Winter 2017/Pasadena

YF500

Clark

YF500: FOUNDATION OF YOUTH MINISTRY (4 Units: 160 Hours). Chap Clark.

DESCRIPTION: This course provides the foundational concepts and best practices to prepare the student for ministry to the young in both a church and non-church setting in any context. The course will provide a basic understanding of adolescent development, contemporary culture, and historical and contextual models of youth ministry thinking and practice. The course is designed to help the student to think and respond theologically to the needs and expectations of the young and their families in a church or organization, and provides practical tools enabling the student to design a theologically sound youth ministry program suitable in any context.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will be able to: (1) demonstrate an ability to describe significant characteristics associated with early and midadolescence, especially focused on contextual issues and dynamics related to gender, ethnicity, and class; (2) articulate an understanding of developmental, social, cultural, and spiritual challenges associated with early and midadolescence in various cultural contexts; (3) design a comprehensive practical theology of youth ministry that prescribes a ministry emphasizing an “Adoptive” youth ministry approach in a local church community.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three-hour sessions for a total of 27 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 13 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours, including participation in an online discussion group of other class students concerning the presentation. Each student will also complete a contextualized final project.

REQUIRED READING: 1,412 pp. required.

Clark, Chap. Hurt 2.0: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers. 2nd ed. Baker Academic, 2011. ISBN: 978-0801039416, Pub. Price $19.99 [288 pp.].*

Clark, Chap (ed.). Adoptive Youth Ministry: Integrating Emerging Generations Into the Family of Faith. Baker Academic, 2015. ISBN: 978-0801049705, $34.99 [400 pp. assigned]*

Clark, Chap, and Kara Powell. Deep Ministry in a Shallow World. Youth Specialties/Zondervan, 2006. ISBN: 978-0310267072, Pub. Price $18.99 [108 pp. required].

Christerson, Brad, Korie L. Edwards, and Richard Flory. Growing Up in America:  The Power of Race in the Lives of Teens. Stanford University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0804760522, Pub. Price $22.95 [216 pp.].

Putnam, Robert D. Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis. Simon and Schuster, 2016. ISBN: 978-1476769905, Pub. Price $17.00 [400 pp].

* If read for another class, the student may substitute: Clark, Chap, Kenda Dean, and Dave Rahn. Starting Right: A Practical Theology of Youth Ministry. Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2013. ISBN: 978-0310516736, Pub. Price $34.99 [400 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING: See the course syllabus.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Participation required in class [27 hours].

2. 1,412 pages of required reading. [70 hours].

3. Nine short (120-150 words), weekly written reflections on course readings and lectures in light of Learning Outcomes in Moodle forums, read the posts from other students, and respond to at least two others (50 words per response) (18%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2 & #3] [13 hours].

4. Two 2-3 page reflections on the readings (12%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2 & #3] [6 hours].

5. A content exam Week 7 on the lectures and reading (25%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2 & #3] [8 hours].

6. Research paper that focuses on two particular issues and/or dynamics related to ether early or midadolescence: (1) applies current theories on adolescence to identify formational challenges, contextual nuances, and unique ministry considerations [e.g. family status/stability, ethnicity/class, socioeconomics, etc.] and critically reflects on the strengths and limitations of these theories pertaining to their focused population; and (2) applies readings and outside research on generational, racial and/or class, and gender fragmentation and disempowerment in the church, with recommendations on how a healthy youth ministry can proactively engage these issues. 2500 words (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2 & #3]. [18 hours]

7. A 8-10 page final project that reflects a programmatic interpretation of the course content in a given context (20%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2 & #3] [18 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet C2 or C5 requirement in the 120 MDiv and 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2015). Meets the 144 MDiv core requirement in General Ministry & Spirituality (MIN 1), 144 MDiv core requirement in Christian Formation & Discipleship (MIN 4), or Ministry Foundations requirement (MIN F) for other master’s degrees. Required course for Youth, Family, and Culture emphasis.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None, but will meet in class during finals week.