1.Students will have a working knowledge of the United Church of Christ – terms, settings, and procedures – and will be able to identify and describe the organizational structure of the UCC in the settings of local church, conferences and associations, national setting, and General Synod.
2.Students will be able to describe the tension between covenant and autonomy in the UCC, and describe patterns of accountability and autonomy in various settings.
3.Students will be able to evaluate how the polity of the UCC has evolved over the 50+ years since the birth of the denomination.
4. Students will be able to articulate a sense of the UCC ethos and core values of the denomination, as well as ecumenical commitments and partnerships.
5.Students will be knowledgeable about resources enabling them to pursue further study as well as provide resources to others.
6. Students will be able to articulate various forms of authorized ministry in the UCC, patterns of accountability and ethics. Students will situate their own ministry goals within this structure and articulate how they plan to demonstrate the marks of faithful and effective ministry to their communities.
*Required, please purchase:
1. *Randi Jones Walker. The Evolution of a UCC Style: Essays in the History, Ecclesiology, and Culture of the United Church of Christ . Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim Press, 2005. (ISBN 0-8298-1493-0)
2. *Fowler, Sidney:
What Matters to You Matters to Us: Engaging Six Vital Themes of Our Faith
. Pilgrim Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-8298-1800-0
3. UCC Book of Worship (recommended for purchase if considering ordination, or borrow if your local church has an extra copy)
Other Required Readings:
Additional readings required for the course will be posted on canvas. Many will be pulled from: http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/ Please feel free to browse this resource as well as the Manual on Ministry (MOM) before the start of class.
*See Taylor Library's list of online book sellers for purchasing options.
1.Students will have a working knowledge of the United Church of Christ – terms, settings, and procedures – and will be able to identify and describe the organizational structure of the UCC in the settings of local church, conferences and associations, national setting, and General Synod.
2.Students will be able to describe the tension between covenant and autonomy in the UCC, and describe patterns of accountability and autonomy in various settings.
3.Students will be able to evaluate how the polity of the UCC has evolved over the 50+ years since the birth of the denomination.
4. Students will be able to articulate a sense of the UCC ethos and core values of the denomination, as well as ecumenical commitments and partnerships.
5.Students will be knowledgeable about resources enabling them to pursue further study as well as provide resources to others.
6. Students will be able to articulate various forms of authorized ministry in the UCC, patterns of accountability and ethics. Students will situate their own ministry goals within this structure and articulate how they plan to demonstrate the marks of faithful and effective ministry to their communities.
1) Substantive Class Engagement* 150 points
2) Faith Formation Resource 75 points
4) Final Paper 175 points
Total: 400 total points
*See page on Weekly Rhythm & Substantive Contribution
Grading Evaluation and Criteria:
**Note: Pass/Fail: Masters students wishing to take the class pass/fail should discuss this with the instructor by the second class session.
A 360 or more
Excellent work, above course expectations.
B 320-359
Good work, meets course expectations.
C 280-319
Poor work, meets minimal course expectations.
D 240-279
F 239 or less
Assignment #1 - Faith Formation Resource - Due Friday, Feb 7th
Assignment #2 - Final Policy and Practice Paper due Friday, March 14th
Aim for around 7 pages. Construct your paper answering to the following questions. These are adapted from the Manual on Ministry instructions for Part II of the ordination paper.* Please review Written Assignment Guide
A) Identify and define three key words (e.g. covenant, unity, autonomy, congregational, etc.) and use them to characterize the polity and practice of the United Church of Christ. Be sure to reference some of the key paragraphs in the Constitution (6, 9, 16, 17, and 18) which address these themes.
B) Related to these key words, describe how they impact the different bodies of the UCC including local church, associations, conferences, and the national office. What are the relationships between these bodies?
C) What are those aspects of the theology, polity, and practice of the United Church of Christ that are most valued by you, and how will these shape your understanding of yourself as a minister. How might they impact the way you engage in ministry?
*Note: "Part two of the ordination paper is intended to provide an opportunity for the student to demonstrate his or her knowledge and understanding of the history, theological roots, polity, and practice of the United Church of Christ" http://www.ucc.org/ministers/manual/mom-2003-20ordained-1.pdf
If you are planning on, or are in the process of writing this paper, this assignment will be helpful to you in that way. If you don't plan to pursue ordination in the UCC, the assignment is still useful for explaining UCC polity as covered in this class.
