ALLIANCE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Church As A Social And
Cultural Institution CS 502
Spring 2011
Wednesdays 9am – 12pm Room: TBA
Instructor: Stephen Bailey
Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies
Tel# 845-770-5755
Stephen.Bailey@nyack.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTON
This course studies the social factors that influence the life of the Church as an institution. Social
science tools of analysis are used to enable students to become aware of and evaluate the social
factors that impact the local church and to which the local church responses to in ministry. Issues
such as war, the state, institutionalization, gender, racism, economics, postmodernism, and
globalization are discussed. The course is intended to help students begin to theologically about
the strategies that might help them lead the local church in responding to and shaping society.
LEARNING GOALS
1. To enable students to learn theories, terminology and models for the social science analysis of
the local church in order to consider how the church as an institution interacts with society. *
2. To enable students to acquire an empathetic disposition for social justice in the local church
in light of the impact of social forces such as ethnicity, economics, technology, social power,
and institutionalization on local churches. *
3. To enable students to learn some of the dynamics of social change – including the impact of
globalization and postmodernism – on local churches.
4. Information Literacy Goal: To enable students to learn the skill of accessing needed
information effectively and efficiently and implement well designed research writing project
on the institutional life of the church.
COURSE CORRELATION
CS502 fits into the second phase, (the Church Phase), of the ATS model of ministerial formation.
The goal of this course is to enable the student to see the social factors that shape the church and
the implications of these factors for the ministry and mission of the Church.
REQUIRED READING
Clarke E. Cochran, Derek H. Davis, Ronald J. Sider, and Corwin Smidt. Church, State and Public
Justice: Five Views. InterVaristy Press Academic. 2007. Pp. 254. ISBN: 10: 083082796.*
Phyllis Tickle. The Great Emergence: How Christianity is Changing and Why? Baker Books.
2008. Pp.165. ISBN978-0-8010-1313-3.
Ralph Winter. “The Two Structures of God’s Redemptive Mission.” Pp.220-230. in Perspectives
on the World Christian Movement: A Reader. 3rd Ediion. Ralph D. Winter and Steven C.
Hawthorne eds. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library. 1999. Available on the
institutional network I Drive and online at http://missionfrontiers.org/pdf/2005/03/200503.htm
1
*Indicates the common learning goals and textbooks for this course (CS502) between ATS campuses.
Michael O. Emerson and Christian Smith. Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the
Problem of Race in America. Oxford University Press. 2001. Pp.224. ISBN: 10:
0195147073. *
Donald B. Kraybill. The Upside Down Kingdom. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press. (2nd Edition). 1994.
Pp. 309. ISBN: 10-8361-3522-9.
Special Issues Reading: Choose One of the Following Books
Dale Hanson Burke. The Skeptic's Guide To Global Poverty (The Skeptic's Guide). Authentic.
2007. Pp. 112. ISBN: 10: 1932805575. Discusses the basic evidence for global poverty
and some of the various ways people go about addressing it.
M. Daniel Carroll R. Christians At the Borders: Immigration, the Church and the Bible. Baker
Academic. 2008. Pp.143. ISBN: 978-0-8010-3566-1.
Ruth Tucker. Daughters of the Church: Women and Ministry From New Testament Times to the
Present. Zondervan. 1987. Pp. 560. ISBN: 10: 0310457416.
Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham. Righteous Discontent: The Women's Movement in the Black
Baptist Church, 1880-1920. Harvard University Press. 1994. Pp. 320. ISBN: 10:
0674769783.
Outside Reading: Students must complete 300 pages of reading of relevant library and online
materials for their research paper. They should keep a record of this reading and hand it in on the
last day of class.
ASSESSMENT RESULTS
ATS may use assignments that are assessed for this course for program evaluation purposes.
Individual results may be used as exemplars but will only be available to the program reviewers
and not made public. Results of assessments will be used to show program effectiveness and
program improvement.
MDiv Program Goals Addressed
B. Students will gain knowledge and be able to apply methodology in biblical studies,
theology and cultural understandings.
