United Methodist Polity: DENOM-602X, Fall 2018 Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Jonathan LeMaster-Smith, Instructor jonathan.lemaster-smith@garrett.edu 336-880-2545 Office Hours: By Appointment Course Description This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore the polity and practice of the United Methodist Church. The course focuses on the broader ecology of the ecclesiological forms, governance configurations, membership and orders as they are expressions of the United Methodist expression of Christian mission. Student use and growing familiarity with the Book of Discipline (2016 edition) and Book of Resolutions is an essential requirement and expectation of the course. Course Objectives The course will engage the students with: Being a participant in the mission of The United Methodist Church a participant in the structures of The United Methodist Church in ministry in a distinctively Methodist and Wesleyan way concerned about the reform of the church Doing engaging church structures from our connectional stance articulating the reason that they are members of The United Methodist Church and displaying these in the ministries they serve United Methodist Polity as a means for justice, mission, and ministry Knowing The Books of Discipline and Resolution of the United Methodist Church The structure and purpose Sources for Methodist theology Ways in which theology and polity influences the life and work of the local, regional, and general Church UM Polity Syllabi Fall 18-1
Dates for Course The course will become available shortly before Tuesday, September 4 th and be available through Friday, December 21st. During that time, please adhere to all the deadlines set within the Course Assignments section of the syllabus. While this course is online, it is the expectation of the instructor that it will take as much time as a regular, face-to-face course. You should plan on spending approximately six hours per week working on this course and assignments. I. Required Readings The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, 2016. Nashville: United Methodist Publishing House, 2016. ISBN: 9781501833212. $23.99, FREE VERSION. The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church, 2016. Nashville: United Methodist Publishing House, 2012. 9781501833243. $21.19. Gordan MacKenzie. Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fools Guide to Surviving with Grace. New York: Viking, 1998. 0670879835. $25.00. Russell Richey. Methodist Connectionalism: Historical Perspectives. Nashville, TN: United Methodist General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, 2009. ISBN: 9780938162858. $18.99 Laceye Warner. The Method of Our Mission: United Methodist Polity and Mission. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-1-4267-6717-3. $34.00. II. Selected Reading (Choose One for a ministry path you are not pursuing) J. Ann Cragg. Missionary Conferences of the United Methodist Church in the United States. New York: United Methodist Women, 2017. ASIN: B06XHY26FN. $5.35. If You are reading this book, contact me, there are updated articles. Margaret Ann Crain. The United Methodist Deacon: Ordained to Word, Service, Compassion and Justice. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-1426776113. $15.00. Mary Agnes Theresa Dougherty. My Calling to Fulfill: Deaconesses in the United Methodist Tradition. New York: United Methodist Women, 1997. ISBN: ASIN: B0006QRKEC $45.95 (used copies are available online as well). If you are reading this book, contact me, there are additional resources. Alice G. Knotts. To Transform the World: Vital United Methodist Campus Ministries. Nashville, TN: United Methodist General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. ISBN 13: 9780938162872. $16.99. UM Polity Syllabi Fall 18-2
James Shopshire, Mark C. Hicks, Richmond Stoglin. I Was in Prison: United Methodist Perspectives on Prison Ministry. Nashville, TN: United Methodist General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, 2008. ISBN: 9780938162896. $16.99. Russell Richey. Extension Ministers: Mr. Wesley s True Heirs. Nashville, TN: United Methodist General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, 2008. ISBN 13: 9780938162889. $14.99. Course Structure and Assignments This course is divided into six units of two weeks a piece with an opening and closing week for the course. Each unit covers a significant portion of United Methodist Polity. The first week focuses on theological content, the second week focuses on implications and application of this component of Polity. 1. Group Engagement with the Unit (50% of Final Grade) a. During Week 1 of each Unit, students will watch the provided lecture and read the assigned texts for the unit. They will then post a response (300 words +/- 10%) to the reflection question assigned by Thursday of that week at 10:00pm Central Time. They will then respond (100 words +/- 10%) to one another by Saturday of that week at 10:00pm Central Time (you must respond to at least two other people in your group). a. Post a response to the assigned reading and lecture by Thursday at 10pm CT b. Respond to colleagues posts by Saturday at 10pm CT NO LATE POSTINGS ACCEPTED b. During each Unit there will be an implications assignment which relates to your ministry, community, or local congregation. This assignment will vary but will not be intensely time consuming. It does, however, require you to move beyond the basic texts for the class and explore in depth the aspects of the course. These are due by Thursday of the second week of the unit. a. Complete theological implications assignment by Thursday at 10pm CT NO LATE POSTINGS ACCEPTED 2. United Methodist Polity Glossary (10% of final grade) Students will work as a group to create a glossary of Unit Methodist Polity Terms which will become accessible to each student (through a Wiki) and then also be made available to Annual and Central Conferences, Districts, and Local UM Polity Syllabi Fall 18-3
