McCormick Theological Seminary
Doctor of Ministry Program
The Church in the World Today
T/H/E 610
Professor Anna Case-Winters
NOTE: Pre-course Assignments are Due: Two weeks and one week before first day of class. September 30 and October 6. See descriptions under requirements.
Course Project Assignment Due: @ March 1, 2015
Anna Case-Winters
McCormick Theological Seminary
5460 S. University Ave
Chicago, IL 60615
773-947-6321
Course Description:
The church in the world today finds itself in a rapidly changing landscape. The contemporary North American context has its own particular challenges for the church that would be faithful and effective. Ministry in increasingly urban environments calls for forms of church life that will be more responsive to urban realities. Religious pluralism presents new opportunities for interfaith engagement and partnerships. The global and ecumenical horizon lifts our visions to the wider church beyond its local expressions. What does this changed landscape with its new realities mean for congregational life as we seek to envision and build community in local churches and in the wider contexts they seek to serve?
Focused Questions:
This course is structured around questions that are raised by thoughtful ministerial practice for the church in the world today:
(1) What is the nature and purpose of the church and its ministry?
(2) How does the contemporary context in which in which the church engages in ministry shape that ministry?
(3) In particular, what are the challenges and opportunities of doing ministry in the North American context? What does the increasingly global, urban, ecumenical and religiously pluralistic environment call forth from the church’s ministry?
(4) How are these realities shaping your local context of ministry? How may your church or ministry setting respond in ways that are faithful and effective?
Required Texts:
Note that particular portions of some of the books are assigned. Students are welcome, but not required to read beyond these portions.
Books to purchase:
Sallie McFague, Life Abundant: Rethinking Theology and Economy for a Planet in
Peril (Chapters 1-5 and choose one among 6-8) (Economy and Ecology)
Neal Presa,That They May All Be One (Appendix “The Accra Confession,” Part I
Chapters 2,3,4; Part II Chapters 9,10,11; Part III Chapters 14,15,16; Part IV Chapters 26). (Ecumenism)
Philip Jenkins, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Community
(Read for overarching themes and analysis—not details) (Global Christianity)
Robert Wuthnow, America and the Challenges of Religious Diversity
(Intro, Chapters 1, 2, 5, 6, 8,9, 10) (Religious Pluralism)
Brief selections from the following will be posted for you on Moodle:
On Economic/Ecological Challenges:
Larry Rasmussen. Earth Community, Earth Ethics
James Cone. “Whose Earth is it anyway?”
Anna Case-Winters. Reconstructing a Christian Theology of Nature
On Ecumenism:
Michael Emerson and Christian Smith, Divided by Faith: Evangelicalism and the
Problem of Race in America
One bilateral dialogue paper of your choosing
On Religious Pluralism and Interfaith Dialogue:
Diana Eck, Encountering God: A Spiritual Journey from Bozeman to Banaras
Dan Migliore, “The Finality of Jesus Christ and Religious Pluralism
On Urbanization and Globalization
Several video clips will be shown in class.
Assignments and Evaluation:
Note: Written assignments should be posted on the Moodle course site by the due date. Please post the book reviews as a set of four rather than as separate documents.
1. Read all required readings before class and prepare a one to one page (single spaced) reading response for each of the books combined with the articles on the same subject. Highlight key learnings from each text as well as two or three questions you would like to discuss in connection with the reading. Important: Do the readings and book reports before writing your Case Study, as the Case Study will be informed by these. (20%) Due two weeks before class,September 30.
2. Prepare a 3-5 page Case Study following the format detailed on the next page of the syllabus. The case will deal with a theological/ethical issue you have encountered in your context of ministry that is related to the focused questions of the course. It is important to make use of the relevant readings for the course in interpreting the case. The case will be shared and processed in a small group setting during the course week. Please bring four paper copies to class since we will share these in small group sessions. Instructions for writing the Case Study follow this section. (20%) Due one week before class, October 6.
3. Share (with two or three other students) in the leadership of discussion for one of the readings assigned. Discussion groups will be assigned on Monday of the class week and time will be set aside for the groups to prepare for their leadership of the discussion. Groups will summarize (briefly) major themes the text and pose interesting questions for the class to engage. Informed participation by the entire class in this and all class discussions is anticipated. (20%)
4. After the course, complete a ministry project in which you explore more fully(and take action in relation to) a significant theological/ethical issue pertinent to the focused questions of the course. This may be the issue you brought in your Case Study or some other you later select. You should follow the basic outline suggested for the Case Study. For the final project you will be expanding each of the sections to incorporate learnings from the course. You will also be adding an account of the interventions conducted and an evaluation of the outcomes and your learnings. Be sure to make appropriate use of the texts and resources of the course. Project should be 15-20 pages. (40%) Due March 1, 2015.
The Case Study
Case method in theology and ethics is theological and ethical reflection in direct connection to issues of practice raised by a concrete situation. Readers of your Case Study bring their own perspectives to the discussion and share them in a common effort to broaden theological and ethical understandings which guide the practice of ministry. Remember that you are to work on an issue that is connected to the focused questions of the course.
A complete case study includes the following elements:
a. Describe a current situation in your context of ministry which presents a theological/ethical issue (or issues) to be addressed. What persons, relations, and ideas are germane to the situation? What concrete problem(s) need to be resolved? Use pertinent readings to illumine your analysis of the situation.
- What theological/ethical resources illumine the challenge? Present and argue for a vision or model of the church and its ministry that illumines the challenge and guides response to it. This work should evidence your grappling with the texts for the course and/or other resources of the Christian tradition (i.e., Scripture, creeds and confessions, theology, etc.).
c.How do you think the challenge or problem should be addressed or resolved? What alternatives present themselves?
d.What strategy might you employ for involving and leading the community through assessment, decision-making, and action in relation to this issue? What possible courses of actions/interventions that seem reasonable to consider in your preliminary assessment?
e.How would you go about evaluating the outcome of such courses of
action/interventions?