NYACK CORE GOALS ADDRESSED
Socially Relevant -- Preparing students to serve in ministerial, educational, healing and
community-building professions.
Academically Excellent -- Pursuing academic excellence in the spirit of grace and
humility.
Globally Engaged -- Fostering a global perspective within a multi-ethnic and multicultural Christian academic community.
Intentionally Diverse -- Providing educational access and support to motivated students
from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
Formatting Your Papers: Every paper should be double-spaced and have margins of one inch at
the left, right, top and bottom of the page. Use only Times New Roman size 12 font. Be sure
your name and campus PO Box # are on the paper. Staple your papers. Do not use paper clips or
plastic covers.
2
CLASS REQUIREMENTS
1. Class attendance and participation: There are no excused absences. Addresses Learning
Goals 1, 2 & 3. 15% of grade
2. Church, State and Public Justice Essay – Each student will write a three to four page essay
on the Church, State and Public Justice: Five Views book. In this essay they will choose one
of the five views as the one that is most representative of their personal viewpoint. They will
defend it against the other four views. Be sure to interact with each point of view and
demonstrate your understanding of each position. Late papers will be marked down 10
points. Addresses Learning Goal 1. 20% of grade
Grading Rubric
1) Formatting and Spelling
10pts
2) Accurate and thorough summary of each position
70pts
3) Clear and organized argument for the student’s chosen view
20pts
3. Kraybill Critique – Each student will write a three to four page critique of Kraybill’s
theology of the Kingdom as developed in The Upside Down Kingdom. Note his
interpretation of how Jesus responds to the three spheres of social power: politics, economics
and religion. What are the strengths and weaknesses of his view? Which of the five models
described in Church, State and Public Justice: Five Views does Kraybill’s theology best fit
into? How do you feel the Church should be engaging social power of politics, religion and
economics in America? Late papers will be marked down 10 points. Addresses Learning
Goals 1 & 2. 10% of grade
Grading Rubric
1) Formatting and Spelling
10pts
2) Accuracy and thoroughness of the summary of Kraybill’s theological arguments 60pts
3) Discussion regarding how Kraybill’s theological position lines up with one of
20pts
the 5 views of relating church and society
4) Clear and organized writing style
10pts
4. Reading report: The student will write 3 short reading reports on the books by Emerson and
Smith, the Special Issues Reading book you choose and the article by Winters. The reading
reports are to be two pages only. Papers longer than two pages will not be accepted. The
papers are due on the dates indicated in the class schedule below. A sample of the format for
the reading reports can be found in the Appendix. Addresses Learning Goal 2. 15% of
grade
Grading Rubric
1) The bibliography (at top of the 1st page) and brief information regarding the author’s
personal background. (check the inside cover and the internet)
5pts
2) Summary of the main points of the author.
80pts
3) Interaction and Critique - how does the reading interact with your present or anticipated
ministry context. Critique of the author’s argument.
10pts
4) Spelling and grammar
5pts
5. Tickle Critique – Each student will write a three to four page essay / critique on The Great
Emergence. What is the author’s key message and what does she propose to the Church?
How do you evaluate her suggestions and what would it mean for the local church (or for
missions if you are a missions student) today? Late papers will be marked down 10 points.
Addresses Learning Goal 3. 15% of grade
3
Grading Rubric
1) Formatting and Spelling
2) Accuracy and thoroughness of the summary of the key message and proposal
3) Evaluation of the proposal made for the Church / Missions
4) Clear and organized writing style
5pts
65pts
20pts
10pts
6. Research Paper: Each student will write a 15 page paper on one of the topics listed below or
a topic approved of by the professor. Each paper will address the various models of Church
and Society discussed in class and in your textbooks, and relate them to subject of the paper.
Addresses Learning Goals 1, 2, 3 & 4. 25% of your grade.
