URBAN CHURCH PLANTING, MS 510 Reformed Theological Seminary, Fall 2005 Paul B. Long, Jr., D.Min., Ph.D. Course Syllabus

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1 URBAN CHURCH PLANTING, MS 510 Reformed Theological Seminary, Fall 2005 Paul B. Long, Jr., D.Min., Ph.D. Course Syllabus Description of Topic An introduction to the task of church planting in urban centers in North America, Europe, or the Two-Thirds world. Emphasis on introduction to the theology, research, and strategies pertaining to urban church planting. o Theology: missiology, ecclesiology, theology of the city o Research: anthropology, sociology, research approaches o Strategy: models, principles, challenges, resources Purpose o Motivational/developmental: to develop student s calling and skills o Equipping: to introduce church planting issues, models, and principles for a church planter s toolkit. o Pedagogical : to train the student to teach and to lead others into church planting. o Doxological: to glorify God through the academic learning process. Objectives (measurable output and results) Each participant will become aware of major issues relating to urban church planting through bibliographical study, class discussion, and fieldwork. Each participant will have opportunity to assess his particular strengths and gifts for church planting ministry. Students will work in teams to analyze a particular urban setting and propose an appropriate church planting strategy. The class will attempt to make a real contribution to urban church planting through field work assisting or promoting an existing or eventual church plant. Revised 8/01/05 1

2 Basic Texts Keller, Timothy J. and Allen Thompson Church planter manual. New York. Redeemer Presbyterian Church. Swartz, Christian A Natural church development: A guide to eight essential Qualities of healthy churches. Carol Stream, Illinois: ChurchSmart Resources. (Practical concepts) Van Gelder, Craig The essence of the church: A community created by the Spirit. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. (Emphasis on ecclesiology.) Assignments o Annotated bibliography of 10 books and 5 recent articles pertaining to urban church planting. Use survey reading to compile a bibliography of works you would use to plant and teach urban church planting along with a brief (short paragraph) of how those particular works would be useful to you. Due: Oct % o Book review for class discussion, due according to sign-up schedule. Due: Sept. Oct. 10% o Research project: Practical analysis of a particular issue in urban church planting evidenced by a research project. [Bibliography + field trip] Field Work 15% Oral report TBA in Nov; written report Nov % o Personal assessment of church planting calling, gifts, and readiness. [Developed from MNA seminar Nov. 20 (cost $75) or other gift-analysis program.] Due: Nov % Exam: o Your own philosophy of urban church planting (5-10 pp.) supported by an outline of principles for urban church planting (sanitized and personalized summary of class notes and observations). Due: Nov % o Team project: Urban church planting strategy for a specific location Due: Nov % Revised 8/01/05 2

3 Recommended Reading Arn, Win, and Charles Arn The Master s plan for making disciples. Pasadena, California: Church Growth Press. Bakke, Ray A theology as big as the city. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press. Bakke, Raymond J. and Samuel K. Roberts The expanded mission of old first Churches. Valley Forge: Judson Press. Bosch, David J Transforming mission: Paradigm shifts in theology of mission. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books. Bush, Luis and Lorry Lutz Partnering in ministry: The direction of world evangelism. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press. Carnes, Tony and Anna Karpathakis, eds New York glory: Religions in the city. New York: New York University Press. Conn, Harvie M. and Manuel Ortiz Urban ministry: The kingdom, the city, and the people of God. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press. Conn, Harvie M. ed Planting and growing urban churches: From dream to reality. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House. Cox, Harvey The secular city: Secularization and urbanization in theological perspective. New York: The Macmillan Company. Dawson, John Taking our cities for God: How to break spiritual strongholds. Lake Mary, Florida: Creation House. Dayton, Edward R. and David A. Fraser Planning strategies for world evangelization. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Ellul, Jacques The meaning of the city. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Engle, James F How can I get them to listen? Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. Engle, James F. and Wilbert Norton What s gone wrong with the harvest: A communication strategy for the church and world evangelism. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. Revised 8/01/05 3

4 Faircloth, Samuel D Church planting for reproduction. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House. George, Carl F How to break growth barriers. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House. Gerken, Donald Eugene The training of a mission team for urban church planting. D.Min. diss., Reformed Theological Seminary. Gibbs, Eddie Church next: Quantum changes in how we do ministry. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press. Green, Clifford J Churches, cities, and human community: Urban ministry in the United States, Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Green, Michael Evangelism in the early church. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Greenway, Roger S. and Timothy M. Monsma Cities: Mission s new frontier. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House. Grigg, Viv Cry of the urban poor. Monrovia, California: MARC. Hiebert, Paul G. and Eloise Hiebert Menesis Incarnational ministry: Planting churches in band, tribal, peasant, and urban societies. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. Hunsburger, George R. and Craig Van Gelder The church between gospel and Culture: The emerging mission in North America. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Jenkins, Philip The next Christendom: The coming of global Christianity. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Kilbourn, Phyllis, ed Street children: A guide to effective ministry. Monrovia, California: MARC. Kyle, John E. ed Urban mission: God s concern for the city. Downers Grove, Illiniois: InterVarsity Press. Linthicum, Robert C City of God, city of Satan: A biblical theology of the urban church. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House Empowering the poor: Community organizing among the city s rag, tag and bobtail. Monrovia, California: MARC. Revised 8/01/05 4

5 MacNair, Donald J The birth, care, and feeding of a local church. Second ed. Decatur, Georgia: Committee for Christian Education and Publications, Presbyterian Church in America. Malphurs, Aubrey Planting growing churches for the 21 st century: A Comprehensive guide for new churches and those desiring renewal. 2 nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. McClung, Floyd Seeing the city with the eyes of God: How Christians can rise to the urban challenge. Tarrytown, New York: Chosen Books. Neighbour, Ralph W. Jr Where do we go from here? A guidebook for the cell Group church. Houston: Touch Publications, Inc. Ortiz, Manuel One new people: Models for developing a multiethnic church. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press. Parrillo, Vincent N Forge Press. Diversity in America. Thousand Oaks, California: Pine Park, Andrew Sung Racial conflict and healing: An Asian-American theological perspective. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books. Perkins, John M. with Jo Kadlecek Resurrecting hope. Ventura, California: Regal Books. Perkins, John M Beyond charity: The call to Christian community development. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. Romo, Oscar I American mosaic: Church planting in ethnic America. Nashville: Broadman Press. Schmidt, Alvin J The menace of multiculturalism: Trojan horse in America. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger. Simson, Wolfgang Houses that change the world. Authentic Media. Tillapaugh, Frank R Unleashing the church: Getting people out of the fortress And into ministry. Ventura, California: Regal Books. Van Engen, Charles Mission on the way: Issues in mission theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. Van Engen, Charles and Jude Tiersma, eds God so loves the city: Seeking a theology for urban mission. Monrovia, California: MARC. Revised 8/01/05 5

6 Van Gelder, Craig The essence of the church: A community created by the Spirit. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. Wagner, Peter C Churchquake: How the apostolic reformation is shaking up the church as we know it. Ventura, California: Regal Books. Wagner, Peter C., Stephen Peters and Mark Wilson, eds Praying through the 100 Gateway cities of the 10/40 window. Seattle: YWAM Publishing. Warren, Rick The purpose-driven church: Growth without compromising your message and mission. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing Company. Revised 8/01/05 6