, 2001. ISBN: 978-0830815593, Pub. Rrice $27.00.
Branson, Mark Lau. Memories, Hopes, and Conversations. Alban Institute, 2004. ISBN: 978-1566992886; $18.
Branson, Mark Lau, and Juan Martínez. Churches, Cultures, & Leadership. InterVarsity, 2011. ISBN: 978-0830839261, Pub. Price $25.0..
* Browning, Don. A Fundamental Practical Theology. Fortress, 1991. ISBN: 978-0800629731, Pub. Price $25.00.
*Groome, Thomas. Sharing Faith. Wipf & Stock, 1999. ISBN: 978-1579101961, Pub. Price $45.00.
Heifetz, Ronald, and Marty Linsky. Leadership on the Line. Harvard Business School, 2002. ISBN: 978-1578514373, Pub. Price $33.00.
* Heitink, Gerben. Practical Theology. Eerdmans, 1999. ISBN: 978-0802842947, Pub. Price $45.00.
Roxburgh, Alan. Missional Map-Making. Jossey Bass, 2010. ISBN: 978-0470486726, Pub. Price $25.00.
Schreiter, Robert. Constructing Local Theologies. Orbis, 1985. ISBN: 978-0883441084, Pub. Price $26.00.
Toulmin, Stephen. Cosmopolis. University of Chicago Press, 1990. ISBN: 978-0226808383, Pub. Price $18.00.
Christian Education core (Includes learning organizations and communities of practice)
Bass, Dorothy (ed.). Practicing Our Faith. Jossey-Bass, 1997.
Block, Peter. Community: The Structure of Belonging. Berrett-Koehler, 2009.
Engen, John Van. Educating People of Faith: Exploring the History of Jewish and Christian Communities. Eerdmans, 2004.
Everist, Norm Cook. The Church as Learning Community. Abingdon, 2002.
Park, Sharon Daloz. Big Questions, Worthy Dreams: Mentoring Emerging Adults in their Search for Meaning, Purpose, and Faith, rev. ed. Jossey-Bass, 2011.
Pazmino, Robert. Latin America Journey. Wipf & Stock.
Senge, Peter et al. The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook. Doubleday, 1994.
Wenger, Etienne, Richard McDermott, & William Snyder. Cultivating Communities of Practice. Harvard Business School, 2002.
Zschelie, Dwight. Cultivating Sent Communities. Eerdmans, 2012.
Cultural Contexts and Church: Student will read selections from these books plus other approved books concerning the US society and the culture(s) relevant to their research.
Bauman, Zygmunt. Culture in a Liquid Modern World. Polity, 2011.
Cavanaugh, William. Migrations of the Holy. Eerdmans, 2011.
Smith, Christian. Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults. Oxford University, 2009.
Smith, Christian. Lost in Transition: The Dark Side of Emerging Adulthood. Oxford University, 2011.
Wuthnow, Robert. After the Baby Boomers: How Twenty- and Thirty-Somethings Are Shaping the Future of American Religion. Princeton University, 2007.
It is assumed that students are familiar with a standard guide to writing research papers, like Wayne Booth et al., The Craft of Research (2nd ed.; University of Chicago Press, 2003). Papers must follow style norms from latest edition of Turabian (or online CMOS available through library site).
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: (1) Read assignments as scheduled; interact on web as required; keep a reading log for submission; arrive ready to discuss readings. (2) Write a 600 word autobiographical essay that connects your Christian discipleship with church practices and cultural forces. (3.1) For 2 of the 4 main textbooks, write a 600-800 word paper that summarizes the conceptual framework and works with a ministry narrative to demonstrate the PT method (MDiv/MA, only 1 paper); or (3.2) Write a 600-800 word essay on your primary ministry context and the formative cultural influences present. (4) By week 4 select a theme for the term paper, provide a 2-page outline that includes topic/question, method, and tentative arguments/sources. (5) Observe in your church and in one other church diverse elements of the learning/practicing environment, with reference to your own ministry responsibilities, and write a 600-800 word essay that engages cultural/contextual factors and course resources. (6) Provide a class presentation related to your term paper. (7.1) PhD/ThM students write a 8,000-word paper; MA/MDiv students write a 3000-word paper; papers need to demonstrate competence in one PT method with reference to at least one additional PT method; or (7.2) Write a 8,000 word paper or draft of a dissertation chapter that engages course materials and your research topic.
PREREQUISITES: Master’s level students must have completed a minimum of 72 quarter units of course work and have permission of the professor.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.