Citywide Reaching and Transformation

Summer 1997(revised April 2002, Nov 2004) Viv Grigg

DESCRIPTION:

How is the church reaching and transforming cities? An inductive approach to understanding the wave of missions strategies in anti-Christian, Christianized and secular cities, based on case studies from several continents. What socio-cultural forces and theological breakthroughs are generating this wave? What patterns of theology, Leadership and strategy continue to emerge and how do they predict the future? What is the interrelationships of the theology and process dynamics of spiritual warfare movements, movements for justice, reconciliation and transformation of societal sector values, the linkages of business/elite and urban poor movements?

COURSE FORMAT:

Initial lectures analyze key socio-cultural progressions, and theological breakthroughs leading to an initial strategic framework. This is to be followed by analyzing discussions of a city Leadership gathering - either religious leaders and Christians in the public arenas. Following this analysis an expansion of theses about theology and practice, developed by looking at multiple case studies and the related literature derived from each city. Specific application is then made to a plan for a least reached city or transformation of structures in a highly Christianized city.

REQUIRED READING:

The student is expected to read 1000 pages including the following:

1. Grigg, Viv. Transforming Cities: An Urban Leadership Guide, Urban Leadership Foundation.

2. Since most of the literature has not yet been published formally, articles and profiles of significance will be included in an Urban Strategies Reader (These will be sent on CD)

3. Select articles that highlights issues in each of the four sections below from Urban Mission magazine (to be sent on CD).

4. Choose one from each section below or similar book that is available in your country:

a. Prayer Movements

Silvoso, Ed. That None Should Perish, Regal Books, 1994.

Haggard, Ted. Primary Purpose , Creation House, 1995.

Dawson, John. Taking Our Cities for God, 1989.

b. Theology and Research

Ellul, Jacques, The Meaning of the City, Eerdmans, 1970.

Bob ______, Researching the City, _______ 2000.

Selected chapters in Discipling the City, Roger Greenway , ed, Baker, 1992.

c. Urban Poor Movements

Grigg, Viv, Cry of the Urban Poor, MARC, 1994.

d. Transformation

Guinness, Os, Winning Back the Soul of American Business, Hourglass Publishers, 1990.

Alton, David, Faith in Britain, Hodder and Stoughton, 1991.

Dorrien, Gary, Soul in Society: The Making and Renewal of Social Christianity, Fortress, 1995.

Mangalwadi, V. (1986). Truth and Social Reform. New Delhi, TRACI (India).

Mangalwadi, V. (1993/1999). The Legacy of William Carey. Wheaton, IL, Crossway Books (India).

Maggay, M. P. (1994). Transforming Society. Oxford, Regnum (Philippines).

OBJECTIVES

By the end of this 6 month module, each student will have:

1. Knowledge (head): Mastered the current literature on citywide processes.

2. Action (hands): Developed or been part of the development process for a team/ thinktank unit of 6-10 people for a city or city sector, complete with goals, action plans with milestones and delegation, a database of key personell, and articles that envision and motivate for processes.

3. Emotions (heart): a. Discerned their primary gifting and related it to Leadership dynamics in their city.
                                b. Seen answers to disciplined intercession for the empowering of the Spirit on these processes.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Five 1 page reading summaries of the Transforming Cities Manual (during initial lectures) (10 marks). Four 1 page summaries of 4 other books one from each category above (10 marks).

2. A 12+ page paper (single spaced in word (or ideally laid out as a web page in html, emailed or sent by disk) reporting back on processes of developing a city Leadership team. It should include a theological perspective for city-wide ministry, a motivating description of a process for doing this, and a strategic plan with milestones, delegation to personell, and a database for a city-wide ministry (40 marks). Include a log of prayers and their answers. Include a 3-5 min video on CD ( 20 marks).

3. A 2-4 page city profile (or more significant research on your city) if available (10 marks).

4. An exam (10 marks).

Alternative approaches may be discussed with the lecturer, as these are set to evaluate effective outcomes from the course.

PREREQUISITES: None

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:

Integrates the theses of History of Missions, with Urban Missions Theology, and Urban Sociology, develops aspects of Project Planning and Team Building. (40 hours teaching (20 in classroom, 20 by CD, 120 hours work total)

FINAL EXAMINATION:

Yes, on last day of class. 1hr. Real Easy. Design a strategy for either building a city Leadership team a transformational team for a city sector, or for a citywide process in a city. Define the theological background.

DUE DATES: readings due by end of weeks teaching. Others at intervals over a six month period.

Mumbai, November 14, 2004