EV509
Drane/Drane
EV509: SPIRITUALITY & CREATIVITY FOR EVANGELISM & WORSHIP. John
Drane & Olive Drane.
DESCRIPTION:
- This course explores new ways to contextualize the gospel for
today's post-modern culture. Its underlying premise is that the renewal of
worship will be fundamental to the evangelistic enterprise, and the affirmation
and renewal of congregational spirituality will therefore be a vital component
in effective faith-sharing. The course includes practical exploration of new
ways to facilitate this, based on an awareness of the emerging post-modernity
and incorporating insights from the New Testament as well as the experience of
the world church. In the process it takes account of current debates on the
theology of creativity and the arts and related discussions of
creation-centered spirituality and the impact of New Age thinking on the
Christian community.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- Who we are has a profound impact on our thinking about God, and the
ways in which we structure our churches. This course is designed (a) to
facilitate students in working through their own spiritual quest, by exploring
new avenues of spirituality and personal creativity; (b) to help students
appreciate the spiritual search of western culture today; (c) to explore new
ways of being church. The classes themselves will model culturally relevant
ways of worship and faith-sharing.
COURSE FORMAT:
- The class will meet in four-hour sessions daily for two weeks.
Classes will include plenaries, small groups, practical training, and
experiential exploration of personal spirituality and creativity--with a
variety of formats and a strong emphasis on learning by doing.
REQUIRED READING:
- Dempsey, Ron. D. Faith Outside the Walls. Smyth &
Helwys, 1997.
- Drane, John. Faith in a Changing Culture. HarperCollins, 1997.
- Fischer, Kathleen R. The Inner Rainbow: The Imagination in Christian
Life. Paulist, 1983.
- Fung, Raymond. The Isaiah Vision. WCC, 1992.
- Hagberg, Janet and Robert Guelich. The Critical Journey. Word,
1989.
- Hilborn, D. Picking up the Pieces: Can Evangelicals Adapt to
Contemporary Culture? Paulist, 1983.
- Liesch, Barry. The New Worship. Baker, 1996.
- Lyon, David. Postmodernity. Open University Press, 1994.
- Munger, R. B. My Heart--Christ's Home, rev. ed. InterVarsity,
1992.
- Tilley, Terrence W. Story Theology. Liturgical Press, 1990.
- Wuthnow, Robert. The Crisis in the Churches. Oxford University
Press, 1997.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Bosch, David J. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in
Theology of Mission. Orbis, 1991.
- Coupland, Douglas. Generation X. St. Martins Press, 1991.
- Fox, Matthew. Whee! We, Wee All the Way Home. Santa Fe: Bear &
Co., 1981.
- Hoekema, David and Bobby Fong. Christianity and Culture in the
Crossfire. Eerdmans, 1996.
- Sample, Tex. U. S. Lifestyles and Mainline Churches. Westminster
John Knox, 1990.
- Wink, Walter. Transforming Bible Study. Abingdon, 1990.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- 1) Attendance: students who miss more than three class meetings
will not receive a passing grade. 2) Preparation: students will be expected to
engage in adequate advance preparation and participate fully in all activities
in class meetings. 3) Written work, to consist of (a) a personal course journal
with an entry for each class meeting, to count for 40% of the final course
grade; (b) a final paper of approximately ten pages, or its equivalent, on a
subject to be proposed by the student and given advance approval in writing by
the professors (counting for 60% of the final course grade).
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION: No.