Abilene Christian University—Graduate School of Theology BIBM 629: Field Education, SUMMER 2014 (mandatory meeting 4/28 2-4pm) Field Education Contextual Immersion Professor: Dr. Brady Bryce Office: CBS Room 328 (by appointment) ACU Box 29423 brady.bryce@acu.edu [O] 325.674-3750 [H] 325.280.9204 The mission of Abilene Christian University is to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world. ACU promises to be a vibrant, innovative, Christ-centered community that engages students in authentic spiritual and intellectual growth, equipping them to make a real difference in the world. The mission of the College of Biblical Studies is to provide leadership, preparation, and resources for effective worldwide ministry in the cause of Christ. The GST aims to equip men and women for effective missional leadership for ministry in all its forms, and to provide strong academic foundations for theological inquiry. By equipping students with the requisite skills, knowledge, and experience, the GST aspires to produce graduates with trained minds and transformed hearts. Course Description An immersive learning experience for students to practice, observe, and reflect on ministry through a ministry project within a selected ministry context. Purpose BIBM 629 is course three (of five possible) in the complete Contextual Education sequence. It is a practical ministry course situated within the student minister’s ministry context (full time, part time, or chosen context). Students will serve between 300-400 hours over no less than 10 weeks. This formative ministry experience challenges students to deepen their capacities to participate with God’s mission in the church and world by thorough attention to their context and a resulting ministry project or ministry intervention. This is a supervised experience by either a student’s on-site supervisor or a contextual supervisor, who reports to the Director of Contextual Education. Textbooks Taylor, Barbara Brown. An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith (New York, Harper Collins: 2009). Foster, Richard. Devotional Classics: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups (New York, HarperOne: 2005). Referenced Textbooks (In order to conceive and implement your Immersion Project, the following texts assigned in BIBM 657 Contexts of Ministry course is required[*] or otherwise necessary for those who have not taken that course): Branson, Mark Lau. Memories, Hopes, and Conversations: Appreciative Inquiry and Congregational Change. Alban Institute, 2004. Killen, Patricia O. and John De Beer. The Art of Theological Reflection. New York, NY, Crossroads: 1994. * Moschella, Mary Clark. Ethnography as a Pastoral Practice: An Introduction. Cleveland, Ohio, Pilgrim Press: 2008. Vanhoozer, Kevin J. Everyday Theology: How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends. Grand Rapids, MI, Baker Academic: 2007. Competencies, Measurements, and Student Learning Outcomes Competency Measurement S.L.O.s 1. Students will practice ministry in their chosen ministry context to learn ministry in an “immersive” experience Weekly Supervisor Mtg Overarching program practices: Spiritual Life, Wisdom, Communication, and Mission. 2. Students compile their reflections on ministry identity and reflect on the practice of ministry in a context. Students will exhibit leadership in their context by listening and speaking to people in their ministry context. Fieldwork Journal Identity [GST #4]: Graduates will have clarity in professional identity. Project Proposal; Exercises; Ministry Project; Ethnographic Field Notebook Students will demonstrate the ability to attend to their ministry context by creating and implementing a ministry project appropriate to the context. Readings; Ministry Project; Communication [GST #5]: Graduates will have facility in critical thinking, analysis, synthesizing, and applying it. Leadership [MDiv#3]: ability to lead and equip the church for its various ministries. Contemporary Culture [MDiv#1]: ability to integrate theology in contemporary cultural contexts. Practice [MACM#2]: knowledge and skills related to a particular aspect of ministerial practice. Integration [MACM#3]: ability to integrate theological concepts with concrete ministry situations. 3. 4. Assignments [1] Provide Supervisor Materials to Site/Contextual Supervisor — Due Immediately [2] Project Proposal Paper — Due Immediately (no later than May 30th) [filename: Proposal] Students will complete a contextual ministry project that emerges from their chosen context. Those who have taken BIBM 657 Contexts of Ministry, may proceed with their proposal if approved in that course. Any modification of the project (from the one approved in BIBM 657) should be submitted to the Director of Contextual Education before proceeding. Those students who have not completed BIBM 657 will complete a basic ethnographic description of their context and a project proposal (must read and follow Moschella’s Ethnography as Pastoral Practice book). In consultation with their contextual supervisor, the student will draft a Contextual Immersion Project Proposal that is submitted immediately to the Director of Contextual Education (no later than May 27th). Follow all six of Moschella’s Guidelines #1-6 on page 84 and also items #1-3 on page 205. [3] Fieldwork Journal (FJ) — Due Weekly [filename: JournalWeek_x] beginning May 16th. The student writes at least three (3) weekly Fieldwork Journal (FJ) entries. The FJ entries are space for the student to reflect upon: what is happening in their ministry context, conversations with their supervisor, the “Devotional Classics” reading, and also the place to submit reflections on the main course text “Altar in the World.” The Fieldwork Journal is vital element for your reflection process during your immersion experience. This requirement to set aside time daily for reflection is a valuable record of your learning journey as you look back over the experience and finalize your project. Here are the specific requirements for your 12 week Fieldwork Journal. Submit one document each week with these three entries: (1) At least one entry per week reflecting on