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Academic Programs
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Growing Healthy Congregations (AM-606)
Summer 2008 |
Everybody thinks that “bigger is better” and a growing church is “blessed by god” -- but is that really true? Numeric church growth as an end in itself is unhealthy. This course will explore both current theories of church growth and recent sociological information about the characteristics of growing churches. Students will be encouraged to wrestle with an individualized and appropriate theory of congregational development that rests in a multi-dimensional understanding of the total health of a faith group and the unique vision and context of each congregation. Students will undertake a practical health and growth assessment of their own or another congregation within the course.
Meeting
Day, Time and Dates:
Monday, June 23 – Friday, June 27, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m
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 Scott Thumma
Professor of Sociology of Religion and Web and Distance Education
Contact
Information:
phone: (860)
509-9571
email: sthumma@hartsem.edu
Dr. Thumma's web page |
Course
Syllabus
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Note: This syllabus may be adjusted to accommodate the needs of the course.
Objectives
- To get each student to wrestle with the factors related to healthy growth within their home church.
- To have students learn the multiple dimensions of growth within church life.
- To expose students to multiple perspectives of church and growth consultants.
- To have students create a workable plan for revitalizing an aspect of their congregation’s dynamics.
Course Requirements:
MA credit
- Class presentation on an aspect of vitality within their congregation 10 percent
- Attendance and class discussion - participation 30 percent
- Reading summaries (4 books – 2 to 3 pages each) 30 percent
- A 12-15 page paper exploring a rationale, process and concrete plan for revitalizing an aspect of their congregation due after the course is completed, date to be set. 30 percent
DMIN credit
- Class presentation on an aspect of vitality within their congregation 10 percent
- Attendance and class discussion - participation 30 percent
- Reading summaries (6 books – 2 to 3 pages each) 30 percent
- An 18-20 page paper exploring a rationale, process and concrete plan for revitalizing an aspect of their congregation due after the course is completed, date to be set. 30 percent
The Class Presentation – The format for this short presentation will be discussed further in class and will take the form of a short case study presentation and discussion of an area of the student’s congregation that is in need of redevelopment (related to the topics of the course). The presentation should set the stage/context, lay out the reasons that change is required and offer possible approaches for class discussion to redeveloping this aspect of the congregation.
The Reading Summaries – The format of these readings are 1) students will select 4 or 6 (depending on level of credit sought) from the list of possible books. Students will read the books and write a short 2-3 page (single space, typed, 12pt. Font) review of each book. These reviews can be somewhat informal in tone, but should spend at least 1 page summarizing the argument and 1 page raising a critique and drawing out the major insights learned that would help your ministry. These reviews will be distributed to others in the class.
The final paper – A 12-15 (MA) or 18-20 (DMIN) page paper exploring a rationale, process and concrete plan for revitalizing an aspect of their congregation due after the course is completed, date to be set. This paper should conform to the Seminary’s “General Guidelines for a Research Paper.” Further instruction on requirements will be given in class.
Grading Scale (within letter grades there will be +’s and –‘s, unless )
90-100% A
80-89% B
70-79% C
below 70% F
DMIN – High Pass, Pass, Fail
Expectations - Given that this is a 5 meeting, one-week course, I would strongly suggest that students NOT to miss any class meetings. One absence, with a very good reason and with prior approval, might be tolerated but anyone who misses more than one class period will lose a full letter grade or more off their final grade.
Please come to class well prepared. Since we only meet five times within one week, and I will be basing over a quarter of your grade on participation, come prepared and ready to engage in the discussion.
The majority of the reading assignments for the course must be completed prior to the class meetings. You will need to read and take good notes in order to refer to them during our week of class meetings. During the evenings between class meetings, there may be exercises reflecting on your congregation’s situation, using the web or reading short articles for the following day.
*** NOTE: I welcome auditors in the class but I expect any auditor to do the vast majority of the reading and participate in the class discussion as well as encourage auditors to do a class presentation.
If anyone has any questions, suggestions, difficulties, or comments I would love to hear them and am always available by email sthumma@hartsem.edu or during my office hours posted on my office door.
The standard Seminary policies regarding plagiarism and writing style apply to this course. For more information about these policies see the student handbook or the Seminary’s web site.
Schedule of Topics and Readings
NOTE: The readings must be done before the first meeting date. Please come to our first class prepared to discuss the readings and distribute your reviews.
Pre-Readings ** in addition to the readings and reviews
FACTS on Growth – By Kirk Hadaway, available at http://fact.hartsem.edu/CongGrowth.pdf
Insights into Congregational Growth – by Dirk Hart http://fact.hartsem.edu/products/FACT_Cong_Growth.pdf
Class Schedule
This topical schedule is very tentative at this point. It will change prior to, and perhaps during, the summer class.
Day one
Introductions
Hospitality
Evangelism
Day two
Attendance
Integration
Involvement
Day three
Spiritual Growth
Discipleship
Day four
Reaching In/Out
Missional Service
Day five
Presentations
Leadership to Help Change Happen
Course Summary
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