Practicing a Missionary Church: Forming a Community of Christian Witness (DM2500P)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This unit explores practices of Christian witness within post-Christendom, secular, and religiously plural societies. It pays attention to the major cultural movements which have defined the Australian church, and especially the processes of secularisation, globalisation, and multiculturalism. It traces various theological and ecclesiological responses to this shifting context, including “missional church” and “Fresh Expressions.” This will include a critical evaluation of their contributions. Attention shifts to communal practices, such as hospitality, evangelism, liturgy and proclamation, as forms of discipleship in witness. The unit intends to give both theoretical and practical direction for the development of congregational witness.

Unit code: DM2500P

Unit status: Approved (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 2

Unit discipline: Missiology

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Pilgrim Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Identify and contrast the different theories narrating the religious landscapes of Western societies
2.

Describe different theories of secularisation
3.

Describe and critique models of missional church and Fresh Expressions with reference to the ecclesial and cultural contexts in which they have developed
4.

Apply the techniques of evangelistic practices which help shape the local congregation as a community of witness

Pedagogy

The unit aims to build competency in missionary methodology and acquisition of knowledge while promoting improvement between assignments through repeated tasks. It engages with primary material and encourages close reading of texts with contextual understanding and critical analysis.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Mission-shaped Church: Church Planting and Fresh Expressions of Church in a Changing Context*. London: Church House Publishing, 2004.
  • Bretherton, Luke. Hospitality as Holiness: Christian Witness Amid Moral Diversity. Ashgate, 2010.
  • Croft, Steven J. L. Mission-shaped Questions: Defining Issues for Today’s Church. London: Church House Publishing, 2008.
  • Davison, Andrew, and Alison Milbank. For the Parish: A Critique of Fresh Expressions. London: SCM Press, 2010.
  • Paas, Stefan. Church Planting in the Secular West: Learning from the European Experience. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2016.
  • Guder, Darrell L., and Lois Barrett. Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1998.
  • Hastings, Ross. Missional God, Missional Church: Hope for Re-evangelizing the West. IVP Academic, 2012.
  • Marzouk, Safwat. Intercultural Church: A Biblical Vision for an Age of Migration. Fortress Press, 2019.
  • Moynagh, Michael. Church for Every Context: An Introduction to Theology and Practice. London: SCM Press, 2012.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Book Review - Book Review

A review and critical analysis of one of the key texts of missional theology, church growth, fresh expressions, or evangelism. Selection of text in consultation with lecturer

1000 40.0
Report - Designing Practices for Context

This report asks the student to identify a location (either an actual case, or as a thought experiment), to reflect upon framing contextual concerns, and to envision potential practices of Christian witness

3000 60.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 24 Aug, 2022

Unit record last updated: 2022-08-24 15:25:44 +1000