Christian Community Development Class

(tentative syllabus) - Revised 2-11-08

Held in conjunction with CCDA’s Conference-MIAMI, Florida; Oct 18-25, 2008

Sponsored by:

George W. Truett Seminary (Baylor University-Waco, TX)

Bakke Graduate University (Seattle, WA)

Eastern University-Urban Studies Program (Philadelphia)

Alliance Theological Seminary/NYACK (NYC)

Taylor University (Ft. Wayne)

 

M.A., Master of Divinity and D. Min credit available through above campuses or

 by Independent Studies through other universities and seminaries

Jimmy M. Dorrell, D.Min (Class Coordinator)

Jimmy_Dorrell@baylor.edu

254.214.4933

 

Registration: Fall, 2008 through above academic institutions or Independent Study Program at other academic institutions.  $200 extra class fee. Audit reservations also available at $200.

 

Location:  Initial classes (Sat-Tues) for the one-week intensive will be held in downtown Miami, followed by attendance (Wed-Sat) in the CCDA Conference. Arrangements are being explored for the exact location of the early class lectures (Saturday evening-Tuesday) and lodging. The CCDA conference begins Wednesday, October 22, at the downtown Hyatt Regency (400 South East Second Ave) and nearby James L. Knight Center. You must make your own airline, conference and hotel reservations. Notes: If you need a roommate(s), we will make a list of enrolled students you can contact to share costs. Our first gathering will begin with class on Saturday evening, October 18, 7:00p.m.

 

Tuition and Fees: Register and pay tuition through any of the sponsoring schools listed above. In addition, there is a $200 class fee for expenses (lecturer costs, bus tour, classroom) for students in these universities or seminaries. Independent Study students or Audit Students pay a $200 class fee. All fees are paid directly to Mission Waco, 1315 N. 15^th St., Waco, TX, 76707, prior to class. The fee does not cover the CCDA registration costs, hotel, travel or food. Arrangements must be made with your own seminary to guarantee class credit.  A non-refundable deposit of $100 will hold your reservation. The balance of $100 must be paid before the first class. Class size will be limited.

 

Conference Registration: Registration for the conference is the responsibility of the student. A special early bird and student discount is available to all participants in this class.  Check out the CCDA web page www.ccda.org for registration details as it becomes available. There are also optional “pre-conference” all day intensive classes on Wednesday, 10/22, which you may want to attend. Cost is usually $50 for these. Course information will be available online at CCDA.

Course Goals:

1.       To prepare students to “exegete” cities for holistic urban ministry;

2.       To help students learn to build networks among social service, civic, neighborhood, and various church groups;

3.       To sensitize students in asset based Christian community development;

4.       To deepen the student’s theological base for urban ministry;

5.       To introduce students to “best practices” of urban ministry from around the nation.

Invited Lecturers: (confirmation pending)

Dr. Jimmy Dorrell, Professor of Record; Founder and Executive Director of Mission Waco;

            Pastor of Church Under the Bridge; Adjunct Professor-George W. Truett Seminary, BGU,

and Eastern Urban Studies

Dr. Robert Lupton- Executive Director of FCS Urban Ministries, Atlanta, GA

Shane Claiborne- The Simple Way-Philadelphia; CCDA Board member; speaker/author

Dr. Mary Nelson- Founder and former President of Bethel New Life, a church-based community

development corporation on Chicago’s West Side

Dr. Wayne Gordon- President of Christian Community Development Association;

            Senior Pastor and Founder of Lawndale Community Church, Chicago

Dr. John Perkins- Co-founder and Chairman of CCDA; author; Founder of Voice of Calvary

            Ministries, Jackson, MS

Dr. Luis Carlo- Director ATS/NYC Campus, Associate Professor of Urban Studies

Ms. Yvonne Dodd Sawyer, executive director

Jason Pittman, MSW, executive director, Touching Miami with Love

            And others.

 

Course Requirements:

 

I.          Pre-course reading- Amount based on each academic institution’s syllabus. Book list attached. Additional books may be considered.

BOOK REPORT FORMAT: (or format required by your university requirements!)

