Fall 2013/Pasadena
PR501
Gordon
PR502: PREACHING IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN TRADITION. Carolyn L. Gordon.
DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to examine cultural nuances and traditions associated with the formulation and development of the African American preaching style. Special attention will be given to the historical, psychological, and communal relationships that helped develop and shape the method and practice of preaching in the African American tradition.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The course will assist in increasing awareness of the correlation between cultural influence and communication, and it will share the uniqueness of preaching in the African American tradition. In doing so, it will prepare and equip the participants to develop sermons that are biblically sound and culturally relevant, as well as provide models for the way African American preachers develop sermons.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Objectives for this course are that students will (1) become knowledgeable about the historical, psychological, and communal relationships that help shaped preaching in the African American tradition; (2) be exposed to some models of African American sermon preparation and preaching; (3) explore the nuances and paralanguage of the African American preaching tradition; (4) investigate the cultural and oral traditions associated with African American preaching; (5) study various contemporary and historical icons associated with great African American preaching; (6) explore the significant role of Scripture in African American preaching.
COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet for three hours a week for lecture, discussion, dialogue, and preaching. Selected class gatherings will include sermons presented by students. Students’ sermons will be videotaped.
REQUIRED READING:
Crawford, Evans, with Thomas Troeger. The Hum: Call and Response in African American Preaching. Abingdon, 1995. ISBN: 978-0687180202, Pub. Price $17.00 [108 pp.].
Fry-Brown, Teresa, L. Delivering the Sermon. Fortress Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0800604479, Pub. Price $12.00 [96 pp.].
Gilbert, Kenyatta, The Journey and Promise for African American Preaching. Fortress Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0800696276, Pub. Price $18.00 [160 pp.].
La Rue, Cleophas. The Heart of Black Preaching. Westminster John Knox, 2000. ISBN: 978-0664258474, Pub. Price $30.00 [272 pp.].
La Rue, Cleophas. I Believe I’ll Testify: The Art of African American Preaching. Westminster John Knox Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0664236779, Pub. Price $17.00 [144 pp.].
Moyd, Olin P. The Sacred Art: Preaching and Theology in the African American Tradition. Judson, 1995. ISBN: 978-0817012205, Pub. Price $14.00 [146 pp.].
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: It is expected that each student will read the material and be prepared to participate in classroom discussions as well as other activities as assigned. Additionally, the following will be required:
Deliver at least three graded sermons in class. (There will be more pending number of students enrolled in the course.) (60%)
Participate in other oral presentations and etc. as assigned (e.g., Scripture reading, etc.). (5%)
Write a 7-10 page research paper on some aspect of the African American preaching tradition. (15%)
Give a 5-7 minute presentation on the research project. (10%)
Quizzes covering the assigned reading materials and class lectures. (10%)
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective. Meets requirement for African American Church Studies concentration in MDiv (multicultural studies) and the MA in Multicultural Ministries. Communication (COMM) MA requirement.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.