DE 5620 Urban Mission and Ministry
Lecturer: Roger Greenway
Course Description
As the cities go, the world goes--politically, intellectually, economically, socially, and religiously. Historically, the Church has tiptoed around the City, seeing it as the playground of Satan. Not wanting to get too close to the fire, the Church has typically focused on her rural heritage. She has tried to keep the City of God away from the City of Man.
Recent trends in urbanization, however, present a new challenge for missions: if we want to reach the people, we must reach the cities. People are flocking to the cities like never before. Thus, major cities are the new frontier of Christian vocation and ministry. It is the purpose of this course, therefore, to help learners discover and explore the many aspects of urban mission and ministry in light of the increasingly urban world in which we live.
This course focuses on Christian mission and ministry in the world's growing cities. A Biblical basis for urban ministry is presented and case studies of effective urban strategies worldwide are examined. The course provides key logistics, strategies, models, and insights from one of the day's leading experts in urban missions. Throughout the lessons the instructor emphasizes holistic ministry, i.e., meeting the social, civil, and political needs as well as the spiritual. Two hours.
Course Objectives
Given active participation, upon completion of this course you will be able to:
- Articulate the biblical and theological framework for urban ministry.
- Evaluate contemporary urban ministries in light of biblical principles.
- Recognize various models of effective urban church planting/ministry.
- Synthesize course content into a workable urban ministry paradigm.
- Assess one's giftedness and calling in light of God's call to evangelize and minister to urban populations.
Course Materials
- Greenway, Roger S. Urban Mission and Ministry, Audio Lecture Tapes and Study Guide. Grand Rapids, MI: Institute of Theological Studies, a division of OUTREACH, INC., 1989. Order directly from ITS.
Included with the purchase of the lecture audio will be the following texts:
- Claerbaut, David. "The Urban Church and the Urban Minister," Urban Ministry. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1983, pages 189-210.
- __________. Apostle to the City: Biblical Strategies for Urban Missions. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1979. Chapter 2, pages 29-42.
- __________. "Don't Be an Urban Missionary Unless . . ." Evangelical Missions Quarterly, 19:2 (April 1983): pages 86-94.
- __________. Guidelines for Urban Church Planting. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1976. Chapters 1, 2 and 8.
- Reeder, Harry L. "Revitalizing a Dying Church," in Roger S. Greenway, ed. The Pastor-Evangelist: Preacher, Model and Mobilizer for Church Growth. Philippsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1987.