ASSEMBLIES OF GOD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARYContinuing Education Course2 Credit HoursPTHE 640 EMERGING MODELS OF MINISTRY IN THE 21ST CENTURYA class/conference experience provided by theAssemblies of God Theological Seminarywww.agts.eduIn cooperation with the Northern California District CouncilatLeadership Roundtable: Emerging Models of Ministry in the 21st CenturywithBrian McLarenMarch 4-5, 2002Hilton Arden WestSacramento, CaliforniaEarl G. Creps, Ph.D. Spring [email protected] SYLLABUSCOURSE DESCRIPTIONEmerging Models of Ministry in the 21st Century with Brian McLaren is a LeadershipRoundtable conference experience hosted by AGTS. It will be the site and the rawmaterial for theological reflection on our emerging culture and the church models thatmust emerge to engage it.COURSE REGISTRATIONConference information and registration is available from the AGTS ContinuingEducation office in several ways:• Online: http://www.agts.edu/conferences/leadership_roundtable2002.html• By telephone: 1-800-467-AGTS• By email: [email protected] 640 Emerging Models of Ministry in the 21st CenturyEarl CrepsPage 2COURSE OBJECTIVESThe course/conference is an arena for learning and growth of several kinds:• Cultural exegesis: to understand and interpret major forms of cultural influencethat are creating the context in which the emerging church must operate.• Theological reflection: to hear culture posing critical theological questions, and toexercise reflective skills needed to begin the process of developing meaningfulanswers.• Personal reframing: to see personal and corporate ministry as an evolving,holistic, missional calling rather than a set of static roles played by executing a listof functions.• Professional networking: to develop relationships with other leaders devoted tothe life of the emerging church in an environment that maximizes long-term peerlearning.• Leadership enhancement: to grow in the character, skills, and gifts associatedwith the leadership arts as they relate to the emerging culture and church.COURSE READINGSRequired Texts(Note: you can save on shipping costs by ordering all the texts from the AGTS bookstore.Call Arlene at 1-800-467-AGTS x1055, or email her at [email protected])McLaren, Brian A New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey.John Wiley & Sons, 2001. (192 pages)________. The Church on the Other Side: Doing Ministry in the Postmodern MatrixGrand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000. (227 pages)Sweet, Leonard. Postmodern Pilgrims: First Century Passion for the 21st CenturyChurch. Broadman & Holman, 2000. (224 pages)Substitute Texts(To be substituted in order for any required texts already read.)Grenz, Stanley J. and John R. Franke. Beyond Foundationalism: Shaping Theology in aPostmodern Context. Westminster John Knox, 2000. (296 pages)PTHE 640 Emerging Models of Ministry in the 21st CenturyEarl CrepsPage 3Morgenthaler, Sally J. Worship Evangelism. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999. (320pages)Nash, Robert N. An 8-Track Church in a CD World: The Modern Church in thePostmodern World. Macon, Georgia: Smyth & Helwys Publishing, 2001. (144pages)Towns, Elmer and Warren Bird. Into the Future: Turning Today’s Church Trends intoTomorrow’s Opportunities. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000. (244 pages)Beaudoin, Tom. Virtual Faith: The Irreverent Spiritual Quest of Generation X. SanFrancisco: Jossey-Bass, 1998. (240 pages)Sweet, Leonard. Carpe Manana: Is Your Church Ready to Seize Tomorrow? (GrandRapids: Zondervan, 2001. (208 pages)COURSE OUTLINE1. Plenary sessions will feature presentations by Brian McLaren as well as Byron Klausand Earl Creps. Additional small group sessions and panel discussions will also beincluded in the experience. Informal times of interaction will enrich both thepresentations and the relationships formed at the event. A conference schedule isavailable at: http://www.agts.edu/conferences/leadership_roundtable2002.html2. A brief orientation session will be held during the conference for all those taking it asa for-credit class. You will be notified at the conference of the time and place. Thiswill give us a chance to meet and ask questions about the course assignments.Attendance is required.COURSE REQUIREMENTSa. Pre-conference:1. Read the required texts.2. Write a 3-page response to each book that reflects its major themes and how theyrelate to your ministry context. If you have read these books already, choosereplacements from the Substitute list that will have approximately the samenumber of pages. Specifically, address how these themes could be applied to yourlife and ministry, and what might be some of the challenges you would face inthose applications.PTHE 640 Emerging Models of Ministry in the 21st CenturyEarl CrepsPage 43. Communicate: email your pre-conference papers to me ([email protected])or turn them in by the end of the conference.b. During the class/conferenceBe present for all conference sessions, workshops, and events. Participation in events,experiences, and relationships is critical for learning and growth. It's even morecritical to receiving a passing grade.c. Post-conference projects: CHOOSE 2 OF THE FOLLOWING 6 OPTIONS1. Reading Reflection: read one of the Alternate Texts and write a 7-10 page paperthat outlines the author's central thesis and responds to it in terms of your ministrycontext. This is to be a high-quality reflective essay, not a library researchassignment.2. Ministry Development Plan: write a 7-10 page paper detailing your plan fordeveloping a new model of ministry in your setting. This should includebackground research, personal leadership growth, model characteristics,implementation challenges, and a timeline.3. Sermons: using insights gained from the class/conference, write two sermons ofsignificant length designed to reach a pre-Christian emerging culture audience.Do not recycle old messages! You may do either a manuscript, or a very, verydetailed outline. While all sermons must be turned in hard copy, they may beaccompanied by audiocassette and/or media support (e.g., PowerPoint, videoclips, etc.) If you speak without notes, an audiocassette is required.4. Research Paper: choose a major theme related to the course/conference and writea 7-10 page research paper. The paper should identify and reflect upon key ideasrelated to the topic, report on some of the major literature in the area, and applyconclusions to your ministry context.