1.       Discuss the essence of the book-theme, goal, purpose, main reason for written

2.       The main thoughts

3.       Key emphases- more significant matters of main thoughts

4.       Contribution and value of book-idea, new thought, new angle, lasting value, etc.

5.       Criticism- your thoughts

6.       Questions you would ask of the book or author.

II.                 Attend and participate in all class sessions in Miami.

III.               Attend CCDA Conference –Wednesday-Saturday evening.  Optional: Pre-conference institute classes are taught all day on Wed. There is a $50 charge for these. You may substitute these for two workshops during in the main CCDA conference. 

IV.              Journal/Summarize and evaluate content of each plenary and five selected seminar speakers; Minimum one type written, double-spaced page each. Journal

V.                 Post-conference Christian community development project personalized to fit the context of the student in his/her local context     

Grading Scale: based on syllabus from each institution

Late work penalizes grade (or as determined by each university).

 

*Required Reading: (based on each academic institution’s requirements)

1.       *Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical; Shane Claiborne, Zondervan,

ISBN: 0310266300, 2006.

2.       *Restoring At-Risk Communities John Perkins. Baker, 1995.

3.       *Trolls and Truth: 14 realities about today’s church that we don’t want to see; Jimmy Dorrell, New Hope Publishers, ISBN 1-59669-010-0, 2006 (available 9/1/06)

4.       *Transforming Power: Biblical Strategies for Making a Difference in Your Community; Robert Linthicum; InterVarsity, 2003.

5.       *Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life: Rethinking Ministry to the Poor; Robert Lupton; Regal Books, ISBN 0-8307-4379-0; 2007.

6.        Renewing the City: Reflections on Community Development and Urban Renewal. Robert Lupton, InterVarsity, 2005.

7.       Real Hope in Chicago Wayne Gordon, Zondervan, 1995.

8.       Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Mobilizing A Community’s Assets.  John P. Kretzmann and John McKnight, Chicago: ACTA Publications, 1993.

9.       Building a People of Power, Robert Linthicum; Authentic Publishers ISBN:1932805516, 2006

10.   Transforming Power: Biblical Strategies For Making a Difference in Your Community; Robert Linthicum, InterVarsity, 2003.

11.   Speaking My Mind: The Radical Evangelical Prophet Tackles the Tough Issues Christians Are Afraid to Face, Tony Campolo; ISBN: 084990823X

12.   Street Sign: A New Direction in Urban Ministry, Ray Bakke and Jon Sharpe; New Hope Publishers, 2006.

13.   The Urban Christian. Ray Bakke;  InterVarsity Press, 1987.

14.   A Theology As Big As the City. Ray Bakke, IVP, 1997.

15.   Theirs Is the Kingdom, Robert Lupton, Harper, 1989.

16.   Faith Works (revised), Jim Wallis, PageMill Press; 2001.

17.   Just Generosity, Ronald J. Sider, Baker Books, 1999.

18.   Planting and Growing Urban Churches, Harvie M. Conn, Baker Books, 1997.

19.   Adam! Where Are You: Why Most Black Men Don’t Go to Church, Jawanza Kunjufu, African American Images, 1994.

20.   Hard Living People and Mainstream Christians, Tex Sample, Abingdon Press, 1993.

21.   Empowering the Poor, Robert C. Linthicum, MARC/World Vision, 1991.

22.   The Urban Face of Mission: Ministering the Gospel in a Diverse and Changing World,

Harvie Conn and others, ed. Manuel Ortiz and Susan Baker, P&R, 2002

23.   To Live In Peace: Biblical Faith and the Changing Inner City; Mark R. Gornik, Eerdsmans,

2002.

24.   (others as approved)

 

*Required reading.