You must have at least 10 scholarly works cited (you may not count our textbooks among
them) in your paper (you may have two reliable web based sources not counting online
scholarly journals). You must do at least 300 pages of reading for your paper. You will be
provided with instruction in methods for retrieving needed research and for designing and writing
the research paper during two class sessions. After selecting one of the approved topics you will
need to hand in the following:
6.1 A thesis or purpose statement, outline and annotated bibliography with five of the ten
sources – due . The thesis should focus and guide your research and the writing of the
paper.
6.2 A re-written thesis, detailed outline and bibliography of your paper due on.
6.3 1st Draft of the Research Paper is due
6.4 Final Draft of the Research Paper is due
Approved Topics For Research Papers
 Church and State Relations – Examine the various models of church and state
relationships by reviewing the arguments for the different perspectives and the strengths
and weaknesses of each position. Relate this to the current discussion in the United
States about the relationship between faith and civil life. Apply the model you prefer to a
specific issue such as prayer in school, federal funding of faith based organizations, etc.
 Institutional Structure and Church Renewal– Research the phenomena of spiritual
renewal movements in the Christian Church over history and analyze the relationship
between spiritual renewal movements, the structure of Church life (institutionalization)
and the social events surrounding revivals. Consider what older churches can do to bring
renewal to their people without creating another church movement if indeed that is
possible. Consider what church / society model renewal movements tend to lean towards.
 War and the Christian – Research and discuss the major Christian positions regarding
war and the church / Christian faith. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each
position and how do these relate to the war going on in Iraq? Consider each position in
light of the various church / society models discussed in class and the readings.
 Globalization (or Postmodernism) and the Local Church – Discuss the impact of
globalization (or Postmodernism) on the life of the local church. Consider various views
of globalization (or Postmodernism), critique them and then defend one of them. Finally,
outline a plan for a local church to adapt itself for effective ministry in a world shaped by
globalization (or Postmodernism).
 Racism, Multiculturalism and the Local Church – Survey the literature on racism and
prejudice and how it impacts religion in the country that you intend to do ministry in.
Describe the history and current situation then suggest some ways in which progress can
be made in regard to the ministry of the local church in that context. How do the various
church / society models discussed in class and the readings engage this issue?
4

Economics and the Church – Consider the impact of finance on the Church in the
country that you intend to do ministry in. How does it shape the Church’s institutional
life, theology and praxis? What steps need to be taken to implement a Biblical theology
of wealth and stewardship in the Church? What should be the role of wealthy churches in
regard to missions and the poor? How do the choices before the Church reflect the
various views of Church / Society discussed in class and in the readings?
General Guidelines for the Research Paper
1) Your paper should include a short INTRODUCTION. It will include Thesis / Purpose
Statement, Methodology and Delimitations sub-sections.
2) Your paper should have section titles and sub-section titles that serve as a clear outline of
the development of your argument supporting your thesis / purpose.
3) The second major section of the paper will be called REVIEW OF THE
LITERATURE. In it you will do an overview that will serve as a summary of the major
arguments related to the subject you are researching. Be sure to discuss how the
theological discussion on the relationship between Luther’s two Kingdoms idea impacts
the position people take on your topic.
4) Cite scholarly literature using parenthetical citations (e.g. Bailey 2002, 50) that support
your thesis and some that do not support your thesis. Present your reasons for why you
have not chosen to hold these other positions.
5) The third section of your paper will be called CONLUSIONS. It will serve as the section
in which you argue for your position and discuss its significance for the local church and
for your ministry. This section of the paper should be at least three to four pages long.
6) The last page of your paper should be a WORKS CITED page where you list in
bibliographic form the sources cited in the paper.
7) You should format the paper following the rules found in Kate L. Turabian’s book, A
Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 6th Edition. Chicago:
University of Chicago Press. 1996.
Grading Rubric
1) Formatting, Spelling
10%
2) Clarity and logic of the paper’s presentation
20%
3) Thoroughness of the research
40%
4) Theological significance of the conclusions for local church life
30%
EVALUATION
Class Attendance
3 Book Reports
Church State Essay
15%
15%
20%
Kraybill Critique
Tickle Critique
Research Paper
10%
15%
25%
GRADING SCALE
Grades are assigned based on your competency in performing the assignments referred to in this
syllabus.
