Class Reflection for Wednesday Week 10

Last Wed.  was the last class and I appreciated the discussion about what we've learned.  Since I'm at the end of my seminary career, the way I defined the Kingdom and the church's mission on the first day of class and on last Wed. was not all that different.  Right before I took Dr. Bolger's...

Class Reflection for Monday of Week 10

The issue of authority and leadership was discussed in class today, and it's one that I have many questions about.  On the one hand, the model for leadership that Dr. Bolger has been espousing--a Trinitarian one--stresses mutuality and equality and consensus.  These are wonderful things to stress, but what about the models of leadership we have...

Class Reflection for Wednesday of Week 9

Today we first got into groups to review our rough drafts on our case studies and then Dr. Bolger lectured about the shape that many action plans for change in a church can take.  Essentially this model was created in response to a desire to move a relatively large church in a new direction and so,...

Class Reflection Monday of Week 9

Today Dr. Bolger gave an interesting lecture on "church growth" and approached the concept positively by reviewing how McGavern thought about it.  Essentially, in India, McGavern noticed how churches didn't grow when potential converts were asked to jump social boundaries and adopt a new culture.  So McGavern thought about how the gospel might become inculturated in...

Class Reflection for Wednesday of Week 8

Today Dr. Bolger wasn't there, and so we had a short class, but a good discussion nonetheless.  The t.a.'s did an excellent job facilitating the discussion on Fitch.  The class helped me have a more critical eye with which to view Fitch's method.  I was surprised by some of the polarized reactions in my small group...

Class Reflection for Monday of Week 8

Today we discussed our short case study papers together in groups.  Personally, for my own writing process it wasn't all that helpful.  Most of the constructive criticisms that I received and those that I gave were suggestions that details be added and main points be elaborated on. These were obvious critiques in light of the...

Class Reflection for Wednesday of Week 7

Last Wednesday Dr. Bolger presented us with an outline of "Kingdom Perspectives on Mission." Essentially it was a list of key things that characterize the Kingdom.  And he asked us to think about how these characteristics could develop in the contexts of our case studies.  One question that the class had was on the difference...

Shorter Case Study Paper

Intro “What connection does Jesus’ message of the coming Kingdom have to the church’s message today?”  An answer to this question can inform the broader question, “What should the church look like today?” As a way of addressing these questions and as a way of narrowing a response to them, this paper will look at...

Class Reflection for Wednesday Week 6

Today Dr. Bolger continued his discussion on the Emerging Church.  One thing that struck me about his description today was how inefficient life in an emerging church might be.  When I was on leadership for a young adults group, it was my group's job to lay out a plan for social service.  We were all...

Book Review for Week 7: Fitch, David, E., The Great Giveaway (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2005)

David E. Fitch is  a pastor of Life on the Vine Christian Community of the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Long Grove, Illinois, and is adjunct professor of ministry, theology, and ethics at Northern Seminary. The Great Giveaway by David Fitch is a sweeping critique of the Evangelical Church in North America.  His thesis is...