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COURSE SYLLABUS Fall 2011 RENEWING THE CHURCH FOR MISSION MISS 0623 / THEO 0623 / PAST 0623 OCT. 13-15, NOV. 17-19 THURSDAYS, 6:30 - 9:20 PM FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS, 8:30 AM - 4:20 PM INSTRUCTOR: DR. HOWARD A. SNYDER U.S. Residence: (859) 858-8964 Address: Tyndale Seminary, or 168 Seamands Drive, Wilmore, KY 40390 USA Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Times for consultation: Before or after class, or by appointment. To access your course materials at the start of the course, please go to https://www.mytyndale.ca I. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course focuses on the recurring phenomenon of renewal in the church as a key aspect of a biblical and contemporary ecclesiology. It seeks an understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit in renewing the church, drawing from biblical foundations, historical models, and contemporary examples of congregational renewal and renewal movements. Application is made especially to the life of the local congregation. II. COURSE OBJECTIVES 1. To help students develop a biblical and practical ecclesiology. 2. To help students appreciate how God has worked historically in renewing the church. 3. To impart hope for congregational vitality today. 4. To provide practical insights into the dynamics of congregational health. 5. To provide a forum for discussion of issues of church renewal. 6. To introduce students to important resources on church renewal. 7. To help students develop into leaders in church renewal. III. COURSE REQUIREMENTS A. REQUIRED TEXTS Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire, by Brian Walsh and Sylvia Keesmaat. InterVarsity, 2004. 233 pp. The Community of the King (rev. ed.), by Howard Snyder. InterVarsity, 2004. 220 pp. Going Missional: Conversations with 13 Canadian Churches Who Have Embraced Missional Life, by Karen Stiller and Willard Metzger. World Alive Press, 2010. 160 pp. Salvation Means Creation Healed, by Howard Snyder with Joel Scandrett. Cascade, 2011. 228 pp. Note: With the professor‟s prior permission, you may substitute one book of your own choosing for one of the books listed above. The following books are recommended for more in-depth reading, but not required: The Great Giveaway, by Steve Fitch Signs of the Spirit: How God Reshapes the Church, by Howard Snyder The Other Six Days, by R. Paul Stevens B. ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING In addition to class participation, each class member is expected to complete the requirements indicated below. (Class participation is defined as: (1) faithful attendance at all class sessions; (2) participation in class discussion; and (3) evidence in discussion of having read the assigned readings.) Class participation: 10% 1. Reading Report (Due Nov. 17, 2011): 35% a. Read Community of the King (Snyder) and Colossians Remixed (Walsh & Keesmaat). b. Write a ten- to fifteen-page paper (double-spaced) which: 1) discusses two topics or themes found in either or both of these two books; 2) identifies and briefly discusses biblical passages of relevance to these two topics; and 3) discusses the significance of these topics in your current context of ministry. 2. Reflection Paper of approximately five pages (double-spaced) due on Nov. 25, 2011. 15% This should discuss your reflections and learnings regarding one or more topics dealt with in class during the previous week. This is not a research paper. 3. Major Project (Due Dec. 5; may be submitted earlier): 40% The project may be any one of the following: a research paper, case study, ministry project, strategy plan, or other form of project. Projects may be done individually or in groups of two or three (with the professor‟s prior approval). Some suggested 2 topics: Biblical principles of church renewal Analysis of a particular renewal movement Comparative analysis of two or more movements Study of a contemporary church or movement Planning for congregational renewal Beginning or strengthening small groups in the congregation Identifying and using spiritual gifts Analysis of a particular factor in renewal, viewed biblically and/or historically Preaching/teaching for renewal Theology of renewal Strategies for renewal Biblical models for renewal Music as a factor in renewal A plan for building community in the church The nature of this project will be discussed and decided upon during the first weekend of classes. Format of project report: 10–30 page paper (double-spaced). Length will vary, depending on the type of project. Research papers will tend to be longer; reports on projects in ministry will tend to be shorter, but will fully document the project. Include reference notes (footnotes or endnotes) as appropriate, and bibliography. A permissible alternative is to submit the project in video form. Note: With this project, submit a one-page report simply indicating the reading you have completed for the course, including total number of pages read. C. GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN WORK Guidelines specific to this course will be discussed in class. In addition, students should consult the current Academic Calendar for Academic Polices on Academic Honesty, Gender Inclusive Language in Written Assignments, Late Papers and Extensions, Return of Assignments, and Grading System. The Academic Calendar is posted on www.tyndale.ca/registrar/calendar. An excerpt is attached with this syllabus for easy reference. Arrangements on handing in and returning marked papers will be announced in class. The professor will explain and discuss this during the first class session. D. SUMMARY OF ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING There will be no final examination. In grading, the course components will be weighted approximately as follows: Class participation (10%), Reading Report (35%), reflection paper (15%), major project (40%). 