MAXIMIZING THE CHURCH'S REDEMPTIVE INFLUENCE
Western Seminary – Portland Campus
PTS 504: 2 Credit Hours
Dr. Ron Marrs, , 503-517-1887
Mike Tatlock, mike@gracechapelonline,503-997-2559
Syllabus -- Spring, 2015
8 am- Noon on the following days:
January 9, 23; Feb. 6, 20; March 6, 20; April 10
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course gives attention to the essential nature and vocation of the Church as God's called people. Students are challenged to rethink the mission of the Church, moving beyond traditional assumptions, and relating the mission to a modern/post-modern context. Focus will be given to countering pluralism and the new paganism, determining a biblical strategy for accomplishing the mission, developing a social conscience, putting together a global approach to ministry, and creating the structures for achieving redemptive influence.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
As a result of this course, the student should be able to:
- Develop a biblical understanding of the church's mission to minister the gospel
- Develop cultural literacy, learning how to read culture theologically
- Become familiar with the different options for cultural engagement, developing a method that most effectively impacts culture
- Lead the church in becoming the redemptive influence God intends for the church to be by crafting sound strategies for engaging culture
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Online Orientation and syllabus readingDUE DATE: January 9, 2015
Before the end of the first Friday of the semester, you need to log onto the web classroom, download the syllabus for the course, and complete the report indicating that you have read and understand the course requirements. By federal law, we now need to ensure that students participate in classes for the full length of the semester. So failure to complete the online orientation on time may result in a grade penalty and may impact your financial aid eligibility.
2. Completion of course readingsDUE DATE: See reading schedule
2.1Mike Tatlock, Faith in Real Life [Paperback], Grand Rapids: Zondervan: 2010, ISBN-13: 978-0310291909, $14.99.
2.2Keller, Timothy J. Center Church, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012, ISBN-978-0-310-49418-8 (Hardcover), $29.99.
2.3Handouts provided prior to class
3. Class Participation: Attendance at all classes as well as involvement and interaction during class sessions.
4. Church strategy research paper and oral report. DUE DATES: Paper due Feb. 6
Oral Report due March 20
Each student will be required to meet with and complete a 1 hour interview with leaders from 3 churches with the goal of understanding their strategy for influencing their community. Students can select which churches they will interview (have those approved by the instructor). This paper will seek to answer the following questions:
a)What are the hubs of influence in their community?
b)How have they had influence in a positive or negative way in their community?
c)What have they done strategically to influence their community?
d)How has their church theology and philosophy effected their strategy for influence?
Summarize your findings in 3-5 pages. This will be presented in a 5 min oral summary, as well as turned in in written form.
5. Research PaperDUE DATE: April 10, 2015
The completion of a research paper seeking to investigate and identify the major hubs of influence within your community. This paper will require each student to Assess, Interview, Strategize and Reflect on the main hubs of influence in their community. The paper must be 5-7 pages in length, and presented in a 5 minute oral summary.
6. Final Course Evaluation (15 min.)DUE DATE: April 24, 2015
Before the end of the last Friday of the semester, you will receive an email with a link to the final course evaluation. By federal law, we now need to ensure that students participate in classes for the full length of the class. So failure to complete the final course evaluation on time will result in a grade penalty and may impact your financial aid eligibility.
COURSE READINGS
Required:
- Keller, Timothy J. Center Church, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012, ISBN-978-0-310-49418-8 (Hardcover), $29.99.
- Tatlock, Mike, Faith in Real Life [Paperback], Grand Rapids: Zondervan: 2010., ISBN-13: 978-0310291909, $14.99
- Various articles/handouts to be distributed in class
You are encouraged to purchase these titles through the Amazon.com associate program; you may use the links provided above, or the search option found on the Western website under “Students/Portland”:
Recommended:
Barna, George. Revolution
Budziszewski, J. Evangelicals in the Public Square
Carson, D.A. Christ & Culture Revisited
Carter, Craig. Rethinking Christ and Culture
Clapp, Rodney. A Peculiar People
Conder, Tim. The Church in Transition
Crouch, Andy. Culture Making
Detweiler, Craig. A Matrix of Meanings
Erickson, Millard. The Postmodern World
Frost, Michael and Alan Hirsch. The Shaping of Things to Come
Frost, Michael and Alan Hirsch. ReJesus
Frost, Michael. Exiles
Gibbs, Eddie. Emerging Churches
Gilgoff, Dan. The Jesus Machine
Grenz, Stanley. A Primer on Postmodernism
Guiness, Os. Prophetic Untimeliness
Guiness, Os. The Case For Civility
Hirsch, Forgotten Ways
Johnston, Robert. Reframing Theology and Film
Kreeft, Peter. How to Win the Culture War
Lewis, Robert. The Church of Irresistible Influence
Lindsay, Michael. Faith in the Halls of Power
Logan, Samuel. Confronting Kingdom Challenges
McManus, Erwin. An Unstoppable Force
Merrill, Dean. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry Church
Milne, Bruce. Dynamic Diversity
Moore, T.M. Culture Matters
Niebuhr, H. Richard. Christ and Culture
Romanowski, William. Eyes Wide Open
Seay, Chris. The Gospel According to Tony Soprano
Schmidt, Alvin. Under the Influence
Smith, Chuck. The End of the World as We Know It
Stackhouse, Jr., John. Making the Best of It
Staub, Dick. Too Christian, Too Pagan
Stevens, Tim. Pop Goes the Culture
Storkey, Alan. Jesus and Politics
Sweet, Leonard. Carpe Manana
Sweet, Leonard. The Church in Emerging Culture
Van Gelder, Craig. Confident Witness—Changing World
Vanhoozer, Kevin. Everyday Theology
Webber, Robert. Ancient-Future Faith
GRADING
A+ / A / A- / B+ / B / B- / C+ / C / C- / D+ / D / D-99-100% / 95-98% / 93-94% / 91-92% / 88-90% / 86-87% / 84-85% / 81-83% / 79-80% / 77-78% / 74-76% / 70-73%
Required Assignments / Points / Estimated Time to Complete / Due Date
Assignment #1
Enroll in the on-line classroom and read the syllabus. / 5 / 1 hour / Jan. 9, 2015
Assignment #2
Course readings / 75 / 15 hours / By class time indicated in course schedule
Assignment #3
Class Participation / 20 / (class hours) / Completed by the professors
Assignment #4
Church Strategy Research Paper and oral presentation / 75 / 15 hours / Feb. 6/March 20, 2015
Assignment #5
Research Paper and oral presentation / 120 / 24 / April 10, 2015
Assignment #6
Course evaluation / 5 / 1 hour / April 24, 2015
Totals / 300 / 56 hrs.