 

Schedule:

Saturday, Oct 18

afternoon          Check in

7:00                  Class begins: Lecture and Discussion: #1

8:30                  Lecture #2: “Understanding the City” (Miami overview for tour preparation)

9:30                  Dismiss

    Sunday, Oct 19

7:30a.m.            Miami “Exegeting the City: Church and Ministry Tour”

12:30                Lunch (paid for by class fee)

2:00                  Free Time        

5:30                  Dinner on your own

6:45                  Lecture and Discussion: #3

8:30                  Dismiss

   Monday, Oct 20

7:30 a.m.           Breakfast on your own

9:00                  Lecture/Discussion-#4  

10:15                Break

10:30                Lecture & Discussion-#5

11:45                Lunch on your own

1:00                  Lecture and Discussion- #5

2:30                  Break

2:45                  Lecture & Discussion- #6

4:15                  Class Discussion:

5:30                  Dinner on your own

7:00                  Lecture and Discussion #7: Dr. Mary Nelson

9:00                  Dismiss

   Tuesday, Oct 21

9:00                  Lecture and Discussion #8

10:30                Lecture and Discussion #9

10:45                Project Application: Dr. Jimmy Dorrell and other professors

Wednesday, Oct 22

Optional Pre-Conference Workshop (several options to choose from; $50 fee required)

3:00-5:00           Registration

6:30p.m.            Call to Worship and Congregational Singing

7:00-9:30           Plenary Speakers

   Thursday, Oct 23

7:30-8:30a.m.    Breakfast with Dr. Bob Lupton “Creating Healthy Communities”

9:00-9:00           Conference (Workshops and Plenary Sessions)

   Friday, Oct 24

9:00-9:00           Conference (Workshops and Plenary Sessions)

   Saturday, Oct 25

9:00-5:00           Conference  (Workshops and Plenary Sessions) (Note: the Conference does have an Saturday evening session and does not conclude until Sunday after worship. However, in order to accommodate church staff members taking the course, you may depart at dinner on Saturday evening.)

   Sunday, Oct 26  (optional)

Christian Community Development Class  Requirements

(varies based on each academic institution’s requirements)

-sample format-

 

 

NOTE: after last day of classes, automatic grade letter drop

            After 120 days (Jan, 2008) another grade letter drop

 

BOOK REPORT FORMAT: (25%) (due Oct 18)

1.   Discuss the essence of the book-theme, goal, purpose, main reason for written

2.   The main thoughts

3.   Key emphases- more significant matters of main thoughts

4.   Contribution and value of book-idea, new thought, new angle, lasting value, etc.

5.   Criticism- youth thoughts

6.   Questions you would ask of the book or author.

 

JOURNAL: (25%) (due Nov 7)

The journal must include some content and your personal thoughts on each of the following:

a)      one page summary papers (double spaced) of each class room lecturer

b)      two page summary of the “exegeting the city” and “ministry tour

c)      two page summary of the CCDA pre-conference (substitute for two workshops)

d)      one page summary of each plenary speaker

e)      one page summary of each workshop/seminar attended

f)       one page summary of overall conference experience and evaluation

 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT: (50%) (due last day of regular classes)

The project will be chosen with the Professor of Record to assist the student toward involvement in a project that may be personally helpful to his/her ministry context. Although projects differ based on kind, generally each will involve some a) action research (surveys, interviews, background study, etc.), b) assessments based on the research, c) interaction with a local community, d) implementation of a project, and e) evaluation of the project or its potential. All work and hours are to be documented and briefly explained (ex: 11/10/07; 2:00-3:30; interviewed residents on Colcord Ave regarding the neighborhood assets). Surveys, findings, evaluation forms, etc must be submitted with the summary paper. The summary paper should be a minimum of four typewritten pages (double space) and include a narrative of the goal, experience, learnings, next steps, and conclusions. Grade will be determined based on effort and implementation of appropriate methodology, including longer-term impact from project.

Program Book from the 2006 CCDA Conference in Philadelphia. Find information about the Christian Community Development Association, its members and practices. Contains a listing of all workshops, plenary sessions, speakers and sponsors.

Now available: the revised edition of And You Call Yourself A Christian: Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life, by Dr.  Bob Lupton. This revised edition includes additional chapters.

To purchase, please contact Jimmy at Jimmy@ccda.org. Copies are $10.00 each.

Please note this book is required reading for Dr. Bob Lupton's "Empowerment" Institute Class.