Overview 

The Doctor of Ministry cohort in Christian Spirituality with Tony Jones will feature a variety of different learning environments and structures that will allow the students to engage spirituality conceptually and practically.  Each year will feature different co-teachers and will alternate locations for two-week periods.  The proposed format is as follows: 

Year One:
Co-taught with Lauren Winner (& Featuring Phyllis Tickle) 

The concentration of the first gathering is to frame up the entire three-year experience, developing a broad and robust understanding of just what is “Christian Spirituality.”  Lauren Winner, professor at Duke University Divinity School and author of, Girl Meets God, will teach about the history of Christian spirituality, from its roots in ancient Israel through the early church, the Middle Ages, the Reformation and Renaissance, and to the currently emerging landscape. Tony Jones will work with the students to develop a personal “theology of Christian spirituality” which will guide the student throughout the course of study. Phyllis Tickle, compiler of The Divine Hours and general editor of the Ancient Practices Series will also guest lecture in the class.  This course will meet in Pasadena, CA campus for the first half and then over the weekend and remaining time at a monastery in the San Gabriel mountains.  

Year Two:
Co-taught with Brian McLaren 

In the second year, the class will meet in Minnesota and explore the connection between Christianity spirituality and nature, including possible forays into the north woods and Boundary Water Area Wilderness, with a special emphasis on Jürgen Moltmann’s theology of creation.  Brian McLaren, long-time pastor and author of many books will join the class for the canoe trip, and he will teach from his long-time passion for creation care and the spirituality of the wilderness. 

Year Three:
Co-taught with Craig Detweiler

The nexus of Christian spirituality and our everyday lives with be the focus of the third year, with Tony Jones teaching on cultural hermeneutics and challenging the students to take their theology of Christian spirituality—developed in year one—and apply it to the world in which we find ourselves.  Gareth Higgins, Northern Irish peace activist and renowned film critic will be screening films with us and catalyzing theological reflection.  This course will take place in Pasadena and Hollywood, CA.
 
Instructor
 Tony is the author of The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier and is theologian-in-residence at Solomon's Porch in Minneapolis. A doctoral fellow in practical theology at PrincetonTheological Seminary, he is the author of many books on Christian ministry and spirituality, including and The Sacred Way: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life, and he is a sought after speaker and consultant in the areas of emerging church, postmodernism, and Christian spirituality. Tony has three children and lives in Edina, Minnnesota.