Fall 2014/Pasadena
IS502
Dufault-Hunter
IS502: PRACTICE OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY (4 Units: 164 hours). Erin Dufault-Hunter.
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., thanksgiving, forgiving, hospitality, prayer, promise-keeping, and Scripture reading).
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. This includes participation in four small group meetings in weeks 3, 5, 7, and 9 that thus far plan to meet during regularly scheduled class time.
REQUIRED READING: 943 pp. of required reading.
Pohl, Christine. Living into Community: Cultivating Practices that Sustain Us. Eerdmans, 2011. ISBN: 978-0802849854; publisher price $20.00 [178 pages assigned]
Volf, Miroslav. Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a World Stripped of Grace. Zondervan, 2006. ISBN: 978-0310265740; publisher price $12.99 [212 pages assigned]
Wright, Christopher. The Mission of God. InterVarsity, 2006. ISBN: 978-0830825714, Pub. Price $40.00 [101 pp. assigned; chapters available in eReserves].
Genesis [50 pages], Exodus 1-24 [53 pages], Deuteronomy [40 pages], The Gospel of Matthew [35 pages], I Corinthians [12 pages](CEB, TNIV, or NRSV) [approximately 190 pp.].
Other reading available through eReserves or from Internet sources:
Cleveland, Christena. Various blog postings by Cleveland and other authors, available at www.christenacleveland.com [approx. 25 pp.].
Nieves and Priest (eds); excerpts from This Side of Heaven: Ethnicity, Race, and Christian Faith (Oxford: 2007) [83 pp. from various authors].
Smith, James K.A. ”Introduction: Beyond Perspectives” and “Homo Liturgicus: The Human Person as Lover,” in Desiring the Kingdom. Baker, 2009. ISBN: 978-0801035777, Pub. Price $22.99 [pp. 17-35 and 37-73; 54 pp. total].
Additional readings in other resources for posts and papers, particularly biblical commentaries, as needed (approx. 100 pp.).
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
Participation (10%). Includes church attendance, reading & journaling log, peer reviews, class & small group attendance. Student must attend 90% of classes & small groups for an “A/A-“in course and keep a private journal that they will bring to each class including small group meetings. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2 & 4] [40 class + 60 reading = 100 hours].
Plan and lead with one other student a 15-20 minute worship/prayer/reflection time for your small group around a particular Christian practice (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3] [3 hours].
Due every other week when no live small group: two (2) 90-120 word posts via Moodle (8 such posts total) regularly entails Scripture reading and interpretation, critical reflection on course materials, and peer reviewing of others’ work (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, & 4] [10 hours].
Due weeks of small group meetings: 2 – 3 page reflection paper of 500-750 words each (4 total = 2,000 – 3,000 words total), integrating course learning with past and current experiences of Christian community (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2 & 4] [32 hours].
For 8 of 10 weeks of the quarter: Participant/observer in local church or community. Student cannot pass course unless this is fulfilled as part of participation requirement listed in #1 above. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2 & 3] [15 hours].
Note: Student will collect all assignments in a portfolio folder. Instructor will review portfolio regarding effort, improvement, & learning over quarter, which will weigh into final grade for the course.
PREREQUISITES: None. Recommended in first year of study.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets a core integrative requirement in the 120 MDiv Program.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.