MC500 Church and Mission in a Global Context (4 units)
Ryan K. Bolger, Associate Professor of Church in Contemporary Culture
Fall 2009 Pasadena

DESCRIPTION:
This course serves as a broad introduction to the Church and churches in historical and contemporary contexts. Students will explore a broad variety of ecclesiological formations, exploring the nature of churches, their liturgies, communal life, and their mission in the world. In this course, students will begin to compare and contrast the historical and contemporary church with their own particular tradition.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will:
* examine the global church through the study of local churches in their particular historical and cultural contexts.
* cite their own relationship to churches outside their ecclesiastical tradition, examining their own assumptions in the process.
* develop an understanding of the nature and mission of the Church and churches, both theologically and sociologically.

COURSE FORMAT:
Class will meet twice a week for two hours, for ten weeks. Class will feature lectures, discussions, small groups, and various forms of media. NOTE: Our class time for Wednesday, November 11 will change from 1-3pm to 3-5pm so that we can hear Bishop Graham Cray speak in Payton 101.