A (4.0) 93-100
A- (3.7) 90-92
D+ (1.3) 68-69
D (1.0) 63-67
B+ (3.3) 88-89
B (3.0) 83-87
D- (0.7) 60-62
F (0.0) 0-60
B- (2.7) 80-82
C+ (2.3) 78-79
C (2.0) 73-77
C- (1.7) 70-72
5
LATE WORK
All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date assigned. Work will be accepted up
to two weeks late. All late work is immediately penalized 10 points except when otherwise
indicated. Except in the case of serious illness or family emergency extensions will not be given.
IMPORTANT NOTES
1. Any student eligible for and requesting academic accommodations due to a disability, is
required to provide a letter of accommodation from the Office of Disabilities Support
Services within the first six weeks of the beginning of classes.
2. All written assignments should be formatted according to Turabian’s formatting rules. A
summary of these rules is available on the campus I Drive under the Bailey folder.
3. Students should keep copies of all handed in assignments and keep track of their own
grades throughout the semester.
4. All the class notes will be on the I: Drive under the Bailey folder. You may access the
Instructional Drive with your login name (last name followed by first letter of you first
name) and your password (last four digits of your SS#).
6
CLASS SCHEDULE
THE KINGDOM, THE CHURCH, THE STATE AND SOCIETY
1. Session 1 / Jan 25
1.1. Reading Assignment Due: None
1.2. Topic:
1.2.1. Introductory Matters / Syllabus
1.2.2. The Kingdom, the Church as an Institution and Society
2. Session 2 / February 1
2.1. Reading Assignment: State and Public Justice: Five Views Chapters 1-3 and read for
your research paper
2.2. Topic:
2.2.1. Just War Theory
2.2.2. Weapons of the Spirit - Video
3. Session 3 / Feb 8
3.1. Reading Assignment Due: State and Public Justice: Five Views and read for your
research paper
3.2. Due: Essay on State and Public Justice: Five Views
3.3. Topic: 5 Views of Church and State
SOCIAL FORCES AT WORK IN THE CHURCH
4. Session 4 / Nyack Feb 15
4.1. Assignment Due: The Upside Down Kingdom
4.2. Due: Report on The Upside Down Kingdom
4.3. Topic: The Theology of the Kingdom and Church and State / Civil Religion
5. Session 5 / Nyack Feb 22
5.1. Reading Assignment: Read Divided by Faith and read for your research paper
5.2. Due: Report on Divided By Faith
5.3. Topic:
5.3.1. Power and the Church
5.3.2. Racism and Reconciliation – Diversity Video
6. Session 6 / March 1
6.1. Assignment Due: Thesis Statement, Outline and Bibliography for Term Paper
6.2. Due: Thesis Statement, Outline and Bibliography for Term Paper
6.2.1. Topic: Women in Ministry 6.2.2. Homosexuality – Sy Rogers Audio Tape
7. Session 7 / March 8
7.1. Reading Assignment Due: Read – Read & research for your term paper
7.2. Due: Re-written Thesis, Detailed Outline and Bibliography /Research Paper
7.3. Topic: Economics, Poverty and the Church
SPRING BREAK MARCH 15 – 19
7
8. Session 8 / March 22
8.1. Reading Assignment Due: Special Issues Book, Read & research for your term paper
8.2. Assignment Due: Reading Report on Special Issues Book
8.3. Topics:
8.3.1. Migration
8.3.2. General Demographic Changes in the Church in the USA
THE CHURCH AND SOCIAL CHANGE
9. Session 9 / March 29
9.1. Reading Assignment Due: Ralph Winter article and read for your research paper
9.2. Assignment Due: Reading Report on Winter article
9.3. Topic:
9.3.1. The Institutional Life of the Church
9.3.1.1. Institutional Life Cycles of the Church
9.3.1.2. Church and Mission as Modality and Sodality
10. Session 10 / April 5
10.1. Due: 1st Draft of Research Paper
10.2. Topic:
10.2.1. The State of the Church in USA and Globally