3 Class Participation (including readings) 10 % Reading Report 35 % Reflection Paper 15 % Major Project 40 % Total 100 % IV. COURSE SCHEDULE AND CONTENT We will follow the topics as listed on the schedule, below, interweaving biblical, historical, and contemporary perspectives. Readings are assigned to cover material which, for the most part, we won't have time to deal with fully in class. Classes will be a combination of lecture and discussion, with some videos. Thurs., Oct. 13 – 6:30-9:20 PM – INTRODUCTION: RENEWAL, REVIVAL, REFORMATION MODELS OF THE CHURCH AND CHURCH RENEWAL Fri., Oct. 14 – 8:30-11:30 AM – RENEWAL: BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES Fri., Oct. 14 – 1:00-4:20 PM – THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH THE CHURCH AS LIVING ORGANISM Sat., Oct. 15 – 8:30-11:30 AM – CHURCH RENEWAL MOVEMENTS: HISTORY Sat., Oct. 15 – 1:00-4:20 PM – CHURCH RENEWAL MOVEMENTS: PRINCIPLES Thurs., Nov. 17 – 6:30-9:20 PM – THE ECOLOGY OF CONGREGATIONAL LIFE Fri., Nov. 18 – 8:30-11:30 AM – THE GIFTED, MINISTERING COMMUNITY Fri., Nov. 18 – 1:00-4:20 PM – SOME CONTEMPORARY MODELS Sat., Nov. 19 – 8:30-11:30 AM – 4 LEADERSHIP FOR RENEWAL STRUCTURING FOR RENEWAL Nov. 19 – 1:00-4:20 PM – RENEWAL AND THE REIGN OF GOD V. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY Renewing the Church for Mission *Especially recommended. INTRODUCTION/FOUNDATIONS Anderson, Ray. Ministry on the Fireline. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993. *Banks, Robert. Paul's Idea of Community. Rev. ed. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1994. Bilezikian, Gilbert. Community 101: Reclaiming the Church as Community of Oneness. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997. Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together. New York: Harper & Row, 1954. Brauch, Manfred T. Toward the Renewal of the Church: A Biblical Perspective. Valley Forge, PA: Office of Evangelism, 1988. Brunner, Emil. The Misunderstanding of the Church. Trans. Harold Knight. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1953. Budde, Michael L., and Robert W. Brimlow, eds., The Church as Counterculture. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 2000. Includes essays by Rodney Clapp, Walter Brueggeman, Stanley Hauerwas, and others. Carothers, J. Edward. The Paralysis of Mainstream Protestant Leadership. Nashville: Abingdon, 1990. Clapp, Rodney. A Peculiar People: The Church as Culture in a Post-Christian Society. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996. Costa, Donna M. The Ministry of God's People. Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 1991. Dawn, Marva J. A Royal “Waste” of Time: The Splendor of Worshiping God and Being Church for the World. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999. Drane, John. The McDonaldization of the Church: Consumer Culture and the Church’s 5 Future. Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys, 2001. Driver, John. Images of the Church in the Mission. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1997. Dulles, Avery. Models of the Church. New York: Doubleday, 1974. Expanded ed., 1987. Elbert, Paul, ed. Faces of Renewal: Studies in Honor of Stanley M. Horton. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1988. *Fee, Gordon D. “Laos and Leadership Under the New Covenant.” Crux, 25:4. December, 1989. Pp. 3–13. Fitch, David E. The Great Giveaway: Reclaiming the Mission of the Church from Big Business, Parachurch Organizations, Psychotherapy, Consumer Capitalism, and Other Modern Maladies. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005. Franklin, Robert Michael. Liberating Visions: Human Fulfillment and Social Justice in African-American Thought. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1990. Getz, Gene A. Building Up One Another. Wheaton, IL: Victor, 1976. Gibbs, Eddie, and Ryan K. Bolger. Emerging Churches; Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005. Giles, Kevin. Patterns of Ministry among the First Christians. Melbourne, Australia: Collins Dove, 1989. Girard, Robert C. My Weakness: His Strength: The Personal Face of Renewal. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981. Guder, Darrell L. The Continuing Conversion of the Church. Gospel and Our Culture Series. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000. Guder, Darrell L., ed. Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America. Gospel and Our Culture Series. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998. *Gunton, Colin E. The Promise of Trinitarian Theology. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1991, 1993. Greenleaf, Robert K. Servant Leadership. New York: Paulist Press, 1977. Greenleaf, Robert K. The Servant as Religious Leader. Peterborough, NH: Windy Row Press, 1982. Hanson, Paul D. The People Called: The Growth of Community in the Bible. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1986, 1987.