Ferment and Renewal: The Missional Church Today (DM2509P)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This unit will explore the challenge facing the Christian churches in societies variously shaped by Christendom. It will examine trends within, and analysis of, the current context. Attention will be paid to the major cultural movements which have defined the Australian church: Christendom and its dying influence; the Enlightenment, its legacy of modernity; and, the challenges of post-modernity and globalization. Against this backdrop, the unit will explore and critique recent missionary models of the church, especially, missional and emergent church and fresh expressions. The course will include engagement with particular communities responding in particular ways to the missional challenges.

Unit code: DM2509P

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 2

Unit discipline: Missiology

Delivery Mode: Online

Proposing College: Pilgrim Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Understand and articulate different theories describing the religious shape of Western societies, including the significance of such themes as Christendom, modernity/Post-modernity, secularization, and globalization, and the way these inform religious belonging
2.

Give an account of the emerging models of the contemporary church and its mission in Australia
3.

Describe and critique the missional church and fresh expressions models, including demonstrating an awareness of the ecclesial and cultural contexts within they have developed

Pedagogy

Online learning materials, tasks and tutorial discussion

Indicative Bibliography

  • Mission-shaped Church: Church Planting and Fresh Expressions of Church in a Changing Context. London: Church House Publishing, 2004.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Moynagh, Michael. Church for Every Context: An Introduction to Theology and Practice. London: SCM Press, 2012.
  • Nichols, Alan. Building the Mission Shaped Church in Australia. Sydney: Anglican Church of Australia, 2006.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

Essay Compare and contrast the missional church, fresh expressions approaches, evaluating them on their theological basis, potential weaknesses, and merit for an Australian context (2500 words)

 2500 60.0
Book Review

Book Review A critical book review of one of the main theoretical texts developed either within the missional church or the fresh expressions discussion (2000 words)

 2000 40.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 19 Oct, 2014

Unit record last updated: 2020-10-28 14:50:32 +1100