MI591: Mobilizing for Ministry at Urbana (4 Units)
Jack Voekel, Adjunct
Assistant Professor of Missiology
Winter 2007 St. Louis, MO
DESCRIPTION:
Every three years, Fuller
Theological Seminary offers an independent study/conference course that wraps
around the Urbana Missions Conference. The conference provides the opportunity
to hear speakers from throughout the world address some of the most pressing
issues in missions, to learn about missions opportunities available through
agencies and churches, and to network with fellow students as they prepare to
serve cross-culturally. The purpose of this course is to provide students with
a disciplined approach to reflect on issues raised at the conference as they
relate to the student’s own personal ministry goals. This year’s conference
theme is “the call.” There are four optional tracks of ministry focus:
International Students, Mission through the Lens of AIDS, Mission in the
Marketplace, and Slum Communities of the Developing World.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
·
Raise awareness of current issues in missions while reflecting on one’s own
future goals as related to missions.
· Interact
with Urbana seminar topics of choice through critical assessment and personal
reflection.
· Explore
vocational and practicum opportunities among organizations represented at the
conference.
· Identify
issues that impact cross-cultural praxis and engagement.
COURSE FORMAT:
Students must be
registered for Urbana in order to register for this course. Registration forms
can be found on the website at www.urbana.org.
Two two–hour sessions will be held on campus in the months leading up to the
conference. These preparatory meetings are strongly recommended for students.
The rest of the course will consist of independent research, reading and
writing. There will be one more follow-up session during the winter quarter.
(Students unable to attend either the preparatory or follow-up meetings should
contact the T.A. at sis-programs2@dept.fuller.edu
for alternative options.)
REQUIRED READING: (900 pages). If you have previously read these required textbooks, consult with the faculty for alternative texts.
1. Attendance and
participation at Urbana 2006 Conference, including 8 seminar sessions, is
expected.
2. Three 300-word reflective interactive papers from three of the seminar
sessions you attend. These papers should be broken into thirds: (a) briefly
summarize the main thesis/issue addressed in the seminar (b) critically
interact with the points of the seminar (including points of agreement and
disagreement), and (c) reflect on the significance of the discussion for your
own life and ministry. These papers will be posted on a blog in order to
facilitate group interaction. Due by January 20, 2007.
3. A 500-word (approx. 2 pages) reflection on five networking contacts that you
made at Urbana and the implications of these contacts for your future vocation.
Included could be details about a particular ministry, new directions in
ministry within your particular field, implications for your current ministry
context, and the influence upon your future life goals and desires. This paper
will be posted as a class blog entry. Due by January 20, 2007.
4. Required reading, listed above, and 600 pgs additional reading in area of
specific vocation or research. In bibliography to research paper, please list
pages read of each book. At the end of the bibliography, please provide the
total pages read for the research paper. Possible additional reading can be
found in the Additional Reading section.
5. A 4000 word (approx. 16-18 pages) research paper, which critically addresses
one question or issue in missions that you learned about at Urbana. This paper
will draw on the entire Urbana experience: the plenary speakers, readings,
seminars, contacts, and classmates blogs. The research paper will be due on
March 2, 2007.
PREREQUISITES: None. No auditors permitted.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAM: None.