Spring 2015/Fuller Live!

Pasadena and Seattle

ET551

Dufault-Hunter

ET551: THE ETHICS OF DIVERSITY IN UNITY (4 Units: 160 hours). Erin Dufault-Hunter.

DESCRIPTION: In Romans, Paul exhorts us to "present our bodies [plural] as a living sacrifice [singular]….” As individual humans, each body remains distinct from another’s multiple ways such as mental and physical ability, talents and weaknesses, or age. In addition, people identify by traits that can unite us to one another but can threaten unity amidst diversity, such as race, ethnicity, gender, ability, and socioeconomic class. Drawing from sociological, biblical, and historical sources, this course first seeks to comprehend these differences and interpret them theologically. Finally, we will articulate an ethic of diversity that does not mirror secular visions of multiculturalism, relativism, isolationism, nor assimilationism, but rather one that aims at the building up each member of Christ’s diverse body for shared work and faithful witness.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated the ability to (1) critically reflect on gender, race, ethnicity, class, and ability diversity for transformational discipleship, mission, and ministry; (2) articulate the biblical-theological basis of Christian moral convictions for ethical decision-making in ecclesial and public ethics regarding diversity; and (3) develop a theological ethic of human diversity that distinguishes modes of secular relativism or ethnocentrism from a Christian approach to diversity in unity.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three-hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 1,215 total pp. required

Cleveland, Christena. Disunity in the Body of Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces that Keep us Apart. IVP, 2013. ISBN: 978-0830844036, Pub. Price $16.00 [220 pp.].

Heuertz, Christopher L. and Christine D. Pohl. Friendship at the Margins: Discovering Mutuality in Service and Mission. IVP, 2010. ISBN: 978-0830834549, Pub. Price $16.00 [160 pp.].

Jones, Beth Felker. Marks of His Wounds: Gender Politics and the Bodily Resurrection. Oxford U Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0195309812, Pub. Price $55.00 [168 pp.].

Katongole, Emmanuel and Chris Rice. Reconciling All Things: A Christian Vision for Justice, Peace and Healing. IVP, 2008. ISBN: 978-0830834518, Pub. Price $16.00 [167 pp.].

Priest, Robert and Alvaro Nieves. This Side of Heaven: Race, Ethnicity, and Christian Faith. Oxford University Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0195310573, Pub. Price $35.00; available free to Fuller students as an ebook through library database [200 pp. assigned].

Reader includes excerpts and articles from Miroslav Volf, Charles Taylor, Hans Reinders, Sarah Coakley, and Jonathan Tran [300 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 1,215 pages of required reading. [81 hours].
2. Three 800-1,000 word book/chapter/article reviews on the reading due approx. every other week (40%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and 2]. [11 hours].
3. Six 90-120 word summary posts on the week’s reading (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and 2]. [8 hours].
4. 2,000-2,500 word final paper comparing a secular approach to one area of diversity to a theologically-informed approach. You must articulate how your Christian convictions shape your vision and practices, noting both overlap and divergence from this approach. Paper must discuss implications for concrete practices of a local congregation within itself as well as within their larger socio-cultural context (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [30 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH5 or C5 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.