Devotional Classics. R. Foster’s Devotional Classics has six segments from which you may choose for your weekly reading. Please alternate your selections from a different section each week. Read only one selection for the week (you may read that same selection several times during the week). Sometime during the week write your personal reflection on the reading (this is not a critical review but represents your personal connection with the reading in about 250-300 words). (2) As you read through B. Taylor’s Altar in the World, please write a separate reflection on each of the twelve chapters. Please use this a chance to express what you discover from Taylor and make connections to your ministry experience in about 300400 words (3) Use the third weekly journal entry for your reflections specific to your ministry context. This may include personal reflection on ministry experiences and/or conversations that you are having with your supervisor. What are you learning about God? What are you learning about yourself? What are you learning about others? So, in sum your weekly fieldwork journal will have a minimum of 3 journal entries (paragraphs) per week over the 12 weeks of the Contextual Immersion experience. [4] Ethnographic Field Notebook (EFN)—Due July 31st [filename: FieldNotebook.PDF] A student’s Ethnographic Notebook compiles those practices and artifacts that pertain directly to their project. As an example, the notebook may include: field notes, observations, still photography, or transcribed interviews (only include PDF, no audio/media files). There is not a required number of entries or artifacts to include. However, it must represent the student’s process over the duration of the project. The Notebook (EFN) is distinguished from the Journal (FJ) because it is solely focused on your contextual project (See Moschella, chpt. 5). In contrast, the Journal may at times deal with your project, yet it represents your reflections on the entire experience and the weekly entries described above. [5] Final Project Paper, an Ethnographic Description of the project that takes the form of a theological narrative. Follow Moschella’s rubric on page 205 (all items)—Due July 31st [Filename: FinalProject] Students complete a contextual project as the major focus and culminating work of this course. This project or ministry intervention can be defined as an intentional focused plan of action that emerges in a particular context and the ethnographic work done in relation to the context. This paper is a narrative account of your ethnographic results (approximately 15 double spaced pages). For guidance in compiling data and writing your narrative please use Ethnography as Pastoral Practice (especially chapters 7-9). Grading Assignments and tests will be given scores of 0-100 and weighted according to the following scale: Project Proposal Paper = 10% A = 90-100 Fieldwork Journal (FJ) = 30% Ethnographic Field Notebook (EFN) = 20% Contextual Immersion Final Project Paper = 40% Excellent: Outstanding, Fluent, Thought-Provoking, Original – covers full range of material, displays depth of comprehension, relies heavily on primary sources, relates material to inter-disciplinary areas. Writing is perfect or nearly perfect in grammar, spelling, and usage. B = 80-89 Good: Above Average, Clear, Well-Organized – but not superior, reflects comprehension of most crucial aspects of material only, scattered reflection, some reliance on primary sources, shows some inter-disciplinary sensitivity. Very few grammar, spelling, or usage errors. C = 70-79 Decent: Average, Adequate, Competent, Fair, Unoriginal – competent in most aspects but with significant lapses, no clear focus or overly simplistic focus, deficient comments with few/no sources, questionable inter-disciplinary application. Multiple grammar, spelling, or usage errors. D = 60-69 Uh-Oh: Below Average, Inadequate, Ineffective, Unclear, Under-developed – some effort shown but overwhelmed by flaws in thinking, incompetent use of sources, unrealistic or underdeveloped application. Major mistakes in grammar, spelling, or usage. F < 59 Don’t Go Here: Failure, Blocked Communication, Plagiarism-Cheating, Major Errors, Illiteracy Course Policies Attendance Since this course is onsite fieldwork, there is no weekly class to attend. However, participation in the mandatory meeting on 4/28 is required. Students may attend through Google Hangout Video Chat. Late Assignments All assignments are due on the due date at the beginning of class. Assignments received after that will lose 10% within the first week late, within 2 weeks late lose 20%, and after two weeks (no credit). Inclusive, Respectful Language Students are expected to use inclusive language and be respectful of fellow students, the professor, and those who may not be present to defend themselves. If at all possible please make use of gender inclusive translations of the Bible (i.e. like the NRSV or CEB). Academic Integrity The highest academic and personal integrity is expected! Plagiarism or cheating on any exam or assignment will result in an automatic failing grade for the entire course. See Academic Integrity Policy www.acu.edu/academics/provost/documents/AcademicIntegrityPolicy.pdf Special Needs Policy ACU complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in making reasonable accommodation for qualified students with a disability. If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodation, please contact the ACU Student Disability Services Office (a part of the Alpha Scholars Program). In order to receive accommodation, you must be registered with Disability Services and you must complete a specific request for each class in which you need accommodation. Call (325)674-2667 for an appointment with the Director of Disability Services. Pathways Assignment Pathways assignments are opportunities for students to connect what most excites them from a particular course with their specific ministry context. A Pathways assignment is not applicable for this course. Contextual Education courses already contain assignments with this integrated approach. blogs.acu.edu/GSTPathways contains detailed information about