Winter 2015/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:

  1. 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].

  2. Plan and lead with one other student a 15-20 minute worship/prayer/reflection time for your small group around a particular Christian practice (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3] [3 hours].

  3. 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 (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, & 4] [10 hours].

  4. 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 (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2 & 4] [32 hours].

  5. For 8 of 10 weeks of the quarter: Participant/observer in a local church or community; must attend same gathered community each week. 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.


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.