CF565
Banks
CF565: EMPOWERING THE PEOPLE OF GOD. Robert Banks.
DESCRIPTION:
- Beyond liberating the laity to fulfill their ministry in the church
and the world lies the challenge of empowering them for their tasks. This
involves life-transforming growth in understanding, as well as church and world
transforming depth of discipleship. The course will explore ways in which we
can assist ordinary members of a congregation to equip themselves in key areas
of the Christian life, viz. appropriating their Christian heritage, building
community in the church, and understanding ministry in the workplace. In the
process we will pursue a spirituality of Christian education that will most
effectively empower the people of God for ministry.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- Participation in the course will help you:
- understand the challenge assisting ordinary Christians to equip each other
through the church;
- experience several ways in the class of actually equipping each other for
ministry;
- provide opportunity for testing the value of these ways of equipping
ordinary Christians.
COURSE FORMAT:
- A mixture of presentations and discussion, guest speakers and small
groups, action-reflection and field experience.
REQUIRED READING:
- Banks, R. Redeeming the Routines: Bringing Theology to Life.
Victor, 1993.
- Banks, R. and J. The Church Comes Home: A New Basis for Community and
Mission. Albatross, 1989.
- Crabtree, D. F. The Empowering Church: How One Congregation Supports Lay
People's Ministries in the World. Alban Institute, 1992.
- Diehl, W. Ministry in Daily Life: A Practical Guide for
Congregations. Alban Institute, 1996.
- Palmer, P. J. To Know As We Are Known: A Spirituality of Education.
San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1983.
- Students will also be expected to consult at least one set of
resource material per week available to the class in the CFD Learning Center,
465 Ford Place.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Two-page reviews of three of the books set for required reading, focusing
on how these affected your understanding of Christian formation and
discipleship in the congregation.
- Involvement during the class in demonstrating one of the ways in which
people can be equipped for ministry, your reflections on this exercise to be
written in a three to four page report.
- Design of a twelve page manual for lay groups, one section of which has
been tested out in a congregational, para-church, or small group setting, on
any one of the areas considered in the course.
PREREQUISITES:
- None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
- Meets M. Div. core requirement in Christian Formation and
Discipleship (MIN 4);
meets requirement for Ministry of the Laity
Concentration of M.A.C.L.
FINAL EXAMINATION:
- None.