Pathways. Subject to Change This syllabus, course schedule, assignments, and other attending documents are subject to change by the professor. Every attempt will be made to notify students when changes are made. GST Classroom Virtues The GST invites students to participate in a process of theological and spiritual formation. Knowing how to think theologically comes by habit and by imitation, not simply by acquiring isolated facts. The assumption here is that books alone are insufficient for addressing difficulties of life and forming people into the image and likeness of God. Ultimately, we strive to form communities of inquiry, inviting you to inhabit a shared world of learning. Within such an environment, the goal is to cultivate critical skills of reflection, spiritual disciplines, interact authentically with one another, and learn to function as a community of inquiry. A large part of this involves connecting areas of life rather than pitting them against one another. Prayer, study, and other dimensions of life are all integral to the process of formation. Consequently, we invite you to participate in a set of practices; nurtured within this context, you pursue “intellectual, moral, spiritual excellence” the result of which is the formation of the whole person. Desire for truth in the context of love—the aptitude to discern whether belief-forming processes, practices, and people yield true beliefs over false ones. People motivated by this desire will be more likely to conduct thorough inquiries, scrutinize evidence carefully, investigate numerous fields of study, consider alternative explanations, while respecting and caring for others. Humility—the capacity to recognize reliable sources of informed judgment while recognizing the limits of our knowledge and the fallibility of our judgments. This is not created in isolation but takes into account feedback and correction from other sources of informed judgment. Honesty—the capacity to tackle difficult questions without seeking simple answers. Ignoring complex and difficult questions only solidifies vices such as intellectual dishonesty, close-mindedness, and rash judgments. These vices preclude the possibility of refining our thinking and of participating in conversations with others. Openness—the desire to engage in an open-ended search for knowledge of God, including receptivity to different ideas, experiences, and people. Listening becomes a discipline that acknowledges the other and respects diversity. The art of being a student and a teacher is an ongoing process that necessitates hospitality, patience, and love. Courage—the ability to articulate one’s position while considering other perspectives. The aptitude to express convictions involves risk yet fosters opportunities for meaningful dialog. Responding to objections entails tenacity but should not be confused with close-mindedness. Wisdom—the capacity to offer a synthetic discernment of knowledge on behalf of the community. The aim is not merely the dissemination of information but a pastoral implementation of faith for the building up of the community. It solidifies various pieces of data, practices, and experiences and aptly applies knowledge and faith to particular situations. Stewardship—the commitment to one’s accountability to the gifts and responsibilities that one brings to the classroom. Classroom engagement includes proactively participating in the course goals, seeking mastery of course competencies, and collaborating with faculty and fellow students in the developing of a learning environment. Committing oneself to spiritual and intellectual well-being and growth is a faithful response to the opportunities graduate education affords. Hopefulness—the receptivity to the future possibilities of God. The cultivation of thankfulness for our heritages and expectation for our future ministries engenders a guard against cynicism and a spirit of perseverance during times of stress and disorientation. Prayerfulness—the making of space to commune with God. The task of learning and teaching so that we are formed into the image of Christ through the Spirit involves our consistent reliance on God’s sanctifying work. Supervisor Students provide this information and the Supervisor Guidebook to their Supervisor. The responsibilities of the Site or Contextual Supervisor will include the following: 1. Having provided guidance for the student in the construction of the proposal for the Contextual Immersion Project, the supervisor will oversee and provide guidance for the student in the implementation of the Contextual Immersion Project. 2. Supervision will consist of the following: The supervisor will meet weekly with the student for theological reflection and ministry formation (30-60 min). While the Supervisor may engage the student in additional areas of reflection, the Supervisor should attend to the following: a. Field Notes – What are you noticing? What themes emerge? How does one discern God’s presence and work in the church and/or world? b. Critical Incident – What happened? Who was involved? What is at stake? What are the resources of the gospel in this moment? c. Vocational Clarity – How has your sense of the call of God received, clarified, altered in the experience of this project? d. Soul Care – What are the spiritual resources and disciplines that sustain your life in the mission of God? It is appropriate to engage in reflection on readings from An Altar in the World. 3. The supervisor will provide two forms of feedback to the Director of Contextual Education: a. Mid-Course Summary – this email feedback is a brief report on the status of the student’s project. The summary should mention any issues of concern that may have arisen to date. This is a brief, general summary and may be emailed to the Director of Contextual Education at the email address provided on this syllabus. Due Monday, June 23rd. b. Final Report – A Final Report assessing the student’s formation will be provided by the Contextual Supervisor. The Director of Contextual Education will email a link to an online form that the Contextual Supervisor will submit at the end of the course. Due Thursday, July 31st.