ASSEMBLIES OF GOD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY http://www.agts.edu in cooperation with the URBAN TRAINING INSTITUTE OF THE SOUTHWEST http://www.utisouthwest.org PTHE 640 TRANSFORMATIONAL MINISTRY IN EMERGING CULTURE (3 Credit Hours) July 19-22, 2005 Dallas, Texas Earl G. Creps , Ph.D., D.Min. 1-800-467-AGTS http://www.agts.edu/faculty/creps.html [email protected] COURSE SYLLABUS COURSE DESCRIPTION This conference-based course explores the potential of Christian ministry as an agency of transformation in rapidly morphing urban communities. The focus is on learning to discern God-given transformational opportunities in local contexts and to develop strategies for cooperating with God’s activity in these settings. CONFERENCE INFORMATION The Transforming Communities conference is hosted by the Urban Training Institute of the Southwest. Specific information on conference registration, housing, and schedule can be accessed online at: http://www.utisouthwest.org COURSE SCHEDULE The conference/course begins at noon on Tuesday, July 19 and ends at noon on Friday July 22, 2005. COURSE OBJECTIVES The course is an arena for personal growth of several kinds: • Character development: humbling ourselves as the Spirit uses the twin instruments of culture and ministry to form greater dependence on God. PTHB 620 NWMN 1• Cultural exegesis: interpreting major forms of cultural influence that are creating the context in which the Christian gospel must be communicated. • Theological reflection: hearing culture posing critical theological questions that call for reflective skills that are true both to Scripture and context. • Personal reframing: seeing personal and corporate ministry as an agency of community transformation rather than a collection of static roles and functions. • Community formation: relating to other believers involved in cooperative transformational efforts that emphasize the unity of the body of Christ • Ministry enhancement: discerning opportunities to cooperate with the Spirit in the transformation of our own communities. • Ongoing growth: equipping with self-sustaining skills that can inform all of the objectives above during future ministry. COURSE READING OPTIONS Anderson, David. Multi-Cultural Ministry: Finding Your Church’s Unique Rhythm. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004. (208 pages) Backman, Richard. Bible and Mission: Christian Witness in a Postmodern World. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004. (128 pages) Bakke, Ray. A Theology As Big As the City. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1997. (240 pages) ________. The Urban Christian: Effective Ministry in Today’s Urban World. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1987. (200 pages) Bandy, Thomas G. Fragile Hope: Your Church in 2020. Easum-Bandy Associates, 2002. Barna, George and Henry R. Jackson. High-Impact African American Churches. Regal, 2004. (268 pages) Blount, Brian K. and Leona Tubbs, eds. Making Room at the Table: An Invitation to Multicultural Worship. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000. Bolsinger, Tod. It Takes Church to Raise a Christian: How the Community of God Transforms Lives. Brazos, 2004 (224 pages) Clapp, Rodney. A Peculiar People: The Church as Culture in a Post-Christian Society. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1996. (248 pages) PTHB 620 NWMN 2Conn, Harvey M. and Manuel Ortiz, eds. The Urban Face of Mission: Ministering the Gospel in a Diverse and Changing World. P & R Publishing, 2002. (375 pages) ________. Urban Ministry: The Kingdom, the City, and the People of God. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2001. (527 pages) Corbitt, J. Nathan and Vivian Nix-Early. Taking It to the Streets: Using the Arts to Transform Your Community. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003. (288 pages) Dear, Michael J. The Postmodern Urban Condition. Oxford: Blackwell, 2000. (250 pages) Edington, Howard. Downtown Church: The Heart of the City. Abingdon Press, 1996. (157 pages) Frost, Michael. The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century Church. Hendrickson, 2003. (250 pages) Harris, James Henry. The Courage to Lead: Leadership in the African American Urban Church. Rowan and Littlefield, 2002. (225 pages) Hunter, George. Radical Outreach: Recovery of Apostolic Ministry and Evangelism. Nashville: Abingdon, 2003. (208 pages) Kimball, Dan. Emerging Worship: Creating Worship Gatherings for New Generations. El Cajon, Ca.: emergentYS, 2004. (238 pages) Kretzmann, John P. Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path to Finding and Mobilizing a Community’s Assets. ACTA Publications, 1997. (376 pages) Lewis, Robert. The Church of Irresistible Influence. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001. (224 pages) Lingenfelter, Sherwood G. Transforming Culture: A Challenge for Christian Missions. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1999. (190 pages) ________. Agents of Transformation: A Guide for Effective Cross-Cultural Ministry. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996. (282 pages) Linthicum, Robert. Transforming Power: Biblical Strategies for Making a Difference in Your Community. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2003. (204 pages) Mattessich, Paul. Community Building, What Makes It Work?: A Review of Factors Influencing Successful Community Building. Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, 1997. (102 pages) PTHB 620 NWMN 3McNeal, Reggie. The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church. San Francisco: Jossey- Bass, 2003. (151 pages) Nathan, Rich. Who Is My Enemy?: Welcoming People the Church Rejects. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002. (288 pages) Nixon, Paul D. Fling Open the Doors: Giving the Church Away to the Community. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002. Ortiz, Manuel. One New People: Models for Developing a Multiethnic Church. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1996. (158 pages) Perkins, John, ed. Restoring At-Risk Communities: Doing It Together, Doing It Right. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995. (266 pages) ________. Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1993. (192 pages) Robinson, John. Invading Secular Space: Strategies for Tomorrow’s Church. Kregel Publications, 2004. (224 pages) Romanowski, William D. Eyes Wide Open: Looking for God in Popular Culture. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2001. (171 pages) Roxburgh, Alan. Crossing the Bridge: Church Leadership in a Time of Change. Precept Group, 2000. (161 pages) [This is out of print, so look for it used online.] Rusaw, Rick, et al. The Externally