10.2.2. The Church And Post-Modernism
11. Session 11 / April 12
11.1. Reading Assignment: The Great Emergence
11.2. Assignment Due: Paper on The Great Emergence Due
11.3. Topic: Globalization and The Church and The Emerging Generation
12. Session 12 / April 19
12.1. Reading Assignment: None / Work on your Research paper!
12.2. Topic: Church Models Responding to a Postmodern / Globalized World
12.2.1. New Monasticism – www.newmonasticism.org
12.2.2. Emergent Church – www.emergentvillage.com
12.2.3. Return to Liturgy – Robert Webber. Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail
12.2.4. Mega-Church – Dr. Scott Thumma – www.hartfordinstitute.org
13. Session 13 / April 26
13.1. Topics: The Influence of the Mega-Church on American Christianity – Dr. Scott
Thumma, Hartford Seminary / Institute for Religious Studies, Co-author of Beyond
Megachurch Myths: What We Can Learn From America’s Largest Churches (2007).
13.2. Research Reading Due: 300 pages of reading for research paper – hand in a signed
bibliography of all the reading you did including page numbers.
13.3. Research Paper Due
14. Session 14 / May 3
14.1. Change and the Church
14.2. The Growing Church – James Meeks
8
RECOMMENDED TEXTS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
Social Theory on Religion
Peter L. Berger. The Sacred Canopy: Elements of a Sociological Theory of Religion. NY:
Anchor Books. 1967.
Mary Douglas. How Institutions Think. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. 1986.
Paul G. Hiebert, and Eloise Hiebert Meneses. Incarnational Ministry: Planting Churches in Band,
Tribal, Peasant and Urban Societies. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. 1995. Pp.375.
ISBN 0-8010-2009-3. [FOR MISSION STUDENTS]
C. Stephen Evans. Philosophy of Religion: Thinking About Faith. Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press. 1985. Pp.184. ISBN0-87784-343-7.
Theology of the Economics
Victor V. Claar and Robin J. Klay. Economics in Christian Perspective: Theory, Policy and Life
Choices. Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press. 2007. Pp. 241. ISBN: 978-0-83082597-4.
Craig L. Blomberg. Neither Poverty Nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions. Apollos
(Intervarsity Press) 1999.
Clodovis Boff and George V. Pixley. The Bible, the Church, and the Poor. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis
Books. 1989. Pp.243. ISBN: 0-88344-614-6.
Robert G. Clouse ed. Wealth and Poverty: Four Christian Views of Economics. Downers Grove,
IL: InterVarsity Press. 1984. Pp. 226. ISBN: 0-87784-347-3.
Daniel G. Groody. The Option for the Poor in Christian Theology. Notre Dame, IN: University of
Notre Dame Press. 2007. Pp. 301. ISBN: 10: 0-268-02971-5.
David P. Gushee ed. Toward a Just and Caring Society. Christian Responses to Poverty in
America. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. 1999. Pp. 530. ISBN: 0-8010-2220-7.
Susan R. Holman ed. Wealth and Poverty in Early Church and Society. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker
Academic. 2008. Pp.293. ISBN: 978-0-8010-3549-4.
Leslie J. Hoppe. There Shall Be No Poor Among You: Poverty in the Bible. Abington Press.
2004.
Dewi Houghes with Matthew Bennett. God of the Poor: A Biblical Vision of God’s Present Rule.
OM Publishing (Paternostor Press). 1998 (2000).
Timothy Radcliffe ed. Just One Year: A Global Treasury of Prayer and Worship. Maryknoll, NY:
Orbis Books. 2007. Pp. 275. ISBN: 978-1-57075-714-3.
Harding Morris Robert. The Book of Mammon: A Biblical Theology of Wealth. Author House
Publishers. 2005. Pp. 216. ISBN: 10: 1420820273.
