DESCRIPTION:

A congregation needs to understand its social and cultural context and its own character and identity in relationship to its surrounding community. Any urban environment can be described in terms of demographics, organizations, present-day activities, historical events, networks, economics, political structures, and how churches embody certain characteristics and engage their community. Research tools and resources will be explored and implemented by students in selected geographic settings.

Concepts: ecclesiology and missiology regarding church interface with the world, and theory concerning quantitative and qualitative research. Skills: quantitative and qualitative research in congregations and nearby communities and report development and use. Conation: commitment and habits accentuating church development and redevelopment, and congregational outreach to a community.

The class will meet weekly for 3 hours, for ten weeks. Class times will include lectures, individual and group exercises, modeling, web demonstrations, and reflective discussions of materials and experiences. Students will also work individually and in groups outside of class.

Bakke, Ray. A Theology as Big as the City. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1997.

Dudley, Carl. Community Ministry: New Challenges, Proven Steps to Faith-Based Initiatives. Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute, 2001.

Jacobsen, D. Doing Justice: Congregations and Community Organizing. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2001.

Class Reader.

Alinsky, Saul. Rules for Radicals. New York: Random House, 1971.

Dudley, Carl. Next Steps in Community Ministry. Washington, DC: Alban, 1996.

Hammond, Susan and Cathy Royal, eds. Lessons From the Field: Applying Appreciative Inquiry. Plano, TX: Practical Press.

Kretzmann, J. and J. McKnight. Building Communities from the Inside Out. Chicago: ACTA, 1993.

Myers, Bryant, ed. Working with the Poor. Monrovia, CA: MARC, 1999.

Pierce, Gregory. Activism that Makes Sense. Chicago, ACTA, 1984.

(1) Attend and participate in class (25%). (2) Read assignments as scheduled; read 200 additional pages (from "Recommended," Reader bibliography, or pre-approved); keep a reading log for submission (25%). (3) In teams, develop a comprehensive database on Pasadena/Altadena churches including congregational demographics and community outreach. Submit to web database (5%). (4) Also in teams, develop community demographics centered in a small cluster of churches. Develop "executive summary" (15%). (5) Individually, interview members of a congregation using "appreciative inquiry" methods. Write a 3000 word "executive report" that summarizes research on the community and the congregation, indicating possible futures (30%). Note: Students may apply for summer internships for follow up learning and experiences.

Meets M.Div. core requirement in Missions (MIN8) and the requirement in Globalization (GLBL) for M.A. degrees.