MC536: Leading an Emerging Church (4
units)
Mike
Breen, Adjunct Instructor in Church and Mission
Eddie Gibbs, Donald A. McGavran Professor of Church Growth
Summer 2005 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
This
course investigates how churches can be restructured or planted to meaningfully
engage and evangelize the postmodern world. It also seeks to equip students
with the skills required to read and critique a postmodern world, with a
particular emphasis on the arts. The course will explore how students read and
apply the Bible to this emerging context and examine the dimensions of
discipleship, providing a practical program in the form of lifeshapes. The
course is designed for those who want to engage in the church as a
disciple-making mission movement that is structured to be reproducible in a
variety of cultural contexts.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
· Explore and chart the cultural trends in emerging
culture and their implication for ecclesiology and missiology.
· Identify models for worship and communication.
· Develop skill for forming and building mission
communities.
· Equip student to develop mission strategies that
are effective in a postmodern context.
COURSE FORMAT: Class will
consist of lectures and interaction reflecting on the topic assigned for each
day. Students will have opportunity to attend extra sessions with church
leaders who will be attending the conference being planned in conjunction with
the course.
REQUIRED READING:
Additional book selections listed in the syllabus.
Breen,
Mike and Walt Kallestad. The Passionate
Church. Colorado Springs, CO: A Cook Communications, 2005.
Breen, Mike. The Apostle’s Notebook.
Kingsway, 2002.
Mallon, Paddy. Calling a City Back to God.
Kingsway, 2003..
Mc Lauren, Brian. A New Kind of Christian.
Jossey-Bass, 2001.
Ward, Pete. Liquid Church.
Hendrickson, 2002.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Additional book selections listed in the syllabus.
Burnett,
David. The Clash of Worlds. Monarch
Books, 2002.
Coupland, Douglas. Life after God.
Washington Square Press; Reprint Edition, 1995.
Starkey, Mike. God, Sex and Generation X.
SPCK, 1997.
Kelly, Gerald. Get a Grip on the Future
with out losing your hold on the Past. Monarch, 1999.
Heelas, Paul. Religion, Modernity and
post modernity. Blackwell, 1998.
Heelas, Lash and Morris, Detraditionlization.
Blackwell, 1996.
Hornby, Nick. High Fidelity.
Riverhead Books, 1996.
Fielding, Helen, Bridget Jones’s Diary.
Penguin USA, 1999.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Write a 3,500 word paper that explores key issues raised in the
course applying it to the students understanding of his/her call to ministry
and mission.
2. Read 1500 pages from required and recommended reading lists. See syllabus
for instructions.
3. Complete a 10-page reflection paper processing the required reading and
applying it to your context.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATION TO CURRICULUM:
Elective.
FINAL EXAM: None.