Lipscomb University Hazelip School of Theology Institute for Christian Spirituality DMIN 7223 01 DMIN 7223 Reconciliation as Missional Living (3 hours) Professor: John O. York Lipscomb University Date: February 12-19, 2018 One University Park Drive Monday 1:00-8:30 Nashville, TN 37204 Tuesday 8:30-8:00 Wednesday 9:00-3:00, 5:00-8:00 Thursday Friday 8:30-4:00 (Includes Participation in Preaching Workshop on Monday/Tuesday) HST and ICS s Mission in DMin in Missional and Spiritual Formation The faculty of HST/ICS view their work as integral to the university s mission: to integrate Christian faith and practice with academic excellence. This mission is carried out not only in the classroom but also by involvement in numerous services to the church and the larger community. The HST and ICS are located in the College of Theology and Ministry, and are vitally engaged in its goals and tasks. The stated mission of the college is to help students deepen their relationship with God and to equip them for service in the kingdom of God. The mission of the DMin program is to spiritually form servants who live missionally in the world and are capable of leading and training those in their spiritual care to fully participate in missio dei (God s mission for creation). The Five Outcomes central to the mission of Hazelip School of Theology are: 1) A robust theological imagination rooted deeply in Scripture and shaped by the broad Christian tradition. 2) Formational habits that support a life of ministry. 3) Organization-building skills sustained by Christian understandings of leadership. 4) Relationship-building skills that nurture forms of authentic community. 5) Reflective habits which illuminate the complexities of people-centered ministry. In this course, while elements of all five outcomes are included, particular attention will be given to outcomes 3, 4, and 5. Course Description This course is designed to aid the student in developing a theology of reconciliation and skills for facilitating reconciliation among individuals, in congregations, in other ministries, and in the wider society. This course presents biblically framed principles and processes for moving toward societal reconciliation. Cultural and religious diversity, conflict resolution, spiritual disciplines, social and economic justice issues (racism, sexism, classism), and related subjects are covered. Focus is also given to helping communities of faith successfully navigate change. 1
This course is being taught in conjunction with the Preaching Workshop for 2018: Reconciliation and the Future of Preaching. Students will be expected to fully participate in the Workshop, with the preaching assignment counting as part of the required course work. On Monday, class will meet briefly at 1:00, then participate in the Workshop that begins at 2:00. On Wednesday, class will begin at 9:00 am. We will take a break at 3:00 on Wednesday and reconvene at 5:00 at Tennessee Prison for Women. On Thursday and Friday, we will begin at 8:30. Course Requirements Pre-Course Assignments: Qualitative Research Survey: Using the guidelines found in the Appendices of Cameron Harder s book, initiate part one of an Appreciative Inquiry around the topic of reconciliation/forgiveness/conflict management. (Note: you can choose any particular aspect of that you like). Working with a group of 6-10 people, create an initial 3 question conversation using Harder s guidelines. Using the leader guidelines (appendix c), develop a summary of your findings. Submit a 2,500 word essay based on your findings that summarize both the results of the initial discussion and your experiences initiating and conducting the gathering. Include practical and theological implications of the process for processes of reconciliation in the life of a community of faith. (Due February 9) Outcomes 3 and 4. Readings: A thorough book review (2/3 content; 1/3 reaction) is due for four of the required texts on the first day of class (750-1000 words each), one of which must be either the work of Volf or the work of Kendi. In addition, students will be asked to make oral summaries of three other books on the assigned reading list. Students should submit list of books they are choosing to orally review and books they are choosing for their. Volf, Salter, and Tutu will be discussed on Wednesday; Thompson, Beck, Arbinger Institute, and Steinke on Thursday; Cone and Kendi will be the focus of conversation on Friday. These lists are due on January 8, 2018. NOTE: The book by Harder will be discussed in class, but is not to be part of either the written or oral reviews. All Written Book Reviews are due on February 12 (Outcomes 5). Mid-Course Assignment: Response Paper: Write a 1500 word response paper to presentations by Walter Brueggemann, Richard Hughes, and the discussions surrounding Reconciliation and the future of Preaching during the Preaching Workshop. Paper is due March 9. (Outcome 4) Post-Course Assignment: Research Project: Submit a paper with a topic appropriate to this course to evaluate within the context of one s congregation and the cultural environment. You may choose one of the following possibilities: identify a need for conflict resolution within the church (not between individuals rather choose an issue that influences a significant number of people) and create a plan for its resolution; or identify a social justice issue in your larger 2
