MM568: Self-Care in Mission (4
units)
Jude
Tiersma Watson, Associate Professor of Urban Mission
Cynthia B. Eriksson, Assistant Professor of Psychology
Winter 2005 Pasadena
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:
• Students will recognize the personal issues that can
either help or hinder the work of missionaries.
• 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 10-week course will meet every week for three hours for lecture, stories, and guest speakers.
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.
• Two 750-word personal reaction papers responding to reading and lecture
topics are required.
• Major paper or project (approximately 12-15 pages or 3,750 words) is required
in lieu of a final exam.
• Reading log: 1200-1500 pages of reading is required.
PREREQUISITES:
For Psychology students: Introduction to Integration
For Intercultural Studies and Theology students: none
RELATIONSHIP
TO CURRICULUM:
For Psychology students: integration seminar
For Intercultural Studies and Theology students: elective
FINAL
EXAM: None.
Last
Date Edited: September 13, 2004