1. Reading: Readings are to be completed before
class each week according to the Reading Report, which is
due on Thursday, May 3 at the start of the final class period.
To facilitate discussion on the readings, journal one important
idea, thought, statement, or question you have concerning the
text book readings when they are assigned. Bring this to class
and be ready to discuss it.
Concerning the Reading Report: You will be given full credit
for everything read on time, 50% credit for everything read
late. The questions will be worth 20% of your reading grade.
You do not have to ask the questions in class to receive credit,
but do bring them to class. On the reading report, simply circle
the "Y" if you have written the question down before class for
that week, or the "N" if you have not. Note: your use of the
questions in class will count towards your participation grade.
2.
Web Article: Write a 500-word article related to evangelism and/or
church planting to be published on the Network for Strategic Missions
website. Due Apr. 5 at the start of class.
3.
Personal Reflection/ Research Paper: An Ideal Church (10
to 15 double-spaced typed pages)
What is an "ideal" church? What would it look like? How would
it feel to be part of it? What would we see? To answer these
questions, assume that you are a church planter working anywhere
in the world you want (tell me the location). In your ministry
setting an "ideal" church has been planted--it is ideal because
is it a complete outworking of your personal philosophy of what
a church ministry should be for that location! Describe this
church (and its ministry) as it relates to your philosophy of
ministry. If you want, you may explain your personal philosophy
of church ministry and then show how it would be worked out
in a local church setting. Be specific; tell me what you would
see in this church! Your discussion should include these topics
(1 to 2 pages for each topic; adapted from Wagner, Church
Planting for a Greater Harvest, p. 116):
- Statement
of faith, including charismatic position of the church (do
not get detailed here; a maximum of 400 words)
- Church
governing structure (include denominational structure if necessary;
give the broad parameters, not fine details)
- Leadership
style in the church (how do the leaders, especially the pastor,
lead and motivate?)
- What
you expect of a typical church member, including congregational
involvement in social work (of whatever stripe)
- Ethical
standards for the church in relation to the culture in which
the church is located
- Worship
style of the church
- Music
philosophy of the church
- Evangelistic
and discipleship methodologies
- Financial
management in the church.
- Relation
to the mission organizations
Please
note: This is a personal reflection and research paper. I do
want you to show solid (and consistent) theological reflection
and at least 5 resources used (with parenthetical reference
notes and bibliography), but do not expect an apologetic defense
of your positions. Feel free to note Scriptural references,
but you do not need to write out the verses. Due April 26
at the start of class.
Class
presentation: As part of this assignment, on April 26 you
will give a 10 minute report on your ideal church. This will
not give you time to talk about everything–you will need to
focus on the highlights and what you consider your core ideas/principles.
Since everyone in the class will be presenting on April 26,
I will restrict your time to 10 minutes!
Grading
The
grading for the course is as follows:
Reading:
20%
Class Participation: 10%
Web Article: 25%
Ideal Church paper: 35%
Presentation: 10%
Late
assignments: Unless arrangements are made with the professor
in advance, all late assignments will be reduced in grade by 10%.
Cheating
and plagiarism: Cheating (the presentation of someone else's
work which the student ought to have done personally) or plagiarism
(the use of ideas and information from a specific source without
giving credit in some manner to the source) will result in the
disqualification (including a grade of 0) of the unit of the course
affected by it.