Herbert Schlossberg, Vinay Samuel and Ronald J. Sider. Christianity and Economics in the PostCold War Era. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 1994. Pp.
186. ISBN: 0-8028-0798-4.
9
William Schweiker and Charles Mathewes eds. Having Property and Possession in Religious and
Social Life. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 2004. Pp.
415. ISBN: 0-8028-2484-6.
Sondra Ely Wheeler. Wealth As Peril and Obligation: The New Testament on Possessions.
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 1995.
Church and State
Craig A. Carter. Rethinking Christ and Culture: A Post-Christendom Perspective. Grand Rapids,
MI: BrazosPress. 2006. Pp.212. ISBN: 10: 1-58743-159-9.
David Dark. The Gospel According to America: A Meditation on a God-Blessed, Christ-Haunted
Idea. Westminister John Knox Press. 2005. Pp.200. ISBN 0-664-22769-4.
David Fergusson. Church, State and Civil Society. Cambridge University Press. 2005. Pp. 222.
David Domke and Kevin Coe. The God Strategy: How Religion Became a Political Weapon in
America. Oxford University Press. 2008.
Richard Fox. Jesus in America: Personal Savior, Cultural Hero, National Obsession.
HarperSanFrancisco: HarperCollins Publishers. 2004. Pp. 475. ISBN 0-06-062874-X.
Collin Hansen. “How Then Shall We Politick?” Christianity Today. August 2006. Pp. 38-41.
Brian Mclaren and Tony Campolo. Adventures in Missing the Point: How the Culture-Controlled
Church Neutered the Gospel. Zondervan. 2003. Pp.259. ISBN: 0-310-25384-5.
H. Richard Niebuhr. Christ and Culture. New York, NY: Harper & Row Publishers. 1951.
Pp.256. ISBN: 0-06-130003-9.
Mark G. Toulouse. God in Public: Four Ways American Christianity and Public Life Relate.
Westminister John Knox Press. 2006. Pp. 224. ISBN: 10- 0664229131.
Jim Wallis. God’s Politics. San Francisco: Harper. 2005.
War and the Christian
Joseph Allen. War: A Primer for Christians. Southern Methodist University Press. 2001. Pp.72.
ISBN 10: 0870744518.
Andrew Greeley. A Stupid, Unjust, and Criminal War: Iraq 2001-2007. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis
Books. 2007. Pp. 215. ISBN 978-1-57075-732-7.
Arthur Holmes. War and Christian Ethics: Classic and Contemporary Readings on the Morality of
War. Baker Academic. 2005. Pp.416. ISBN 10: 0801031133.
John Kleiderer, Paula Minaert, and Mark Mossa. Just War, Lasting Peace: What Christian
Traditions Can Teach Us. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books. 2006. Pp.188. ISBN 10:
157075649X.
Lisa Sowle Cahill. Love Your Enemies: Discipleship, Pacifism, and Just War Theory.
Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press. 1994. ISBN: 0-8006-2700-8.
10
Stephen Charles Mott. Biblical Ethics and Social Change. New York, NY: Oxford University
Press. 1982. ISBN: 0-19-502948-8.
Howard Zinn. Just War. Charta. 2006. Pp.72. ISBN 10: 8881585723.
Institutional Structure and Revival
Michael McClymond ed. Religious Revivals in America. Vol 1 & 2. Westport, CT: Greenwood
Press. 2007. [Now available in our library although not yet catalogued. Ask about it.]
Charles J. Mellis. Committed Communities: Fresh Streams for World Missions. Pasadena, CA:
William Carey Library. 1976. Pp.128. ISBN: 0-87808-426-6.
H. Richard Niebuhr. The Social Sources of Denominationalism. New York, NY: A Meridian
Book, New American Library. 1929 (1975). Pp.284.
Cecil M. Robeck, Jr. Azua Street: Mission and Revival: The Birth of the Global Pentecostal
Movement. Thomas Nelson, 2006.
