IST2026-1OL-SU14 - U. M. Polity for Leadership

Instructor: Randy Jessen
E-mail: r jessen@iliff.edu

Course Objective: The student will understand how specific present political structures within the church evolved. Each was created to solve specific problems. The student will also acquire a working knowledge as to how the many structures in the United Methodist Church interact with each other to form a cooperative ministry.

Description: The course will provide the background necessary for understanding and appreciating the evolution of United Methodist polity and examines the current operation of that polity. The course offers practical information and explores the implications present UMC polity on different ways to organize the local church and the appointment process. Online presentations, forum discussions, simulations and case studies will be used for understanding the processes and experiencing decision making within the polity.

Books for the Course

• Thomas Edward Frank, Polity, Practice and the Mission of The United Methodist Church , Updated Edition, 2006, Abingdon Press ( 978-0687335312)
• 2012 Discipline of the United Methodist Church ( 978-1426718120)
• 2012 Book of Resolutions ( 978-1426757877)

See Taylor Library's list of online book sellers for purchasing options.

Online Mechanics of the Course

For Discussion Topics

• Each student will pick 2 topics to initiate  
• On the first day of your topic (It will be a Monday) you will initiate the discussion by posting an issue that relates to the general area specified.  This is not to be a summary of what you have read and seen/heard in the lecture, but rather an issue of polity within the topic area that you believe will be important to your ministry.  You will need to contextualize the issue and discuss why you think the issue is important.  Remember this is a polity course so the focus should be on polity and its effects rather than on subject matters that we usually talk about as "issues."  The initial post should be concise, but show depth of thought and research. (probably at least 300 words) It should end with key questions for the class to discuss.  This means you will have to read ahead and listen to the lecture ahead of the week of your topic.
• Each week that has discussion topics (see below) each student will make an initial robust response 250-400 words to one of the topics by Thursday night
• 2 additional comments on the peers responses or interjecting new thoughts will be done by Sunday
• one of these two comments must be outside initial response thread (on another topic than your initial robust response)

For Case Studies and Simulation

• Will be done in groups that you will choose by June 26th after you have seen the introductions and the choice and statements about the Resolutions.  You will be in the same groups for the case studies and simulation.   

Paper

There will be one paper (between eight to fifteen pages in length(about 2000 to 4000 words) on how a particular aspect of UM polity has or will affect your ministry. Due on August 22nd.

Grades will be based 80% on online participation and posts and 20% on the paper

Paper

There will be one paper (between eight to fifteen pages in length(about 2000 to 4000 words) on how a particular aspect of UM polity has or will affect your ministry. Due on August 19th.

We will use the News forum for group emails

Policies and Services

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.