Spring 2017/Pasadena

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 twice weekly for two hour sessions for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom for lecture and discussion.

REQUIRED READING: 1,100 total pp. required/6 hours viewing

“13th” Documentary released October, 2016. Available via Netflix.

Bantum, Brian. The Death of Race: Building a New Christianity in a Racial World. Fortress Press, 2016. ISBN: 978-1506408880, Pub. Price $16.99. [183 pages]

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.].

Priest, Robert and Alvaro Nieves. This Side of Heaven: Race, Ethnicity, and Christian Faith. Oxford University Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0195310573, Pub. Price $38.95; available free to Fuller students as an ebook through library database [200 pp. assigned].

Swinton, John. Becoming Friends with Time: Disability, Timefulness, and Gentle Discipleship. Baylor University Press, 2016. ISBN: 978-1481304085, Pub. Price $39.95 [255 pages]

eReserves (accessed via course Moodle page): includes excerpts, videos, and articles from Mark Yarhouse, Miroslav Volf, Charles Taylor, Helen Lee, Julie Park, Sarah Coakley, Linda Woodhead, and Jonathan Tran [approx. 300 pp.]. Mandatory viewing for course also includes several short videos (total viewing approximately 6 hours).

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 1,100 pages of required reading and 6 hours of viewing. [72 hours].

  2. Attendance and participation (latter includes doing reading/viewing for the course); cannot pass course unless 75% of assigned reading/viewing completed) (10%). [40 hours].

  3. Blog posts (approximately 100-120 words each week). Critical summarizes and engagements with the course reading/viewing (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and 2]. [10 hours].

  4. Two 800-1000 word reflections on your life and learning to be shared in small groups [10 hours] (25%). Note: Students may discuss options here for creative or artistic responses. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and 2]. [8 hours].

  5. 2,000-2,500 word final paper comparing two approaches to an aspect of diversity, one of which must be a theologically-informed perspective. You must articulate how your Christian convictions shape your vision and practices, noting overlap and/or divergence from these other approaches. Paper must derive implications for implementation in your local congregation both internally (i.e., how this impacts your community’s patterns or habits) and externally (i.e., how this shapes your congregation’s mission and witness within the larger socio-cultural context). (35%). [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.


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.