January 5 – January 15, 2008
ICS255C
Description: The 26 congregations of the Milwaukee Coalition and ecumenical partners provide the setting for this seminar in cooperative urban ministry. Through dialog with congregational leaders, introduction to the arts of congregation based organizing and participation in a variety of ministry settings, students will explore leadership models for rostered and lay leadership. Particular attention will be given to ministry among people in poverty, anti-racism work and justice ministries. Participants will do theological reflection with local mentors and write a formal theological reflection paper for course credit.
Pre-reading and two pre-session meetings are required.
Rationale: The power of community organizing to effect change has been well documented and the ELCA has been a strong proponent of Faith Based Community Organizing as a means to connect congregations and the communities in which they are located in order to transform both. Even Jesus could well be described as the ultimate community organizer – practicing one-on-ones, speaking truth to power, holding people accountable and agitating for justice.
This 10-day intensive will offer educational components focusing on the theological, historical, pastoral and socio-political nature of Faith Based Community Organizing and support future professional leaders to become better equipped to lead their congregations and communities to become places of transformation.
Course Objectives:
Students will
- Think theologically about public leadership and the role of self, congregation and denomination in public settings
- Learn about and experience an existing successful model of collaborative public leadership
- Analyze the systemic issues affecting people, institutions and communities in poverty
- Name the power structures for good and ill that affect people, congregations and communities to work for justice and transformation
- Gain knowledge of history of Faith Based Community Organizing, MICHAH and denominational urban ministry strategies
- How to balance roles of service and advocacy, congregation and community, agitation and compromise
- How to minister in the midst of change/transformation
Course Structure:
Course is open to a maximum of 7 students who will spend 10 days in Milwaukee, Wisconsin working and learning with students from Wartburg Seminary and members of the Milwaukee Coalition (MICAH)
Pre-reading prior to the trip will focus on Faith Based Community Organizing, MICAH, and Transformational Ministry
Two “pre-session” meetings will be held in Dec. prior to the trip will work on creating community among LTSP students, discussing expectations and reviewing trip details.
Students will spend 6-8 hours per day working with local faith leaders gaining an introduction to the arts of congregation based organizing and participation in a variety of ministry settings.
Students will explore leadership models for rostered and lay leadership in diverse urban settings.
Students will have an opportunity to experience various places of worship to see the diversity of congregations, worship styles and ministry settings.
With the assistance of mentors from MICAH congregations, debriefing sessions will be held throughout the 10 days to help seminarians process their experience through theological reflection.
Particular attention will be given to ministry among people in poverty, anti-racism work and justice ministries.
Requirements:
- Completion of and reflection on assigned readings, as evidenced in #2-4. It is expected that students will complete assigned readings before the session for which the readings are assigned.
- Regular attendance and appropriate informed participation. Grade +/-
- One five- to seven-page theological reflection on any of the readings in dialogue with experiences during immersion, due 2/29. Grade A-F (65%).
- One five- to seven-page case study on a congregation (either from Milwaukee, Field Ed, Internship or your home congregation) in dialogue with readings, especially Robust Congregations, Can This Church Live? and Doing Justice: Congregations and Community Organizing, due 2/29. Grade A-F (35%)
This may be combined with #3 into one paper. - A journal of notes on and responses to readings including thoughts on future ministry use, due 2/29 Grade +/-
- Class participation and journal may raise or lower grade.
Textbooks (most are on reserve in the library):
§ Bible (recommended: The New Oxford Annotated Bible OR Harper's Study Bible).
§ Robust Church Development, Mike Regele, Church Innovations, 2003 (RCD)
§ Can This Church Live? By Donald L. Matthews, Pilgrim Press, (CTCL)
§ Cooperating Congregations: Portraits of Mission Strategies. Gilson A.C. Waldkoening and William O Avery. Alban Institute, 1999. (CC)
§ Churches, Cities, and Human Community: Urban Ministry in the United States, 1945-1985, Clifford Green, Ed. (CCHC)
§ Renewing Congregations: The Contribution of Faith Based Community Organizing, Interfaith Funders and the University of New Mexico, (RC)
§ Works by Coalition authors
o A Church of the People: Strategies of Urban Ministry, self-published, 1997. Available for purchase during course from author, Pastor Mick Roschke, Reformation Lutheran Church, Milwaukee (ACP)
o Doing Justice: Congregations and Community Organizing by Dennis A. Jacobsen, Augsburg Fortress. (DJ)
o Let the Glory of the Lord Rise Among Us: Growing a Church in the Heart of the City by Greg Van Dunk. Augsburg Fortress, 2002. (LGLR)
Short articles may be distributed for reading and consideration in mentor groups during the immersion.
A. Introductory Matters – Katie Day and Terri Youngblut
Monday, 12/3 Over lunch introduction to the course; Syllabus and expectations; textbooks; recommended readings
B. Community Building - Katie Day and Terri Youngblut
Thursday, 12/13 7:30-9 at KD’s
Read: CCHC, pp 123-150 Non-ELCA students may choose an additional chapter relevant to their denomination; ACP, chapters 1-3; and CC Chapter 4, Milwaukee Strategy, pp. 111-146.
C. Immersion - Terri Youngblut and/or Amy Reumann, Greater Milwaukee Synod of the ELCA
Saturday, 1/5 to Tuesday, 1/15 Read: LGLR, RCD, RC, CTCL, DJ
2008 January Term Immersion Schedule (subject to change before 1/5/2008)
Saturday, January 5
Arrival by 2:00 and Orientation Neighborhood Walk in All Peoples area
Dinner with Coalition Leaders
Sunday, January 6
Worship in Congregations
Coalition-Wide Epiphany Worship Service
Monday, January 7
Reflection Groups
Intro to CBO/One on One Training
Repairers of the Breach – Ministry with the Homeless
Tuesday, January 8
Anti-Racism Work - Lutheran Human Relations Association
Neighborhood Ministry and Tuesday Praise at Hephatha
Coalition-Wide Confirmation
Wednesday, January 9
Reflection Groups
Black Holocaust Museum
Bread of Healing Clinic at Cross
Wednesday Night Alive at All Peoples OR Kuji Kids Café OR Unity Soup Kitchen
Thursday, January 10
Grief Support Group, Community Bible Study and Neighborhood Ministry at Reformation
Evening Free
Friday, January 11
Kujichagulia Lutheran Center
CHOICES Training
Evening Free
Saturday, January 12
Hispanic Ministry at Faith/Santa Fe
Holy Ground Action (Congregation-Based Organizing)
Evening Free
Sunday, January 13
Worship in Congregations
Coalition Party
Monday, January 14
TBA
Serenity Inns – Addictions and Recovery Ministry
Tuesday, January 15
TBA
Coalition Meeting, Sending Worship and depart at 2:00
OR Option to stay overnight Wednesday, January 16
D. Reflection - Katie Day and/or Terri Youngblut
Thursday, 1/17 Lunch discussion, debriefing, and Q&A on papers
E. The Paper - Katie Day and/or Terri Youngblut
Thursday, 2/7 Follow-up lunch discussion, debriefing and Q&A for those who missed 1/17 or those who still have questions
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