Fall 2014/Pasadena
IS502
Branson
IS502: PRACTICE OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY (4 Units: 164 hours). Mark Lau Branson.
DESCRIPTION: This is an integrative course that explores the identity and practices of Christian community as a people called, gathered, and sent by God. Together, professor and students study and enact historic Christian disciplines necessitated by this distinctive identity (e.g., hospitality, prayer, promise-keeping, Scripture reading, reconciliation, and testimony).
LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) Students will reflect on their current and past experiences of Christian practices of community; (2) Students will demonstrate the capacity to engage Scripture, tradition, and other resources to reflect theologically on the historic practices of Christian community in particular contexts; (3) Students will demonstrate the capacity to embody specific practices of Christian community within their socio-historical context; (4) Students will articulate biblical and theological understanding of the community of God as a people called, gathered, and sent by God.
COURSE FORMAT: This class meets twice weekly for two hour sessions for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom for lecture and discussion (including 8 hours of participation in vocation and formation groups). Additional work online as well as fieldwork.
REQUIRED READING: 1,000 pp. of required reading.
Branson, Mark Lau and Juan Martínez, “Practices for the Calling,” in Churches, Cultures and Leadership. InterVarsity, 2011. ISBN: 978-0830839261, Pub. Price $25.00 [see assignments, below]
Lohfink, Gerhard. Jesus and Community. Fortress, 1984. ISBN: 978-0800618025, Pub. Price $29.00 [187 pp. assigned]
Pohl, Christine. Living into Community: Cultivating Practices That Sustain Us. Eerdmans, 2011. ISBN: 978-0802849854, Pub. Price $20.00 [178 pp. assigned]
Smith, C. Christopher & John Pattison. Slow Church. InterVarsity, 2014. ISBN: 978-0830841141, Pub. Price $16.00 [226 pp. assigned].
PRACTICES
1. Christian Education / Formation
Everist, Norma Cook. “A Community of Teachers & Learners” and “Creating Different Learning Environments to be Different Together,” in The Church as Learning Community. Abingdon, 2002. ISBN: 978-0687045006, Pub. Price $31.00 [pp. 21-101].
2. Hospitality/Inclusion
Branson, Mark Lau and Juan Martínez. Churches, Cultures and Leadership. (above). Reading includes the following chapters: [101 pp. assigned]
Conde-Fraser, Elizabeth. “From Hospitality to Shalom” in A Many Colored Kingdom. Baker, 2004. ISBN: 978-0801027437, Pub. Price $24.00 [pp. 167-210].
Wimberly, Anne-Streaty. “Called to Listen: The Imperative Vocation of Listening in Twenty-First Century Faith Communities.” International Review of Mission LXXXVII, No. 346:331-341.
“Introduction.” 11-28.
“Practical Theology and Multicultural Initiatives,” 33-57.
“Missional Ecclesiology and Church Context,” 59-76.
“Sociocultural Structures, Ethnicity, and Churches,” 78-94.
“Self-Perception and Individuality,” 154-69.
“Practices for the Calling,” 232-244.
3. Discernment
Bedford, Nancy. “Little Moves Against Destructiveness,” in Practicing Theology by Miroslav Volf and Dorothy Bass. Eerdmans, 2001. ISBN: 978-0802849311, Pub. Price $22.00 [pp. 157-183].
4. Testimony/Story-telling
TBD
ARTICLES
Branson, Mark Lau, “Forming Church, Forming Mission,” in International Review of Mission 92 (April 2003), pp. 153-168. [pp. 153-63 assigned].
Greene-McCreight, Kathryn. “Darkness” in Darkness is my Only Companion: A Christian Response to Mental Illness. Brazos Press, 2006 [pp. 19-35 assigned].
Olds, Jacqueline and Richard Schwartz, “The Elephant in the Room,” in The Lonely American: Drifting Apart in the Twenty-first Century. Beacon Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0807000359, Pub. Price $19.00 [pp. 1-12 assigned].
Roxburgh, Alan. “Practices of a Missional People,” in Journal of Missional Practice Fall 2013 (online http://themissionalnetwork.com/index.php/alan-j-roxburgh [10 pp. assigned].
Yoder, John Howard. “The Fullness of Christ” in Body Politics. Discipleship Resources, 1992. ISBN: 978-0836191608, Pub. Price $14.99 [pp. 61-70 assigned].
Biblical Texts: Exodus and Matthew
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
Read assigned 1,000 pp. and view posted videos as scheduled; complete report sheet (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 & #4] [72 hours].
A descriptive autobiographical essay (1,000-1,200 words) on experiences of Christian community, with specific attention to practices, including what the student believes about the roots and consequences of those practices (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1] [4 hours].
Eight short (120 words), regular written reflections on course readings, videos, and scripture in light of LOs in Moodle forums, read the posts from your group, and respond to others (50 words) (30%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 & #4] [8 hours].
Participate weekly (8 out of 10 weeks) in the life of a congregation as a participant-observer; conduct two interviews with individuals/families to hear their stories; reflect on practices from an integrative perspective, participate in your small group discussions about your churches and their practices; write a summary paper on your research and reflections (2,200-2,500 words) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 & #3] [35 hours].
In a class small group, engage lectio, testimony, and other practices (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3].
Create/Revise your response to the Central Integration Question ("At this point in your Christian journey, how do you envision your calling to God's mission in the world?") integrate your experiences, readings, lectures and reflection on Christian community. Discuss and revise, if necessary based on feedback from your small group (1,000 – 1,200 words) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 & #4] [5 hours].
PREREQUISITES: None. Recommended in first year of study.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets a core integrative requirement in the 120 MDiv Program.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.