AlumkalIST2006CongregationsFall2016.doc
Office Phone: 303-765-3131
Email: aalumkal@iliff.edu (fastest method for contacting me)
An introduction to the social scientific literature on congregations. Students will learn basic methodology for analyzing congregations and their surrounding communities. A review of the empirical literature on congregations will cover issue such as congregational cultures, leadership styles, adaptation to community change, racial/ethnic diversity, fund-raising, and membership growth and decline.
The course aims to introduce students to the following:
Ammerman, Nancy. 1997. Congregation and Community. Rutgers, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Ammerman, Nancy, Jackson Carroll, Carl Dudley, and William McKinney. 1998. Studying Congregations: A New Handbook. Nashville: Abingdon Press.
Becker, Penny Edgell. 1999. Congregations in Conflict: Cultural Models of Local Religious Life. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Christopher, J. Clif. 2015. Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate: A New Vision for Financial Stewardship. Revised Edition. Nashville: Abingdon Press.
Wellman, James K. 2008. Evangelical vs. Liberal: The Clash of Christian Cultures in the Pacific Northwest. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Floyd-Thomas et al. 2007. Black Church Studies: An Introduction. Nashville: Abingdon Press. Chapter 7.
Kim, Sharon. 2010. “Shifting Boundaries within Second-Generation Korean American Churches.” Sociology of Religion 71:98-122.
Marti, Gerardo. 2012. “The Diversity-Affirming Latino: Ethnic Options and the Ethnic Transcendent Expression of American Latino Religious Identity.” Pp. 25-45 in Sustaining Faith Tradition: Race, Ethnicity, and Religion among the Latino and Asian American Second Generation. New York: New York University Press.
Marti, Gerardo and Gladys Ganiel. 2014. The Deconstructed Church: Understanding Emerging Christianity. New York: Oxford University Press. Introduction.
Hadaway, C. Kirk. 2011. FACTs on Growth 2010. Hartford: Hartford Institute for Religious Research.
http://faithcommunitiestoday.org/facts-growth-2010
Lizardy-Hajbi, Kristina. 2015. Engaging Young Adults. Hartford: Hartford Institute for Religious Research.
http://faithcommunitiestoday.org/research-reports-2015
Mamiya, Larry. 2006. River of Struggle, River of Freedom: Trends among Black Churches and Black Pastoral Leadership. Durham, NC: Duke Divinity School.
http://pulpitandpew.org/pulpit-pew-research-reports
Roozen, David. 2015. 2015 American Congregations Report: Thriving and Surviving. Hartford: Hartford Institute for Religious Research.
http://faithcommunitiestoday.org/research-reports-2015
Thumma, Scott. 2012. Virtually Religious: Technology and Internet Use in American Congregations. Hartford: Hartford Institute for Religious Research.
http://faithcommunitiestoday.org/report-congregations-and-their-use-internet-technologies
Thumma, Scott and Warren Bird. 2015. 2015 Megachurch Study.
http://hirr.hartsem.edu/megachurch/megachurches.html
Attendance and Academic Decorum: 10%
Reflection Papers: 15% x 3
Research Report: 45%
My assumption is that students in a masters program can be expected to produce above average academic work. Therefore, the modal grade I assign is B+. A paper will earn a B+ if it 1) fulfills all of the requirements of the assignment and 2) demonstrates that the student has a solid (though not necessarily flawless) understanding of the concepts in the course readings and lectures. A paper will earn a grade higher than a B+ if it fulfills the assignment and demonstrates exceptional insight into the course concepts. A paper will earn a grade of B or B- if there are minor to moderate shortcomings in either fulfilling the assignment or demonstrating understanding of course concepts. Grades below B- are reserved for papers with major shortcomings in either area.
This course may be taken pass/fail, but you must request this (by email) during the first two weeks. No explanation (“I am taking this class pass/fail because…”) is necessary.
Incomplete Policy:
Students are responsible for following the procedures outlined in the Student Handbook.
Degree Learning Goals: Please take some time to look over the Professional Degree Learning Goals (MDiv, MASC, MAPSC) and the Academic Degree Learning Goals (MTS, MA).
Incompletes: If incompletes are allowed in this course, see the Master's Student Handbook for Policies and Procedures.
Pass/Fail: Masters students wishing to take the class pass/fail should discuss this with the instructor by the second class session.
Academic Integrity and Community Covenant: All students are expected to abide by Iliff’s statement on Academic Integrity, as published in the Masters Student Handbook, or the Joint PhD Statement on Academic Honesty, as published in the Joint PhD Student Handbook, as appropriate. All participants in this class are expected to be familiar with Iliff’s Community Covenant.
Accommodations: Iliff engages in a collaborative effort with students with disabilities to reasonably accommodate student needs. Students are encouraged to contact their assigned advisor to initiate the process of requesting accommodations. The advising center can be contacted at advising@iliff.edu or by phone at 303-765-1146.
Writing Lab: Grammar and organization are important for all written assignments. Additional help is available from the Iliff Writing Lab, which is available for students of any level who need help beginning an assignment, organizing thoughts, or reviewing a final draft.
Inclusive Language: It is expected that all course participants will use inclusive language in speaking and writing, and will use terms that do not create barriers to classroom community.
Date | Day | Details | |
Sep 14, 2016 | Wed | Sociology of Religion; Congregation Websites | due by 07:00PM |
Sep 21, 2016 | Wed | Congregational Cultures | due by 07:00PM |
Sep 28, 2016 | Wed | Congregational Cultures; Megachurches and the Emerging Church | due by 07:00PM |
Oct 05, 2016 | Wed | Methodology for Studying Congregations | due by 06:59PM |
Oct 12, 2016 | Wed | Congregational Case Studies | due by 07:00PM |
Oct 19, 2016 | Wed | Congregational Change; Asian American, African American, and Latino/a Congregations | due by 07:00PM |
Oct 26, 2016 | Wed | Evangelical and Liberal Protestant Congregations | due by 06:59PM |
Nov 02, 2016 | Wed | Evangelical and Liberal Congregations; Recent Trends | due by 07:00PM |
Nov 09, 2016 | Wed | Money and Religious Leadership | due by 07:59PM |
Nov 16, 2016 | Wed | Church Growth and Decline | due by 08:00PM |