DESCRIPTION:

Pastors often exert community leadership in the moral and public policy arenas. This course is designed to help students who wish to extend their witness into local public policy advocacy. Advocacy simply means "to plead the cause of another" which most of us do on behalf of our families, friends, and neighbors. Public advocacy is the next logical step. It carries "pleading" into the political arena, and does it on behalf of people we may, or may not, know personally. It is a practical way to translate our values and principles into local policies and laws that enhance the quality of community life.

1. To help students experience what it means to be a healing presence in a local community as participants in developing public policy.

2. To provide information and resources for organizing for effective public ministry.

3. To train students to assume the initial leadership needed to lead others into public responsibilities.

4. Acquaintance with urban religious and political leaders.

5. Familiarity with possible placements and practicums in urban ministry organizations.

This course will meet for three-hour sessions (6-9 p.m.) for lectures and discussions on April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, and May 21 at the Villa Parke Community Center in Pasadena and for two weekend immersion experiences on May 9-10 and 16-17, Friday evenings 6-9 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Carter, Stephen L. The Culture of Disbelief: How American Law and Politics Trivialize Religious Devotion. Basic Books, A Division of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., 1993.

Entwistle, Basil. Making Cities Work: How Two People Mobilized a Community to Meet its Needs. Hope Publishing House, 1990.

Perkins, John M. Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development. Baker Books, 1993.

A collection of readings developed by the instructors.

1. Reading assignments to be completed before each class.

2. A mid-term take-home exam on reading assignments.

3. A minimum of 10 hours of participation in community religio-political meetings.

4. A minimum of two interviews with religious and political leaders.

5. A paper following instructions given in class.

None.

Elective.

None.