Spring 2016/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: 1,080 pp. of required reading.

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].

Biblical Texts: Exodus and Matthew

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 $31.99 [pp. 21-101]. On eReserves.

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]. On eReserves.

2. Hospitality/Inclusion

Conde-Fraser, Elizabeth. “From Hospitality to Shalom” in A Many Colored Kingdom. Baker, 2004. ISBN: 978-0801027437, Pub. Price $24.00 [pp. 167-210]. On eReserves.

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.

3. Discernment

Bedford, Nancy. “Little Moves Against Destructiveness,” in Practicing Theology by Miroslav Volf and Dorothy Bass. Eerdmans, 2001. ISBN: 978-0802849311, Pub. Price $24.00 [pp. 157-183]. On eReserves.

4. Testimony/Story-telling

Drury, Amanda Hontz. “Testimony in Practice,” in Saying is Believing. InterVarsity, 2015. ISBN: 978-0830840656, Pub. Price $22.00 [pp.125-167]. On eReserves.

5. Accountability

Wadell, Paul. “Not Going It Alone: Friendship and Community in the Christian Moral Life,” in Happiness and the Christian Moral Life: An Introduction to Christian Ethics, 2nd ed. Rowman & Littlefield, 2012. ISBN: 978-1442209732, Pub. Price $33.00 [pp. 23-44].

6. Forgiveness

Volf, Miroslav. “How Can We Forgive,” in Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a World Stripped of Grace. Zondervan, 2005. ISBN: 978-0310265740, Pub. Price $15.99 [pp. 193-224].

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].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Read assigned 1,080 pp. (which includes 100 pp. biblical texts) and view posted videos as scheduled; complete weekly report sheet (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 & #4]. [68 hours].

  2. 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].

  3. Eight short (120 words), regular written reflections on course readings, videos, practices, and scripture in light of LOs, in Moodle forums, read the posts from your group, and respond to others (50 words) (16%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 & #4]. [14 hours].

  4. Classroom: for each practice, students will engage, reflect, create (utilizing instruction, participation, presentation, discussion, engaging practice-based theology cycle for theological reflection, case studies) (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3] [40 hours].

  5. Participate (5 out of 10 weeks) in the life of a congregation as a participant-observer; conduct two interviews with individuals/families to hear their stories; participate in 2 fieldwork assignment; 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 plus critical reflections (1,500 – 1,800 words) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 & #3] [14 hours].

  6. Examen exercise, 4 times/week for 7 weeks. For 5 weeks, 100 word reflection paper. (12%) This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1, 2, 3] [10 hrs]

  7. Vocation Formation Group (VFG) - In a Vocation Formation Group, students will engage spiritual disciplines, practices, and discussion. Students will study the Bible, and share and listen to stories related to the practices. (Vocation Formation Group Leader (VFGL) will let professor know if students have been present and engaged). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 4] [8 hours of time and grade included in #4].

  8. Signature Assignment: 100-word CIQ response, Integration paper related to course practices, and Rule of Life (2,500 words total) (22%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #3, and #4] [10 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None. Recommended in first year of study.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets a core integrative requirement in the 120 MDiv Program and the 80 MAT, 80 MATM, 80 MAICS Programs.

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.

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