DM711: Sample Course Outline
WARNING: Not to be used as a course syllabus

 

A typical week of DM711 coursework will include reading, written assignments, and an online "Connecting" exercise.

Connecting posts are due by 8 a.m. on Monday of the following week unless otherwise noted. 

Written assignments are due by 8 a.m. on the Tuesday of the following week unless otherwise noted.

 

Students are required to read the following two books before the start of this course:

1. Hirsch, Alan. The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2006

2. Peterson, Eugene. Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1994

 

  WEEK ONE - Sample Schedule

Module One: The Fuller DMin: Overview of the DMin Program

Read:
 "Confessions...", "A Vision For..." and "Low-Grade Fever," all available in Document Sharing

Write:
 Three-page Ministry Reflection Paper covering Frost and Peterson, to be uploaded to Dropbox "Module 1: Week 1: Ministry Reflection Paper-Hirsch/Peterson"

Connecting:  Motivations and Goals (Note: Initial Connecting post due by Thursday evening of week one)

 

  WEEK TWO - Sample Schedule

Module One:  The Fuller DMin: Forming Community

Read:
 Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus;
 Bonhoeffer, Life Together; 
Fredrickson, "Church as Community"

Write:
Two-page Ministry Reflection Paper on either Nouwen or Bonhoeffer, to be uploaded to Dropbox "Module 1: Week 2: Bonhoeffer/Nouwen"

Gather a Community of Support (COS)

Complete Lesson 1 of Peace, Spiritual Autobiography: Discovering and Sharing Your Spiritual Story. Share your Week 1 reflection paper with COS. Keep a log of your COS group time.

Connecting: Nouwen and Bonhoeffer

 

  WEEK THREE - Samle Schedule

Module Two:  A Theology of Ministry:  
Introduction to Theological Reflection 

Read:
 Grenz & Olson, Who Needs Theology?; 
Lecture, "The DMin Model for..."; 
Anderson, The Soul of Ministry (1-105)

Listen to:
 Avril Lavigne's song "I'm With You"

Write:
 Three-page paper analyzing the case study "Fish or Cut Bait," to be uploaded to Dropbox "Module 2: Week 3: Fish or Cut Bait"

Connecting:  Fish or Cut Bait

 

  WEEK FOUR - Sample Schedule

Module Two:  A Theology of Ministry:  Application of Theological Method

Read:
 Anderson, The Soul of Ministry (106-223)

Write:
 Six-page case study paper on your ministry, to be uploaded to Dropbox "Module 2: Week 4: Case Study Paper"

Connecting: Community of Support

 

  WEEK FIVE - Sample Schedule

Module Three: Reflections:

Personal Journey

Read:
 DMin Staff Biographies;
 McLaren, "Dorothy on Leadership"; 
McNeal, A Work of Heart
; Buckingham and Clifton, Now Discover Your Strengths

Take:  Strengths Finder Test online

Write:
 Four-page reflection paper on shaping factors in your life based upon McNeal, to be uploaded to Dropbox "Module 3: Week 5: McNeal"

Schedule: Participate in a Guided Silent Retreat within the next month.

Connecting: Strengths and Shaping Factors

 

  WEEK SIX - Sample Schedule

Module Three: Reflections: Ministry Context

Read: 
Lewis, Culture Shift

Write:
 Three-page summary of your findings from the four exercises in Culture Shift, to be uploaded to Dropbox "Module 3: Week 6: Lewis"

Meet with Community of Support (COS)

Complete Lesson 3 of Peace, Spiritual Autobiography. Reflect on strengths and shaping factors in your ministry context with COS

Continue log of COS group process

Connecting: The Culture of Your Church

 

  WEEK SEVEN - Sample Schedule

Module Four: Integration: The DMin Program: Developing a Learning Path

Reflect on your planned learning path and ideas for a possible Final Project, to be uploaded to Dropbox "Module 4: Week 7: Learning Path/Final Project Topic"

Connecting: Learning Path/Final Project

 

  WEEK EIGHT - Sample Schedule

Module Four: Integration: The DMin Program: Finishing the Program Well

Meet with Community of Support (COS) 

Complete Lesson 4 of Peace, Spiritual Autobiography. Share with COS ideas from your Ministry Reflection Paper, and from your drafts on both learning path and Final Project.

Connecting: Finishing Well

 

  WEEKS NINE, TEN and EXAM WEEK - Sample Schedule

Due by 5 p.m. Friday of Exam Week (11)

Write:
 One- to two-page log on Community of Support Group Experience, to be uploaded to Dropbox "Module 4: Community of Support Log"

One- to two-page log on Guided Silent Retreat, to be uploaded to Dropbox "Module 4: Silent Retreat Log"

Twelve-page Ministry Reflection Paper, to be uploaded to Dropbox "Module 4: Ministry Reflection Paper"