DESCRIPTION:

This course explores how the gospel might be contextualized in today's post-modern culture, and includes practical exploration of ways to facilitate this, grounded in the emerging culture as well as in the Bible and the experience of the world church. 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 Spirituality on the Christian community.

If you haven't already encountered the challenge of cultural change, you soon will. Some think that traditional ways of being church have no future. All are agreed that we need to make some major changes. This course will model culturally relevant ways of worship and faith-sharing that will empower students to work through their own spiritual quest and explore new ways of being church.

The class will meet in four-hour sessions daily for two weeks. Classes will include plenaries, small groups, and experiential exploration of personal spirituality and creativity, using a variety of formats and a strong emphasis on learning by doing.

Drane, John. Cultural Change and Biblical Faith. Paternoster Press, 2000.

_________. The McDonaldization of the Church. Smyth & Helwys, 2001.

Drane, Olive M. Fleming. Clowns, Storytellers, Disciples. BRF, 2002.

Fung, Raymond. The Isaiah Vision. WCC, 1992.

Sample, Tex. The Spectacle of Worship in a Wired World. Abingdon, 1999.

Bosch, David J. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission. Orbis, 1991.

Clifford, Ross and Philip Johnson. Jesus and the Gods of the New Age. Lion, 2001.

Dempsey, Ron D. Faith Outside the Walls. Smyth & Helwys, 1997.

Hagberg, Janet and Robert Guelich. The Critical Journey. Sheffield Publishing Co., 1995.

Munger, Robert Boyd. My Heart-Christ's Home. Rev. ed. InterVarsity Press, 1992.

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). All written work is due September 13.

None.

Elective.

No.