MI 4322-01 2 J.L. Francis
URBAN CHURCH PLANTING
Course Syllabus
Zion Bible College
MI 4322-01, 3 Credits
Spring, 2011
Thursday 6:30 PM —9:20 PM, Classroom Bldg, Room 102
Rev. Jeffrey L. Francis, Adjunct Professor
Office Phone: (978)249-4311
Email:
Cell Phone: (401)935-0881
Office Hours: By Appointment on 2nd Floor
The mission of Zion Bible College is to teach and to train students for Excellent Pentecostal ministry in fulfillment of the Great Commission
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course incorporates generally accepted practices of church planting, especially in metropolitan settings including surveying demographics; choosing target audience, i.e. age group, generational considerations, ethnic groups, language areas, etc; selecting the church planting team; method of evangelism, meeting type, time, and place; education for equipping the believers; and method of financial support. Denominational involvement is also discussed. A review is offered of various urban models of church growth with emphasis on the Spirit filled influence.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: The student will
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the dynamics pertinent to church planting in the urban context.
2. Seek to enhance the effectiveness of women and men in their urban church planting task, further developing their understanding of the task and of the character, competencies and skills needed for successful and sequential church planting.
3. Help church planters imagine, shape, and mold their emerging churches in such a way that those churches become effective within their own social setting and prolific even in birthing daughter and granddaughter churches locally and abroad.
4. Demonstrate the knowledge of principles through planning, strategizing, and application in a model church plant within the urban context.
5. Hear from off-site guest pastors who will share their wealth of knowledge in their urban church planting pursuits and endeavors.
TEXTBOOKS:
Conn, Harvie M. Planting and Growing Urban Churches. Baker Books: Grand Rapids, 1997.
Malphurs, Aubrey. Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998.
Marchak, Mark. Street Guides to Starting City Churches. Urbacad Printing and Distribution, 2003.
Book of Acts (What they did and how they did it.)
Book of Nehemiah (How to be an effective leader.)
Strongly Recommended Texts:
Gudder, Darrell L. Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
Murray, Stuart. Church Planting: Laying Foundations. North American Edition, Herald Press, 1991.
REQUIREMENTS:
1. To be faithful, punctual and involved.
2. To read textbooks and submit verification report at end of semester of required reading.
3. Set one measurable ministry goal for the semester: ministry consistent with potential church plant in urban community. Please be prepared to share goal with class. Goal to be reached by February 10th.
4. Nehemiah was a visionary and understood the concept of teamwork, perseverance, and knowing how to overcome adversity. Planting an urban church requires many of the characteristics found in the life and ministry of Nehemiah. Please write a four-page paper about the ministry skills, character and competency found in this visionary’s life that are necessary in the church planters team focus and strategy. This essay is due on March 3rd.
5. Write a seven-page reflection paper on Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century. Please include with your synopsis of the book your personal interaction with the text as to what you could potentially adapt from your reading to the church plant you envision within the urban community. This may include both pros and cons to the development of the city church. Due on March 24th.
6. Complete an eleven-page paper on one or the other subjects: “The Urban Church(es) I Envision” or “The Urban Church Planting Movement I Envision”. Consideration for “The Church Plant (Movement) that I Envision” Paper:
- Surveying Demographics
- Choosing Target Audience
- Age Group
- Ethnic Group
- Selecting Church Planting Team
- Method of Evangelism
- Discipleship Method
- Meeting Type
- Time
- Location
- Worship Style
- Method of Financial Support
- Denominational Involvement
Due on April 21st.
7. Mid-term and Final will be administered.
GRADING PROCEDURES:
Measurable Goal…...………………….....5%
Nehemiah Project…………..…………...15%
Reflection Paper on Malphurs’ Book…....15%
Urban Church Plant Project……………..25%
Mid-Term……………………………….15%
Final Exam……………………………...15%
Reading Verification……………………..5%
Class Involvement………………………..5%
POLICIES:
Attendance: Students are expected to attend all class periods. Please be aware that absences are granted for illness, personal matters, or for emergencies. It is important for students to keep track of their own absences and late arrivals carefully. Please see the Student Handbook for the Absence Policy. There will be a very short break mid-class, students are expected to remain in class at other times except for medical reasons.
If a student arrives late to class it is their responsibility to inform the teacher after class that they are present. Otherwise they may be marked absent for the class. It is a good idea to date your notes each class in case attendance discrepancies should arise.
In order to be considered present in class, students must present themselves in an appropriate manner, following the guidelines of the Student Handbook.
Assignments: All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. All others will be considered late. Assignments should be written in Turabian format.
All late assignments are to be turned into the instructor’s office, not placed in campus mail. There are no exceptions to this policy unless mandated by the office of the Academic Dean.
