Winter 2015/Pasadena

CO515

Gordon

CO515: COMMUNICATION FOR CHURCH AND COMMUNITY MINISTRY (4 Units: 165 Hours). Carolyn L. Gordon.

DESCRIPTION: This course explores the practical and theological dimensions of media technology, church computer usage, organizational, verbal, and non-verbal communication in establishing, strengthening, promoting, and sustaining church and community ministries. Special attention will be given to practical applications necessary for creating, developing, and implementing public communication and marketing strategies within the context of the local church to reach the community in which it serves.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) identify and define a God-centered approach to the communication process; (2) be able to develop a communication plan for any ministry or organization; (3) learn how to conduct communication assessments of organizational structures; (4) develop a philosophy and theology for communication and all that it represents within the context of ministry; and (5) develop skills in oral communication and public delivery systems.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three-and-a-half hour sessions for a total of 35 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 5 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours. Classes will involve lecture and demonstration, small group activities and projects, technical instruction seminars, and field trips to ministry and industry sites.

REQUIRED READING: 894 pp. required.

Cool, Tom. Why Church Buildings Matter: The Story of Your Space. Rainer Publishing, 2014.ISBN: 978-0615951812, Pub. Price $10.97 [158 pp. assigned.]

Detweiler, Craig. iGods:How Technology Shapes Our Spiritual and Social Lives. Brazos Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-1587433443, Pub. Price $17.99 [250 pp. assigned].

Hipps, Shane. The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture. Zondervan, 2005. ISBN: 978-0310262749, Pub. Price $18.99 [176 pp. assigned].

Schraeder, Tom. Outspoken: Conversations on Church Communication. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2011. ISBN: 978-1463738174, Pub. Price $13.99 [198 pp. assigned].

Schultze, Quentin. High-Tech Worship? Using Presentational Technologies Wisely. Baker, 2004. ISBN: 978-0801064807, Pub. Price $14.00 [112 pp. assigned].

Additional brief readings may be assigned primarily as a basis for class discussion.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 894 pp. of required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1,3,5] [45 hours].

  2. Student will tour the facilities of a local church. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [5 hours].

  3. Reading of assigned materials and preparation of a 2-page reflection paper on three texts (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1,2,3,4]. [6 hours].

  4. Each student will give a 5-7 minute PowerPoint presentation (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3,5]. [10 hours].

  5. A 7-10 page written facility analysis of a church or ministry setting. What is communicated by the building, its contents, color schemes, the architectural design, the way space is used and things are placed? What communication is intended? What communication is actually happening? (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [24 hours].

  6. A 10 minute oral report of the analysis (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3,4,5 ]. [5 hours].

  7. The design and development of a communication campaign for a church or ministry (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [25 hours].

  8. A 10-minute oral presentation of the campaign (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #5]. [5 hours].

  9. Write a five–page compare and contrast paper on two of the reading assignments (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1,4]. [5 hours].

*Assignments subject to change pending number of students enrolled in the course.

PREREQUISITES: None. Not for MACL, MATM, or MAICS students.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the Communication requirement (COMM) in MA programs; the CO5 (CO500 + CO503) requirement of various degrees. Option to count in the Church in Contemporary Culture emphasis.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.

For your convenience, order these texts online through the Archives Bookshop.