MI510/610: Thinking Missiologically (4 units)

Doug McConnell, Dean and Associate Professor of Leadership
Winter 2006 Pasadena

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

As with every field of study, missiology has its particular focus, literature, and methods. To engage in missiological integration requires appropriate skills to use the tools and resources available. This course introduces the student to these skills and the basic perspectives and tools. A special feature of the course is the use made of the case study model to engage missiological investigation, reflection, and action. The School of Intercultural Studies’ framework for missiological study—Word, Church, and World—will be employed. Because effective missiology is developed interactively, opportunity will be given for collaboration in learning.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• An understanding of what distinguishes missiological integration as a discipline and in practice.
• Knowledge of basic missiological literature and integrative approaches of contextual engagement.
• Ability to evaluate and integrate missiological reflection using the Word-Church-World triad.

COURSE FORMAT: 10-week course will meet one day per week for 4 hour sessions. The class combines introductory lectures on major themes of missiology with small group engagement centered on case studies.

REQUIRED READING: Read 1,500 pages from the following. If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.

Gerald H. Anderson, et al., eds., Mission Legacies: Biographical Studies of Leaders of the Modern Mission Movement. Orbis Books, 1994.
Wilbert R. Shenk, ed. The Transfiguration of Mission. Herald, 1993.
Alan Neely, Christian Mission: A Case Study Approach. Orbis Books, 1995.
Paul G. Hiebert, Anthropological Reflections on Missiological Issues. Baker Books, 1994.
One book selected from the bibliography, "Basic Books in Missiology", in the syllabus.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Charles R. Taber, To Understand the World, to Save the World: The Interface Between Missiology and the Social Sciences. Trinity Press International, 2000.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. An annotated bibliography on 1500 pages of required reading.
2. The class will be divided into teams of 5 persons. Each team will collaborate on the 4 assigned case studies. Each student will submit a 500-word paper covering his or her individual solution set for each case study. The group will submit a 2,000-word summary for one of the cases and participate in an integration exercise with other groups designed to facilitate collaboration.
3. A 3,000-word paper on a significant missiological problem related to the student’s ministry. An overall goal of the course is that the student be able to integrate learning from all the work done thus far. This paper should demonstrate the integration of missiological perspectives, contextual factors and insights gained from the study of missiologists and the relevant literature.
4. ThM. students: read and write a review of an additional book from Basic Books in Missiology list (for a total of 4 reviews); write a 4,000-word term paper. This should demonstrate a more rigorous and advanced understanding of missiological method and application.

PREREQUISITES: Students must have completed 24 units of Missiology courses including 16 units of MACCS or MAICS Core Competencies.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: For MAICS meets core competency. For MACCS meets integration requirement.

FINAL EXAM: None.

Date Last Edited: December 5, 2005