Change in the Local Church
Jim Collins. Good to Great and the Social Factors: A Monograph to Accompany Good to Great.
Harper Collins. 2005. Pp.42. ISBN 10: 0977326403.
Richard Warren. The Purpose Driven Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. 1995.
The Church and Postmodern Culture
Scott A. Bessenecker.The New Friars: The Emerging Movement Serving the World’s Poor.
InverVarsity Press. 2006.
Scott A. Bessenecker ed. Living Mission: The Vision and Voice of New Friars. InverVarsity
Press. 2010.
Shane Claiborne. The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical. Zondervan. 2006.
Craig Detweiler and Barry Taylor. A Matrix of Meanings: Finding God in Popular Culture. Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Books. 2003. Pp.318. ISBN 0-8010-2417-X.
Eddie Gibbs. Church Next: Quantum Changes in How We Do Ministry. Downers Grove, IL:
Inter Varsity Press. 2000. Pp.239. ISBN 0-8308-2261-5.
Brad J. Kallenberg. Live to Tell: Evangelism for a Postmodern Age. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos
Press. 2002. Pp.127. ISBN 1-58743-050-9.
Brian McLaren. A Generous Orthodoxy. Zondervan. 2004. Pp. 297. ISBN: 0-310-25747-6.
Reggie McNeal. The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church. John Wiley & Sons.
2003. Pp. 148. ISBN: 0-7879-6568-5.
Ralph and Steven Lawson Moore. Friends: The Key to Reaching Generation X. 2nd Edition.
Ventura, CA: Regal Books. 2001.
11
Joseph Myers. The Search to Belong: Rethinking Intimacy, Community, and Small Groups.
Zondervan. 2003. Pp. 154. ISBN: 0-310-25500-7.
Richard W. Santana and Gregory Erickson. Religion and Popular Culture: Rescripting the Sacred.
McFarland & Company, Inc. 2008. Pp. ISBN: 978-0-7864-3553-1.
Chris Seay and Greg Garrett. The Gospel Reloaded: Exploring Spirituality and Faith in the
Matrix. Pinon, AZ: Pinon Press. 2003.
Robert Webber. The Younger Evangelicals. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. 2002. Pp.288.
ISBN 0-8010-9152-7.
Robert Webber. Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail. Morehouse Publishing. 1989.
Postmodern Thought and Christian Theology
Stanley J. Grenz. A Primer On Postmodernism. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co. 1996.
Stanley J. Grenz and John R. Franke. Beyond Foundationalism: Shaping Theology in a
Postmodern Context. Westminister John Knox Press. 2001.
George R. Hunsberger and Craig Van Gelder eds. The Church Between Gospel and Culture.
Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 1996.
Carl Raschke. The Next Reformation: Why Evangelicals Must Embrace Postmodernity. Baker
Academic. 2004. Pp.215. ISBN 9780801027512.
Racism, Gender, Multiculturalism and the Local Church
David Anderson. Multicultural Ministry: Finding Your Church’s Unique Rhythm. Zondervan
Publishers. 2004.
María Pilar Aquino and María José Rosado-Nunes. Eds. Feminist Intercultural Theology: Latina
Explorations for a Just World. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books. 2007. Pp.264.
Robert Bellah. Faithful Generations: Race and New Asian American Churches. Rutgers
University Press. 2004.
Tony Campolo and Michael Battle. The Church Enslaved: A Spirituality of Racial Reconciliation.
Augsberg Fortress Publishers. 2005.
Brad Christerson, Korie L. Edwards, and Michael O. Emerson. Against All Odds: The Struggle
for Racial Intergration in Religious Organizations. New York University Press. 2005. Pp.
224. ISBN 0-8147-2224-5.
Cleophus J. LaRue ed. This is My Story: Testimonies and Sermons of Black Women in Ministry.
Westminister John Knox Press. 2005. Pp. 216. ISBN 0-664-22776-7.
