MM568: Self-Care in Mission (4 units)
DESCRIPTION:
One of the greatest challenges facing mission in the 21st century is the increasing amount of attrition within mission agencies around the world. A large percentage of these early departures are avoidable. Good stewardship of resources requires recognition of the needs of the most important mission resource: people. This course will address personal and organizational issues of self and mutual care, such as: stress and burnout; safety and trauma; singleness, marriage, and family; sexuality and sexual impurity; team relationships and conflict transformation; the reality of suffering; and vocation. Cross-cultural perspectives on these issues are included in reading and lecture. Psychological, theological, and missiological literature provides the foundation for understanding the needs and interventions. The course will provide students with resources to implement appropriate self-care and organizational member-care in a variety of mission communities.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1) Students will recognize the personal issues that can either help or hinder the work of missionaries.
2) Students will be able to outline a member care continuum for an organization or mission agency that can help to facilitate member care in mission organizations.
COURSE FORMAT:
The 2-week intensive course will meet every day for three hours for lecture, stories, and guest speakers. The fourth class hour will be spent in small group dialogue. A voluntary retreat will be offered on the Saturday morning between the 2 weeks of class.
REQUIRED READING: If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the faculty member.
Anderson, Ray S. Self-Care: A Theology to Personal-Empowerment and Spiritual Healing. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1995.
Bosch, David. Spirituality of the Road Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock,
O'Donnell, Kelly. (ed.) Doing Member-Care Well: Perspectives and Practices from around the World. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, (in press).
Elmer, Duane. Cross-Cultural Conflict: Building a Relationship for Effective Ministry. Downers Grove: IVP, 1994.
Course Reader: Selected journal articles and key book chapters.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Foyle, Marjorie. Overcoming Missionary Stress. Wheaton, IL: Evangelical Missions Information Service, 1987.
Jordan, Peter. Re-Entry: Making the Transition from Missions to Life at Home. YWAM Publishing, 1996. ISBN: 0927545403.
O'Donnell, Kelly. (ed.). Missionary Care: Counting the Cost for World Evangelization. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 1992.
Palmer, Parker. Let Your Life Speak: Listening to the Voice of Vocation. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 2000.
Taylor, William. (ed.) Too Valuable to Lose: Exploring the Causes and Cures of Missionary Attrition. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 1997.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Class attendance and participation are required.
Three 750-word personal reaction papers responding to reading and lecture topics are required.
Major paper or project is required in lieu of a final exam.
Reading log: 1200-1500 pages of reading is required.
PREREQUISITE:
For Psychology students: Introduction to Integration
For World Mission and Theology students: none
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
For Psychology students: integration seminar
For World Mission and Theology students: elective
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.
Last Date Edited: March 10, 2003