EM030-712 - Gospel, Church and Australian Culture

  • 2,784 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 12
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 7
    AQF level
  • Category advanced unit
    C
  • evangelism missiolUnit Discipline

Corequisites

96cps of study, including 36 cps at AQF level 6

Exclusions

Prior to 2020, this unit content was delivered under the unit code EM430. Unit exclusions: EM033-812

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

Demonstrate Functional knowledge and understanding of the gospel and church in contemporary Australian culture

B. Be able to

1. Explore the nature of the gospel and principles of its contextualisation

2. Critically Analyse contemporary Australian culture and the implications for the contextualisation of the gospel

3. Discuss the challenges for the church in Australia

4. Present Critical evidence-based perspectives on the gospel, church and Australian culture

C. Be in a position to

1. Applying perspectives and skills from ‘Gospel, Church and Australian Culture’ to contemporary Christian life and ministry practice as a reflective practitioner

Content

  1. Culture: The nature of culture, significance of symbols, myths and rituals, tools for interpreting culture.
  2. Gospel: The nature of the gospel; the principles, process and limitations of contextualisation.
  3. Church: Analysis of contemporary ecclesiology as they relate to mission; principles of a missional ecclesiology.
  4. Australian Culture: Application of the forgoing analysis on at least three cultures/sub-cultures in Australia, such as urban, suburban, welfare, rural, Generation-Y.

Set Readings

This unit's indicative bibliography is currently being revised. Students should contact their home college for further details at the time of taking this unit.


Prescribed:

Abraham, W.  The Logic of Evangelism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989.

Arbuckle, G. A.  Earthing the Gospel: An Inculturation Handbook for the Pastoral Worker. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1990

Bruce, Steve, Religion in the Modern World: From Cathedrals to Cults, Oxford: OUP, 1996

Chester, Tim and Steve Timmis, Total Church: A Radical Reshaping around Gospel and Community, Nottingham: IVP, 2007.

Clapp, R.  A Peculiar People: The Church as Culture in a Post-Christian Society.  Downers Grove: IVP, 1996.

Clapp, R. (ed.) The Consuming Passion: Christianity & the Consumer Culture. Downers Grove, IL.: IVP Books, 1998.

Detweiler & Taylor, A Matrix of Meanings: Finding God in Popular Culture. Grand Rapids, MI.: Baker, 2003. 

Deyong, Kevin and Ted Kluck, Why We’re not Emergent (By two guys who should be), Chicago: Moody, 2008.

Drane, J. After McDonaldization: Mission, Ministry and Christian Discipleship in an Age of Uncertainty. Grand Rapids, MI.: Baker Academic, 2008. 

Frame, T. Losing My Religion: Unbelief in Australia, Sydney: University of New South Wales Press, 2009.

Goheen, M.  ‘The Missional Church: Ecclesiological Discussion in the Gospel and Our Culture Network in North America’ Missiology: An International Review, Vol. XXX, No. 4, October 2002, 479-90.

Guder, D. L. The Continuing Conversion of the Church. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.

Guder, D. L. ed. Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.

Hauerwas, Stanley, Christian Existence Today, Essays on Church, World, and Living in Between, Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 1988.

Honeywell, R. and Verity Byth, NEO Power: How the New Economic Order is Changing the Way We Live, Work and Play. Carlton North, VIC: Scribe Publications, 2006.

Kenneson, Philip D. Beyond Sectarianism: Re-imaging Church and World.  Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press International, 1999.

________. and Street, James L.  Selling out the Church the Dangers of Church Marketing.  Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1997.

Kraft, C. Christianity in Culture: A Study in Biblical Theologizing in Cross-Cultural Perspective (2nd ed.) Maryknoll, NY.: Orbit, 2005.

Lander, C. Stuff White People Like: A Definitive Guide to the Unique Taste of Millions. New York: Random House, 2008.

McCarthy, D. M. The Good Life: Genuine Christianity for the Middle Class, Grand Rapids, MI.: Brazos Press, 2004. 

McLaren, Brian, The Church on the Other Side: Doing ministry in the postmodern matrix, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000.

Murray, S.  Post Christendom: Church and Mission in a Strange New World. Carlisle, Cumbria: Paternoster Press, 2004.

Newbigin, L.  Foolishness to the Greeks: the Gospel and Western Culture, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986.

________.  The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989.

Roxburgh, A. Reaching a New Generation: Strategies for Tomorrow’s Church. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 1993.

Roxburgh, A and M. Scott Boran, Introducing the Missional Church: What it is and Why it Matters, How to Become One, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2009.

Sweet, L. (ed) The Church in Emerging Culture, Grand Rapids, MI.: Zondervan, 2003

Towns, Elmer L. et. al., Evaluating the Church Growth Movement: 5 Views. Grand Rapids, MI.: Zondervan, 2004. 

Tretheway, J. Aussie Battlers. Burwood, VIC: Collins Dove, 1989.

van Gelder, C. ‘From Corporate Church To Missional Church: The Challenge Facing Congregations Today’ Review & Expositor, 101, Summer 2004. 425-450.

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