Content

This unit aims to equip participants with practical insights, frameworks, tools and strategies to effect transformation in local neighbourhoods facing urban poverty. This includes: a theological and pastoral critique of the contribution of Christian faith; an exploration of the ways that Christians can relate to, and come alongside, marginalised people thus bringing residents together to solve their own problems; a critical evaluation of the roles local churches can play in neighbourhood-based responses. Personal worker issues that can undermine transformations such as boundaries, self-care, dependencies and projections are considered. Christian approaches to urban community development; empowerment and relief will be identified and explored.

Unit code: DM2002S

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 2

Unit discipline: Missiology

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Stirling College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Identify a number of contemporary approaches to understanding and defining the nature of poverty.

2.

Describe a variety of models, frameworks and concepts that can inform and inspire a community transformation process in an urban neighbourhood.

3.

Develop a theological rationale for the ways Christians live in and engage with neighbourhoods.

4.

Communicate theological concepts in a clear and articulate form, accessible to people living in poverty.

5.

Demonstrate distinct ways Christians can engage with urban neighbourhoods.

Unit sequence

15 points in field D

Pedagogy

classroom lectures, seminars and tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

Pre-Reading:

  • Barker, Ash. Surrender All: A Call to Sub-Merge with Christ. Melbourne: UNOH, 2005.
  • Duncan, Michael. Costly Mission: Following Jesus into Neighbourhoods Facing Poverty. Melbourne: UNOH, 2007.

Bibliography:

  • Bosch, David. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission. Maryknoll: Orbis, 2011.
  • Bradshaw, Bruce. Change across Cultures: A Narrative Approach to Social Transformation. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002.
  • Castellanos, Noel. Where the Cross Meets the Street: What Happens to the neighbourhood when God is at the center. Downers Grove: IVP, 2015.
  • Christian, Jayakumar. God of the Empty-Handed: Poverty, Power and the Kingdom of God. Monrovia: MARC, 1999.
  • Collier, Paul. The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are failing and What Can Be Done About It. Oxford: University Press, 2007.
  • Corbett, Steve, and Brian Fikkert. *When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor and Yoursel*f. Chicago: Moody, 2009.
  • Guder, Darrell. Be My Witnesses. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985.
  • Hunter, George, III. To Spread the Power: Church Growth in the Wesleyan Spirit. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1987.
  • Linthicum, Robert. Building a People of Power: Equipping Churches to Transform Their Communities. Waynesboro: Authentic, 2005.
  • McKnight, John, and Peter Brock. The Abundant Community: Awakening the Power of Families and Neighbourhoods. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler, 2010.
  • Myers, Bryant. Walking with the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1999.
  • Newbigin, Lesslie. Proper Confidence: Faith, Doubt and Certainty in Christian Discipleship. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.
  • Perkins, John. Restoring At-Risk Communities: Doing It Together & Doing It Right. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1995.
  • ______With Justice for All: A Strategy for Community Development. Ventura: Regal Books, 2007.
  • Pohl, Christine. Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.
  • Sachs, Jeffrey D. The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time. New York: Penguin Press, 2005.
  • Samson, Will & Lisa Samson. Justice in the Burbs: Being the Hands of Jesus Wherever We Live. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2007.
  • Samuel, Vinay, and Chris Sugden, eds. The Church in Response to Human Need. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987.
  • ______Mission as Transformation: A Theology of the Whole Gospel. Oxford: Regnum, 1999.
  • Schaller, Lyle E. The Change Agent. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1972.
  • Sider, Ronald J. Evangelism & Social Action: In a Lost & Broken World. Sydney: Hodder & Stoughton, 1993. _______. Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger. Sydney: Hodder & Stoughton, 1997.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Seminar or Tutorial

500 word oral tutorial presentation

500 10.0
Essay

2,000 word topical paper

2000 40.0
Essay

2,000 word thematic essay

2000 50.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 19 Oct, 2017

Unit record last updated: 2022-10-31 18:10:36 +1100