Joe Newman. Race and the Assemblies of God Church: The Journey from Auza Street to the
“Miracle of Memphis.” Cambria Press. 2007.
12
Fredrick K. C. Price. Race, Religion and Racism, Vol. 1 A Bold Encounter With Division in the
Church. Fredrick Price Ministries. 1999.
Susan E. Smith. Women in Mission: From the New Testament to Today. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis
Books. 2007. Pp. 213. ISBN 978-1-57075-737-2.
Other Books of Interest Related to the Church in Society
M. Daniel Carroll R. Christians at the Border: Immigration, the Church, and the Bible. Baker
Academic. 2008. Pp. 143. ISBN 978-0-8010-3566-1.
Gregory P. Leffel. Faith Seeking Action: Mission, Social Movements and the Church in Motion.
Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press. 2007. Pp. 255. ISBN 10-0-8108-5803-7.
Kevin Vanhoozer, Charles A. Anderson and Michael Sleasman. Everyday Theology: How to
Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends. Baker Academic. 2007. Pp. 245. ISBN
9780801031670. [Thinks theologically about social trends such as blogging and
busyness.]
13
APPENDIX
Your Name Here
Mailing address here
e-mail address here
Allen, Roland
1962
The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.
B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
An Anglican and a high churchman, Roland Allen was a missionary with the
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in northern China from 1895 to 1903. His best
known book is, Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours?, but The Spontaneous
Expansion of the Church, is considered a more mature explanation of many of the themes
he addressed in that earlier book. It was not until the 1960s that Allen’s work was read
widely and given the forcefulness of his critique of the western missionary effort, this is
not surprising.
Allen’s central thesis is that the Church planted around the world by the western
missionary effort is far too often a Church which is “essentially foreign” in nature. In
presenting this thesis he describes the characteristics of the spontaneous expansion of the
Christian Church, the reasons (or fears) which prohibit spontaneous expansion and
debates a number of arguments against removing the restraints on establishing truly free
local churches. Finally, Allen suggests a means of dealing with the many churches which
are already established in patterns of dependency on westerners.
Allen believes that a truly free church will naturally grow. He describes
spontaneous expansion as,
expansion which follows the unexhorted and unorganized
activity of individual members of the Church explaining to
others the Gospel which they have found themselves; I mean
the expansion which follows the irresistible attraction of the
Christian Church for men who see its ordered life, and are
drawn to it by desire to discover the secret of a life which they
instinctively desire to share; I mean also the expansion of the
Church by the addition of new churches (p.7).
14
The primary causes for the restriction of the growth of the Church are the fear of
untrained local leadership teaching incorrect doctrine, the fear that locally led churches
will not maintain high moral standards, the desire of western missionaries to “civilize”
those they are evangelizing with western education and development work, and the
hiring and training of local Christians to work under the authority of foreign missionaries
and their structures (rather than allowing them to do this spontaneously and
independently).
At a theological level Allen is calling for a Spirit led church growth rather than
organizationally planned and controlled growth. The latter he equates with ministering
under the law as opposed to under the Spirit in the apostolic fashion. At the level of
social theory I feel he is struggling with the sodality - modality tension. While his
critique is penetrating it is at the same time possible to understand that he did not fully
come to terms with the inevitable tendency for all social movements to become
bureaucratic. Having said that I hasten to add that his critique is one that none of us can
ignore and need to keep constantly in view as we go about our mission effort.
Allen’s insights are crucial to my study of worldview issues for communicating
the gospel to Lao people. It unmasks the worldview assumptions of foreign missionaries
(now western and otherwise) that hinder the advance of the gospel. Among the most
telling are his insight into western culture's deep trust in organizational efforts which are
financially (revealing our deep seated capitalist value system) and bureaucratically
structured; the psychological destruction of the confidence of local believers by replacing
untrained local lay people who have started local churches; our constant battle as
missionaries with feelings of spiritual and cultural superiority; and his declaration that
there is no moral standard given in scripture that stands for all time and all cultural
circumstances (p.68).
15