Congregations

Click below for the syllabus in word file:

AlumkalIST2006CongregationsFall2016.doc

Wednesday 1:00 - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Antony Alumkal

Office Phone: 303-765-3131

Email: aalumkal@iliff.edu (fastest method for contacting me)

Course Synopsis:

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.

Course Objectives:

The course aims to introduce students to the following:

  1. Variations in congregational cultures.
  2. Basic methodology for conducting an analysis of a congregation.
  3. How congregations are affected by denominational and other institutional contexts.
  4. How congregations reflect racial, ethnic, and theological traditions.
  5. The relationships between congregations and their communities.
  6. The challenges financial issues pose to congregational leaders.
  7. Being critical consumers of social scientific research on religion.

  1. The following books are required texts for the course.

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. 

 

 

  1. The following readings are available as pdfs on the Canvas site:

 

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.

 

 

  1. The following readings are available for free download.

 

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

Grading:

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. 

DateDayDetails
Sep 14, 2016WedSociology of Religion; Congregation Websitesdue by 07:00PM
Sep 21, 2016WedCongregational Culturesdue by 07:00PM
Sep 28, 2016WedCongregational Cultures; Megachurches and the Emerging Churchdue by 07:00PM
Oct 05, 2016WedMethodology for Studying Congregationsdue by 06:59PM
Oct 12, 2016WedCongregational Case Studiesdue by 07:00PM
Oct 19, 2016WedCongregational Change; Asian American, African American, and Latino/a Congregationsdue by 07:00PM
Oct 26, 2016WedEvangelical and Liberal Protestant Congregationsdue by 06:59PM
Nov 02, 2016WedEvangelical and Liberal Congregations; Recent Trendsdue by 07:00PM
Nov 09, 2016WedMoney and Religious Leadershipdue by 07:59PM
Nov 16, 2016WedChurch Growth and Declinedue by 08:00PM