Extension/Late Paper Policy: All papers are due at the beginning of class with no exceptions. Extensions will only be granted for the following four reasons: 1) hospitalization for illness. A doctor’s note confirming such is required; 2) extended serious illness that prevents a student from attending class. This requires a doctor’s note and signature of verification from the student’s Resident Director; 3) funerals or family emergencies granted as an approved absence by the Academic Dean and Dean of Students; 4) school-approved activities. If the student meets one of these exceptions, a “Request for Extension Form” must be filled out. The form can be obtained from the Office of Admissions or the Office of the Academic Dean. If your paper is turned in after attendance is taken, you will receive an automatic point deduction of five (5) points. Each twenty-four hour period (this includes Saturday’s, Sunday’s and school breaks) the paper is not turned in; there will be a forfeiture of another five (5) points from the total points. If the paper is not turned in within five twenty-four hour periods after the due date and time, an automatic score of zero (0) will be entered for the grade with no chance of making up the paper/grade. If a hard copy cannot be presented by the specified time and hour (if submitted over the weekend), then an email copy may be presented for verification of completion with a hard copy following.
Examinations: Any missed exam may be made up if the exam was missed due to illness or other excused absence (see Student Handbook). A make-up exam must be approved by the Academic Dean. A student must fill out the make-up exam form located in the office of Admissions and Records. All approved make up exams must be taken within seven days of the original exam.
Plagiarism: A student who submits written material as his/her own work which has been copied in whole or in part from another person’s work without acknowledgement is guilty of plagiarism. Material, whether published or unpublished, copied from another writer, must be identified by the use of quotation marks and documentation with specific citation of the source. Paraphrased material must likewise be attributed to the origin author.
Copying another student’s paper, with or without permission, or using his/her ideas with only minimal reworking, is plagiarism, as is the copying from printed books and magazines without giving credit to the original source. Any student who submits a plagiarized paper or who permits another person to copy his/her work is subject to any of the following actions: a grade of “zero” or “F” for the work, failure in or expulsion from the class, being reported for further disciplinary action.
Cheating: A student who engages in dishonest behavior such as: using unauthorized notes or material when taking an examination, copying answers to examination questions, or engaging in securing unauthorized copies of examination questions (including aiding another person in doing so), is subject to the action or penalty indicated above. Copying another person’s class work and/or homework and submitting it as one’s own, or having another person perform an assignment and submitting it as having originated from themselves personally is guilty of plagiarism—which is cheating. Such students will therefore be subject to the above discipline. Faculty members are to submit all such cases on the appropriate “Plagiarism Form” to the Office of the Dean of Academics.
CLASS DEPORTMENT & NECESSITIES:
The classroom is a place of spiritual formation and ministerial training. It is here that some of the basics of proper deportment will be practiced; therefore, the following guidelines are to be adhered to:
· No gum chewing in class;
· Proper posture: (no slouching!);
· No usage of cell phones either before or after class or during breaks is permitted in the classroom (this includes texting); please restrict all cell phone usage to places other than the classroom.
· If a student is late (which should be the exception), he or she should assume his or her seat quickly and quietly for obvious reasons. Thank you!
· Please do not use red pen for anything; and no pencils on a test.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Baker, Mark D. Religious No More: Building Communities of Grace and Freedom. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1999.
Bakke, Ray. The Urban Christian: Effective Ministry in Today’s Urban World. Downer’s Grove: InterVarsity, 1987.
Clarke, Andrew D. Secular and Christian Leadership in Corinth: A Socio-Historical and Exegetical Study of] Corinthians 1-6. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1993.
Conn, Harvie M. The American City and the Evangelical Church: A Historical Overview. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994.
Conn, Harvie M., and Manuel Ortiz. Urban Ministiy: The Kingdom, the City, and the People of God. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2001.
Gonzalez, Justo L. Santa Biblia: The Bible through Hispanic Eyes. Nashville: Abingdon, 1995.
Green, Clifford J. Churches, Cities, and Human Community: Urban Ministry in the United States. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.
Kee, Ralph A. Diaconia: The Church at Work. New Life Fellowship: Emmanuel Gospel Center, 1997.
Moltrnann, Jurgen; Nicholas Wolterstorff and Ellen T. Charry. A Passion for God’s Reign: Theology, Christian Learning, and the Christian Self Edited by Miroslav Voif. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
Ortiz, Manuel. The Hispanic Challenge: Opportunities Confronting the Church. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1993.
______One New People: Models for Developing a Multiethnic Church. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1996.
Perkins, John M. Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1992.
______Let Justice Roll Down: Regal Books, 1976.
______A Quiet Revolution. Waco: Word Books, 1982.
______With JusticeforAll. Ventura: Regal Books, 1982.
______Restoring At-Risk Communities: Doing It Right and Doing It Together. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995.
Regele, Mike. Robust Church Development: A Vision for Mobilizing Regional Bodies in Support of Missional Congregations. Percept Group Inc., 2000.
Simson, Wolfgang. Houses That Change the World: The Return of the House Church. OM Press, 1998.
Villafane, Eldin. The Liberating Spirit. Toward an Hispanic American Pentecostal Social Ethnic. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993.
______Seek the Peace of the City: Reflections of Urban Ministry. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.
Websites:
http://dmoz.org/society/religion_and_spirituality/christianity/missions/church_planting/
www.congregationalresources.org/learningpathway/vncwelcome.asp
http://factfinder.census.gov
www.link2lead.com
Spring 2011