Spring 2016/Pasadena

IS503

Martinez

IS503: PRACTICE OF MISSION (4 Units: 163 hours). Juan F. Martinez.

DESCRIPTION: Christian practices constitute the Christian life. The combined Christian practices of vocational formation, worship, community, and mission facilitate the integration of personal, spiritual, academic, and global formation into the vocational coherence of a Christian leader through reflection, relationships, and practices. IS503 is an integrative course that explores the identity and practices of Christian mission as a people called, gathered, and sent by God. Together, professor and students study and enact historic Christian disciplines necessitated by this distinctive identity (Witness, Mercy, Reconciliation, Inter-Religious Dialogue, Inculturation, Friendship, Creation Care, Advocacy).

LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) Students will reflect on their current and past experiences of Christian practices of mission; (2) Students will participate in local contexts and demonstrate the capacity to engage in activities and exercises related to Christian spiritual disciplines and practices of mission; (3) Students will demonstrate the capacity to engage scripture, tradition, and contemporary resources to reflect theologically on historic practices of mission; (4) Students will articulate how mission practices impact their response to the Central Integration Question (CIQ) and will identify exercises, habits, and disciplines to embody these practices within their sociocultural context.

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 (which includes 8 hours of participation in vocation and formation groups).

REQUIRED READING: 800 pp. required

Bevans, Stephen B., and Roger P. Schroeder. Prophetic Dialogue: Reflections on Christian Mission Today. Orbis, 2011. ISBN: 978-1570759116, Pub. Price $35.00 [208 pp. assigned].

Newbigin, J.E. Lesslie. The Gospel in a Pluralist Society. Eerdmans, 1989. ISBN: 978-0802804266, Pub. Price $25.00 [244 pp. assigned].

Acts of the Apostles.

Course e-Reader covering core practices [350 pp. assigned]

1. Friendship

Elmer, Duane. Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christlike Humility. IVP Books, 2006.

2. Witness

Bosch, David J. "Evangelism: Theological Currents and Cross-Currents Today." International Bulletin of Missionary Research 11, no. 3 (1987): 98-103.

3. Reconciliation

Kirk, J. Andrew. What Is Mission?: Theological Explorations. 143-163. Fortress Press, 2000.

4. Dialogue

McConnell, C. Douglas. "Missional Principles and Guidelines for Interfaith Dialogue." Evangelical Interfaith Dialogue 1, no. 1 (Winter 2010): 3-5.

5. Mercy

Kirk, J. Andrew. What Is Mission?: Theological Explorations. 96-117. Fortress Press, 2000.

6. Creation Care

Kirk, J. Andrew. What Is Mission?: Theological Explorations. 164-183. Fortress Press, 2000.

7. Inculturation

Pocock, Michael, Gailyn Van Rheenen, and Douglas McConnell. "Contextualization." Chap. 12 In The Changing Face of World Missions: Engaging Contemporary Issues and Trends, 321-48. Baker Academic, 2005.

8. Advocacy

Bevans, Stephen B., and Roger Schroeder. Constants in Context: A Theology of Mission for Today. American Society of Missiology Series No. 30. 88-100. Orbis Books, 2004.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 800 pages of required reading, including biblical text. [40 hours].

  2. Classroom: for each practice, students will engage, reflect, and create (utilizing instruction, participation, presentation, discussion, engaging practice-based theology cycle for theological reflection, case studies). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2, #3]. [32 hours].

  3. 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) (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2, and #4]. [8 hours].

  4. Students will participate in directed practices and disciplines over the course of the quarter. (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [15 hours].

  5. Four fieldwork activities and reflections (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [8 hours + 8 hours].

  6. Autobiography related to core course concept (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [2 hours].

  7. Signature Assignment: 100 word CIQ response, integration paper related to course practices, and Rule of Life (2,500 words total) (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 3, and 4]. [30 hours].

  8. Weekly online forum interactions (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, and 4]. [20 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 (Fall 2015).

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.