context and create a plan for an appropriate response to that need. Due April 13 (Outcomes 3 and 4). Alternative final class project: Re-convene the research group and complete the Appreciative Inquiry Process. Submit a paper that adequately recounts the experiences and conclusions reached in the process. Criteria for Evaluation of Paper CRITERIA Style and organization Form, grammar, clarity of development, strong conclusion Content Clearly presented, subject fully treated, does paper present topic appropriately Sources Use of sources, documentation in paper, bibliography complete and appropriate Insight and Application Articulate a theology of reconciliation appropriate to missional living and one s own spiritual development, insights gained from study and the ultimate value of the work, especially in one s ministry context WEIGHT Grading Pre-course survey and evaluation 20% Book Reviews 20% Class Participation 20% Response Essay 10% Research Paper 30% Grading Scale: A=93-100 B=84-92 C=70-83 Required Course Materials The Arbinger Institute. The Outward Mindset: Seeing Beyond Ourselves. Berrett- Koehler, 2016. Beck, Richard, Unclean: Meditations on Purity, Hospitality, and Mortality. Cascade Books, 2011. *Cone, James. Martin and Malcolm and America: A Dream or a Nightmare. Orbis Books, 1991. Harder, Cameron. Discovering the Other: Asset Based Approaches For Building Community Together. The Alban Institute, 2013. Kendi, Ibram X. Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. Nation Books, 2016. McNeil, Brenda Salter. Roadmap to Reconciliation: Moving Communities into Unity, Wholeness, and Justice. IVP Books, 2016. Steinke, Peter. Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times: Being Calm and Courageous No Matter What, Alban Institute, 2006. Thompson, Curt. The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves. IVP 3
Books, 2015. Tutu, Desmond. No Future Without Forgiveness, Image, 2000. Volf, Miroslav. Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation, Abingdon Press, 1996. Note: Chapters 5-6 of Cone s book will be the subject of discussion when we go to Tennessee Prison for Women. Course Learning Objectives Students completing this course will be able to: Learning Objectives How Delivered How Assessed Goals Articulate a theology of reconciliation Helping others through same development Describe/explain the process leading to effective conflict resolution Effective dealing with conflict in congregation setting Identify core values and default reactions, and brain processes that lead to conflict with others and inner-conflict with self. Articulate the view of the church as the proleptic, eschatological community Navigate personal and communal change within ministry context Use Biblical text appropriately when dealing with such issues as sexism, racism, and classism The student and the community where one ministers becomes more engaged in practices of forgiveness and reconciliation Ability to focus on relevant topics for church formation and transformation Effective change will be experienced by the church where one ministers. Able to guide church through careful study of current issues in a way that is faithful to the Bible and relevant to one s culture Academic Integrity Policy Because Lipscomb s primary mission is to integrate Christian faith and practice with academic excellence, integrity is important in this course. As your instructor, I will deal with each student fairly and honestly. As participants in the course of study, you are expected to do your own work on all assignments unless I indicate that collaboration is allowed on a specific assignment. Penalties for integrity violations will range from failure on the assignment involved to failure in the course. The instructor also reserves the right to report violations to members of the administration. For clarification, refer to the University s Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity Policy (see http://academics.lipscomb.edu/page.asp?sid=12&page=822) Additional Resources: 4
The Arbinger Institute. Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box. 2 nd edition, Berrett-Koehler, 2010.. The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict. Berrett- Koehler, 2008. Campbell, Will D., Brother to a Dragonfly. Continuum, 2000. Charmaz, Kathy. Constructing Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide Through Qualitative Analysis. Sage, 2010. Dayton, Tian. The Magic of Forgiveness: Emotional Freedom and Transformation in Midlife. Health Communications, Inc., 2003. Enright, Robert D., and North, Joanna, eds. Exploring Forgiveness. University of Wisconsin Press, 1998. Friedman, Edwin H. Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue. Guilford Press, 2011. Gangel, Kenneth O., and Canine, Samuel L. Communication and Conflict Management in Churches and Christian Organizations. Broadman, 1992. Hirsch, Debra. Redeeming Sex: Naked Conversations about Sexuality and Spirituality. IVP, 2015. Huckins, John, and Swigart, Jer. Mending the Divide: Creative Love in a Conflicted World. IVP Books, 2017. Hughes, Richard T. Myths America Lives By. 2 nd expanded edition (forthcoming, 2018). Jones, L. Gregory. Embodying Forgiveness: A Theological Analysis. Eerdmans, 1995. Keifert, Patrick, ed. Testing the Spirits: How theology Informs the Study of Congregations. Eerdmans, 2009. Lazare, Aaron. On Apology. Oxford University Press, 2004. Marsh, Charles, and John M. Perkins, Welcoming Justice: God s Movement Toward Beloved Community, IVP, 2009. Sande, Ken. The Peace Maker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict. 3 rd edition. Baker, 2004. Swetland, Kenneth L. Facing Messy Stuff in the Church: Case Studies for Pastors and Congregations. Kregel, 2005. Taleb, Nassim Nicholas. Antifragile: Things that Gain from Disorder. Random House, 2012. Tannen, Deborah. That s Not What I Meant! How Conversational Style Makes or Breaks Relationships. Harper-Collins, 2011. Wiesenthal, Simon. The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness. Schocken, 1970. Zaffron, Steve, and Logan, Dave. The Three Laws of Performance: Rewriting the Future of Your Organization and Your Life. Jossey-Bass, 2009. Video: Forgiving Dr. Mengele The Power of Forgiveness Forgiveness: A Time To Love and a Time to Hate 70x7: The Forgiveness Equation Journey Toward Forgiveness 5
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