MC549: Reactivating the Western Church for Mission: The Forgotten Ways (4 units)

Alan Hirsch, Adjunct Instructor of Church in Contemporary Culture                                                                                                       

Faculty of Record:  Eddie Gibbs, Senior Professor of Church Growth

Summer 2007 Pasadena

 

 

DESCRIPTION:

This course will explore the internal and external dynamics of rapidly expanding, highly transformative Jesus movements. We will examine two significant movements (namely the Early Christian Movement and The Underground Chinese Church) in an attempt to identify what factors must come together to create catalytic, exponential, growth. Emphasis will fall on the interpretation of apostolic dynamics for the churches in the West—particularly with implications for the Emerging Missional Church. We will explore the implications at the level of philosophical systems, theological paradigms, as well as dealing with practical issues facing local churches.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will:

1.  Grasp the centrality of the five elements that make up a movement dynamic and ethos.
2.  Appreciate the critical role that new and emerging apostolic movements play in maintaining and extending a viable Christian witness in Western contexts.
3.  See the vital links between Christology, missiology, and ecclesiology and how this works itself out in movements and churches.
4.  Recognize the organizational dynamics of churches from a living systems perspective

 

COURSE FORMAT: Course will meet for 30 hours during a one-week intensive. Class discussions based on pre-reading of The Shaping of Things to Come and syllabus outline notes. Students will be required to demonstrate that they have adequately prepared for class by reflecting on the issues covered in the notes, informed by their reading and applied to a stated context.

 

REQUIRED READING: A minimum of 1200 pages is required from the books listed. You must read The Shaping of Things To Come and the remainder may come from the other books.  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 instructor.
1.  Aikman, David.  Jesus in Beijing: How Christianity is Transforming China and Changing the Global Valance of Power. Monarch, 2003.
2.  Brafman, Ori, & Beckstrom, Rod., The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations. Portfolio, 2006.
3.  Hirsch, Alan, & Frost, Michael. The Shaping of Things to Come: Mission and Imagination for the 21st Century Church. Hendrickson, 2003. You must read this. 
4.  Newbigin, Lesslie. The Gospel in a Pluralist Society. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989.
5.  Pascale, R., Millemann, M., Gioja, L. Surfing the Edge of Chaos: The Laws of Nature and the New Laws of Business. Three Rivers, 2000.
6.  Bosch, David J. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1991.

 

RECOMMENDED READING:

1.  Allen, Rowland. The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church. Wrld Dominion Press, 1960.
2.  Cole, Neil. Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens. Jossey-Bass, 2006.
3.  Fitch, David E. The Great Giveaway: Reclaiming the Mission of the Church. Baker, 2006
4.  Roxburgh, Alan. The Sky is Falling: Leaders Lost in Transition. ACI Publishing, 2005.
5.  Frost, Michael. Exiles: Living Missionally in a Post-Christian Culture. Hendrickson, 2006.
6  Garrison., David. Church Planting Movements: How God is Redeeming a Lost World. Midlothian, WIGTake Resources, 2004.
7.  George Barna. Revolution. Tyndale, 2005.
8.  Gibbs, E., Bolger, R.K. Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Communities in Postmodern Cultures. Baker, 2005.
9.  Gladwell, Malcolm. The Tipping Point: How Little things Can Make a Big Difference. Reprint edition. Back Bay Books, January 7, 2002.
10. Hirsch, Alan. The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church. Brazos, 2006.
11. Murray, Stuart. Church After Christendom. Paternoster, 2006.
12. Wheatley, Margaret. Leadership and the New Science. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2001.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

1.  Four 500-word reading reports identifying the key issues that will be significant for your two papers.
2.  Two 3,000 word papers (double – spaced):
a. The first paper will focus on assessing the strategic, theological, and missiological viability of developing a movemental ethos in Western cultural contexts.
b. The second paper is essentially a research project looking into the dynamics of an emerging missional church movement in Western contexts. Students will be required to assess the movement on the basis of Apostolic Genius discussed in The Forgotten Ways.
3.  Th.M. students will be required to read two additional 300-500 pages of reading and write two 3,500 word papers. Their work should demonstrate a more thorough understanding of the issues arising from their ministry experience.
 Note: Both papers must demonstrate a detailed knowledge of, and reflective responses to, knowledge and insights gained from the class and assigned reading.

 

FINAL EXAM: None.

 

PREREQUISITES: None.

 

RELATION TO CURRICULUM: Elective.

 

Last Date Edited: March 16, 2007