DESCRIPTION:

This is an introductory course on biblical, theological, and practical matters in ecclesiology. The work of lay and clergy leadership is explored in relationship to congregation formation, spiritual formation, and mission formation. All participants in a church are to be formed into an "interpretive community" that is engaged with God personally and corporately in spiritual formation and in missional outreach.

Concepts: theological studies in ecclesiology and organizational development theory on leadership. Skills: theological reflection and small group interpretive skills relevant to congregational life and leadership. Conation: commitment and habits accentuating church development and redevelopment.

The class will meet for two-hours, twice weekly, for ten weeks. Class times will include lectures, individual and group exercises, reflective discussions, and guest speakers.

Cladis, George. Leading the Team-Based Church. Jossey-Bass, 1999.

Dietterich, Inagrace. Cultivating Missional Communities. The Center for Parish Development, 1995.

Lohfink, Gerhard. Jesus and Community. Fortress, 1984.

Ogden, Greg. The New Reformation. Zondervan. 1990.

Van Gelder, Craig. The Essence of the Church. Baker, 2000.

Class Reader including Ray Anderson, James Evans, Stanley Hauerwas, David Ng, Elizabeth O'Connor, Manuel Ortiz, Eugene Peterson.

Anderson, Ray. Ministry on the Fireline. InterVarsity Press, 1993.

Banks, Robert. Paul's Idea of Community. Rev. ed. Hendrickson, 1994.

Clapp, Rodney. A Peculiar People. InterVarsity Press, 1996

Dawn, Marva. Powers, Weakness, and the Tabernacling of God. Eerdmans, 2001.

Gibbs, Eddie. ChurchNext. InterVarsity Press, 2000.

Guder, Darrell, ed. The Missional Church. Eerdmans, 1989

Hauerwas, Stanley. In Good Company: The Church as Polis. University of Notre Dame, 1995.

Hauerwas, Stanley and William Willimon. Resident Aliens. Abingdon, 1989.

Yoder, John Howard. Body Politics: Five Practices of the Christian Community Before the Watching World. Discipleship Resources, 1994.

1. Read texts, assigned articles, and a minimum of 200 additional pre-approved pages; keep a reading log; arrive ready to discuss scheduled readings. For all articles and additional readings, take one-page notes that include topic(s), thesis, arguments, and brief reflections. (50%)

2. Write five short papers (400-600 words each) on the textbooks: stating the thesis and synthesizing major issues and supporting information; devoting 1/3 to 1/2 of the paper to personal and theological reflection for you and your church; to be submitted, as hardcopy (double-spaced) or by email attachment <mbranson@fuller.edu> at least 24-hours before class. (40%)

3. In teams, develop a series of 3-5 "provocative proposals" for a congregation's future and provide a briefing to the class (as if to the membership). (10%)

Meets M.Div. core requirement in Pastoral Ministry & Theology (MIN6).