Churches. The Western North Carolina Annual Conference has agreed to be our first Annual Conference to try out our glossary for use. Each student will be given 4-8 terms to define. They will define those terms in the class Wiki Page, providing a definition, example, and citation such as the Book of Discipline, the General Board of Finance and Administration, or another reliable source (not Wikipedia or a random blog). A. Define terms in the class Wiki with an example and a citation. B. Due Saturday, September 29th, 10:00pm CT 3. Alternative Ministry Paths (20% of Final Grade) Read your chosen selected text and write a 1000 word (+/- 10%) essay reflecting on this ministry path. If you know someone in this field, feel free to speak with them as well. Reflect on its place in the United Methodist Polity (bringing in history and doctrine as well). Discuss how this ministry is connected to your own ministry and how they work together in our relational connection. A. Read book from selected alternative ministry path. B. Write a descriptive and reflection paper on said ministry path. C. Due Saturday October 20 th, 10:00pm CT 4. Connectionalism and Context (20% of Final Grade) From within your own context (church, ministry, mission field, educational institution, etc), select one of the following projects (or suggest your own), and using our polity and connection, outline the process, hindrances, and hopes for this particular project in your setting. Suggested Projects: +Church acquiring a new building to turn into a mission site +Church restructuring its leadership to adapt to the changing demographics of the community. +Church merging with a second congregation +Creating a missional relationship with churches of another denomination +Creating a Conference or District committee, commission, or task for related to a particular issue (such as creation care, church revitalization, ecumenism, poverty, etc.) +Closing a church or selling a building +Beginning a new district or conference ministry +Your suggestions are welcome. a. From within your own context design a project using your learning from class and your resources available to you. UM Polity Syllabi Fall 18-4
b. Length and structure of project may vary, but must include references to the Discipline, and will often include contacting members of your District or Annual Conference Staff. You may also have to check local regulations. c. Due Saturday, December 10 th, 10:00pm CT. Course Schedule and Assignments Dates Topic Assignments Sept 4-8 Opening Week Course Introduction Introduce Yourselves Richey Introduction Sept 9-22 Unit 1 Sept 23-Oct 6 Unit 2 Oct 7-20 Unit 3 The History of Our Polity Contemporary Doctrines, Social Principles, and Resolutions Leadership Roles, Laity, Deaconnesses, Clergy, Superintendents, Bishops, and Beyond Discipline pp. 1-24, 1-105 Warner 1-2 Richey 1-2 The Editing of Doctrine: Comparing Elizabethan Articles, Articles of Religion Discipline 160-166 Book of Resolutions Bishops Initiatives Warner 3 Richey 10 Social Principles and Context Glossary Terms Due Sept. 29 Discipline 126-143, 301-450 Warner 4-5 Richey 4-6 Alternative Ministry Paths Due Oct. 20 th Oct 21- Nov 3 The Local Church Discipline 120-125, UM Polity Syllabi Fall 18-5
Unit 4 201-269, 2501-2511, 2525-2552 Warner 6 Richey 7-9 Administration as Spirit-Filled Nov 4-17 Unit 5 Conferencing and Governance Discipline 501-2401, 2512-2524, 2601-2719 Warner 7-8 Richey 3, 11, 13 Legislative Writing Nov 18-24 Thanksgiving Week No Assignments Nov 25-Dec 8 Connectional Work as Relational and Grace Filled Richey 12, Conclusion MacKenzie Text Dec. 9-12 Reflection Week No Reading Final Reflection Grading Scale: A: 93-100 A- 90-92 B+ 87-89 B 83-86 B- 80-82 C+ 77-79 C 73-76 C- 70-72 D+ 67-69 D 60-66 F 0-59 Grade Explanation for A/100% -You have engaged the discussion forum in a coherent and thoughtful way. -There are little to no spelling and grammatical errors, and your thought process is easy to follow. -You post on at least two other group members posts in engaging and thoughtful ways. B/85% UM Polity Syllabi Fall 18-6
-You engaged the discussion forum topic in a coherent way showing you have read the material and reflected on it. -Grammar and spelling error present. -You engage posts of group members C/75% -You post something which is related to the topic. -Grammar and spelling errors present -You do not post on group members posts F/0% -No post or off topic post Grade for Polity Implications A/100% -You complete assignment with exceptional quality and character. -Few to no grammar issues. -Useful as a resource for your ministry and calling. B/85% -Assignment is complete, on topic, and is of good quality -Several grammar issues. -May be useful to your work. C/75% -You provide something related to the assignment -Grammatical Issues are distracting -Not Useful as a resource F/0% -Off Topic -No Submission Grade United Methodist Polity Glossary A/100% -You complete assignment with exceptional quality and character. -Few to no grammar issues. -Cites one to two quality UMC or Methodist Resources -Useful as a resource for your ministry and calling. UM Polity Syllabi Fall 18-7
B/85% -Assignment is complete, on topic, and is of good quality -Several grammar issues. -May be useful to your work. -Cites Sources C/75% -You provide something related to the assignment -Grammatical Issues are distracting -Does not cite source F/0% -Off Topic -No Submission Grade Alternative Ministry Paths A -Well written reflection that references the text, possibly other quality sources, and even communicates with someone in this ministry field. -Thesis and solid flow of paper. -Little to know grammatical mistakes B -An adequately written reflection that references the text. -Thesis and flow are present -Some grammatical mistakes but does not distract from paper. C -A reflection related to the text. -Paper is readable and somewhat coherent -Grammatical mistakes present, may distract from reading D -Paper related to ministry topic -May be within parameters of prompt -Numerous grammatical mistakes, but paper still readable F -Unrelated to topic -Not coherent -Significant structural flaws that makes paper incoherent UM Polity Syllabi Fall 18-8
Grade Connectionalism In Context A -Project represents solid thinking and application related both to local context and the topic at hand and is written is such a way that it is useful and evaluable. -Solid trajectory of thought, with clear direction of writing. -Resources used or produced are of well written or produced quality. -Little to no grammatical mistakes B -Project shows connection to both local context and topic at hand. Is written with clear intent. -Visible trajectory of thought -Resources are adequate -Some grammatical mistakes C -Project is connected in some ways to at least the topic at hand. -Some thought put into writing -Resources are present -Several grammatical mistakes D -Project is relevant to class in some way. -Little to know coherent trajectory -No resources except for class sources -Numerous grammatical mistakes F -Project not coherent or relevant -No resources -Excessively poor writing -NO PROJECT SUBMITTED (0) UM Polity Syllabi Fall 18-9