Due date extensions will be granted only on the basis of extenuating circumstances, and must be requested in advance of the pertinent due date. Unexcused late (or poor quality) work will result in an appropriate reduction in points earned for that assignment.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Sept. 12 Theology: Understanding the Whole Gospel, Framework for being missional
Sept. 26 Theology: Anatomy of Church and defining culture
Oct. 10 Philosophy: The church as a movement not a meeting
Strategy: Determining a global approach to ministry
Oct. 24 Strategy: Exegeting your community/city and Identifying hubs of influence
Nov. 7 Strategy: Establishing your influence in your community
Nov. 21 Strategy: Missional communities and their influence in the neighborhood,
Oral reports
Dec. 12 Strategy: Becoming a church of refuge
Oral reports
COURSE POLICIES
Attendance and Late Assignments: Students are expected to attend all class meetings. Students who miss class are responsible for missed work. Absences and tardiness may impact a student’s grade. Students who anticipate an absence should discuss it in advance with the instructor. Students who miss more than 20% of the seat time for the class will not pass the course, without a request for and the completion of additional assignments. Assignments submitted after the due date and time will result in a reduction of the student’s letter grade for that assignment.
Copyright Violation and Plagiarism: Research in secondary sources for the written project is permitted and welcomed. However, any appropriation of either ideas or wording taken from other sources, whether print or electronic, must be properly footnoted. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism which can result in substantial grade reduction or failure. Any unauthorized copying or use of copyrighted materials, including downloaded files of various kinds, can result in criminal charges and fines. For a fuller explanation of these issues or WS's copyright policy, see the Copyright Issues and Cheating" section of the Student Handbook:
Incompletes/Extensions: The final deadline for submitting all course work is the last day of the semester as noted in the Academic Calendar and in the class schedule. In the case of serious illness, family emergency, or similar extenuating circumstances, the student may request an extension. A 1-3 week extension is typical in all except the most extreme cases, and some penalty for late work may apply. Under no circumstances will the student be given more than 5 weeks to complete all required coursework except by petition and approval of the Administrative Committee. (Extensions longer than 5 weeks are rare and should only be requested under extreme circumstances.)
If students face a personal emergency that requires requesting an extension going beyond the end of the semester, it may affect their ability to receive financial aid in the next semester, and they may face the possibility that their next semester’s course registrations will be cancelled. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance.
Audit/Enrichment Students: Enrichment students are encouraged, but not obligated, to participate in assignments and class discussions. Professors are not obligated to grade participation for these students, but may opt to do so depending on class size.
Statement on WiFi Services: Our community at Western Seminary is defined by our membership in the body of Christ. As we share common resources, we wish to do so with respect and consideration for others. Our IT department has created a strong and secure wireless internet network at each of our campus locations to enhance the student learning environment. Some of the considerations in developing our wifi networks have included providing excellent security (better than you’ll find at the local coffeeshop) and doing so within a budget that does not significantly impact tuition costs. Keeping costs low means that we don’t have an endless supply of bandwidth. We ask that you use the wifi network for academic purposes and avoid downloading large files or streaming video. Please be mindful that your internet use (both in class and on campus) can distract others or prevent them from accessing resources they need for their studies. We appreciate your participation in promoting thoughtful, considerate internet use on campus.
The Availability of Disability Services at Western Seminary: Western Seminary is committed to responding to the needs of students with disabilities as outlined in both the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Western students are assisted individually as their needs dictate. It is the responsibility of students with disabilities to identify themselves and the nature of the disability. Any student who has a disability should contact the seminary’s Disability (Section 504) Coordinator, Ashley Mitchell, at 503-517-1819/1-877-517-1800, ext. 1819. Her office is at the Portland campus. Students at the northern California campuses may contact Director of Student Services – San Jose or Director of Student Services – Sacramento, or they may contact Ms Mitchell directly. Appropriate forms will be provided and must be submitted to the Disability Coordinator’s office.
READING SCHEDULE-PTS 504 SPRING, 2015 (read prior to class on assigned date)
Name______
OnTimeLate
Jan.9Tatlock,1-30
Keller,108-132
Jan.23Tatlock,31-76
Keller,223-231
Feb.6Tatlock,77-122
Feb.20Tatlock,123-160
Mar.6Tatlock,161-190
Mar.20Tatlock,191-202
Keller,255-273
Apr. 10Tatlock,203-218