MI510/610: Thinking Missiologically (4 units)

Doug McConnell, Dean and Associate Professor of Leadership
Spring 2008 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 integrates the learning from the core courses in missiology taught in the MA degrees in the School of Intercultural Studies.  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—wll be employed. Because effective missiology is developed interactively, opportunity will be given for collaboration in learning.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1.  Describe the contribution of each of the core courses in the MACCS or MAICS programs of the School of Intercultural Studies to the theory and practice of missiological integration.
2.  Distinguish the critical contributions of each of the core missiological disciplines to the issues in a particular context as identified in a case study.
3.  Formulate a response to a case study that reflects the missiological integration related to the relevant issues identified in a case study.

 

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: A minimum of 1200 pages total is required.  The required reading is achieved through 700 pages of reading from the required texts and 500 pages of reading from the additional texts. (Additional texts can include recommended reading, course reader articles, and sources from the “Basic Books in Missiology” section.)  Please select your additional reading in the area of missiology in which you are the weakest. You may also read significant parts of various titles to familiarize yourself with the contents.

 

REQUIRED TEXTS: (700 pages). 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.

1.  Gerald H. Anderson, et al., eds., Mission Legacies: Biographical Studies of Leaders of the Modern Mission Movement. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1994. (any 100 pages)
2.  John Isbister, Promises Not Kept: The Betrayal of Social Change in the Third World. 7th edition.  Bloomfield: Kumarian Press, 2006. (250 pages)
3.  Michael Pocock, Gailyn Van Rheenen, and Doug McConnell. The Changing Face of World Missions: Engaging Contemporary Issues and Trends. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005. (350 pages)

 

RECOMMENDED READING:

1.  Charles R. Taber, To Understand the World, to Save the World: The Interface Between Missiology and the Social Sciences. Philadelphia: Trinity Press International, 2000.
2.  Phillip Jenkins, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity. New York:          Oxford University Press, 2007.
3.  Wilbert R. Shenk, ed. The Transfiguration of Mission. Scottdale: Herald Press, 1993.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1.  Two 500-word critical reflection papers on both required texts by Isbister and Pocock, et. al.
2.  One 1000-word paper for each assigned case study. (3 total)  This paper will identify at least one critical contribution from a minimum of three missiological disciplines for each case study.
3.  One 3,000-word Group paper.  The class will be divided into teams of 5 persons. Each team will collaborate on the 3 assigned case studies. The group will submit a 3,000-word integration response to one of the cases and participate in an in-class integration exercise regarding their completed assignment. 
4.  One 4,000-word Research paper applying missiological integration to a current missiological issue or trend based on the student learning outcomes for the School of Intercultural Studies.  You will submit an analysis of a current missiological issue or trend using relevant models and theories from the core courses.  The paper is to include one theory or model from a minimum of five missiological disciplines. This paper should demonstrate knowledge of the integration of missiological perspectives, contextual factors and insights gained from the study of the core courses in missiology.
5.  One annotated bibliography outlining the 500 pages of additional reading that you have chosen and summary entries from Mission Legacies.
6.  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 and MACCS meets integration requirement.

 

FINAL EXAM: None.

 

Note:  This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design, but is subject to modification.                               Last Date Edited:  8 January 2008