Reading and Assignment Schedule
1/6 - Week 1: Identity - What We Believe
Theme: We’ll begin our exploration of the UCC and its identity with readings and discussion on belief. What are the core beliefs of the UCC? Can point to these as descriptive of the denomination? What does the UCC stand for?
Readings:
1) "What we believe" http://www.ucc.org/about-us/what-we-believe.html
2) “Toward the 21st Century: A Statement of Commitment” http://www.ucc.org/beliefs/toward-the-21st-century.html
3) "A United Church that Stands for Something” by John Thomas http://www.ucc.org/news/john-thomasa-unite.html
1/13 - Week 2: Identity - Faith
Assignment: Sign up for a “Vital Theme” (See google doc under 'Collaborations tab on the left)
Theme: Looking back at the origins of the UCC, we continue to think about identity, this time in relationship to faith. The Constitution of the UCC was presented to the General Synod of the UCC in 1959 and approved at a special "adjourned session" of that Synod in 1960. The Preamble, especially the second paragraph, is an important expression of UCC faith and practice.
Readings:
1) Read the Preamble to the Constitution: http://www.ucc.org/about-us/constitution-of-the-ucc.html
2) “The Preamble defines our faith” by Clyde J. Steckel http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/steckel-on-ucc-preamble.pdf
3) UCC Statement of Faith http://www.ucc.org/beliefs/statement-of-faith.html
4) Roger Shinn, “Historical Reflections on the Statement of Faith”
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/shinn-ucc-statement-of-faith.pdf
5) Introduction pg. 7-10 in What Matters to You? Matters to Us: Engaging Six Vital Themes of Our Faith by Sidney D. Fowler
1/20 - Week 3: Identity - Theology
Theme: Continuing with identity, we explore the theological diversity of the UCC. Is there a UCC theology?
Readings:
1) Lee Barrett "Theological Worlds in the United Church of Christ http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/Barrett-Theological-Worlds-in-the-UCC.pdf
2) Chapter 3 & 4 in The Evolution of UCC Style by Randi Walker
1/27 - Week 4: Covenant - Freedom from or freedom for?
Vital Theme Discussion - We belong to Christ (Kim)
Theme: Turning to the theme of covenant, we explore its centrality in UCC polity. We will aim to understand the tensions between covenant and autonomy, how they function concretely, and have developed over time.
Readings:
1) Walker, chapter 5
2) Constitution paragraph 1-19: http://www.ucc.org/about-us/constitution-of-the-ucc.html
3) Donald Freeman, "Autonomy in a Covenant Polity" http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/Autonomy-in-a-Covenantal-Polity-Freeman.pdf
extra: -"Toward an understanding of local autonomy” http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/toward-an-understanding-of-local-autonomy.pdf
2/3 - Week 5: Covenant - Church/Ecclesiology
Assignment #1 - Faith Formation Resource - Due Friday, Feb 7th
*Vital Theme Discussion -We are a people of covenant a United and Uniting Church (Topher)
Theme: This week we will examine the UCC understanding of the nature of church or its “ecclesiology.” We’ll also look at how the local church relates to other ecclesial bodies (such as synod, conference, associations).
Reading:
1) Constitution paragraph 37-56: http://www.ucc.org/about-us/constitution-of-the-ucc.html
2) Choose one: Either 2 short articles on Conferences: http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/prism-articles-on-conferences-1994.pdf
OR - "Manual on Church" http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/manual-on-the-church-2005.pdf
Reference: Short article by Walker on Episcope, or oversight http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/walker-episcope-lth-vii-46.pdf
2/10 - Week 6: Covenant - Ministry
Vital Theme Discussion -We Listen for the Still-speaking God (Jah & Ron)
Theme:
Readings:
Or - “Authorizing Ministry in the United Church of Christ: Slouching Towards Order, Clyde Steckel. http://www.ucc.org/ministers/pdfs/authmin.pdf
2/17 - Week 7: Covenant - Worship
Vital Theme Discussion - We are One at Baptism and the Table (Lindsey)
Theme:
Readings:
1) http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/dipko-12-principles-behind-the-bow.pdf
2) http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/ucc-response-to-bem-1985.pdf
2/24 - Week 8: Change - Diversities
Vital Theme Discussion - We are a people of God’s Extravagant Welcome (Michael Blackwood)
Theme:
Readings:
1) Walker, Chapter 1& 2
2) Skim on of the following:
a) Pronouncement on Becoming a Multiracial Multicultural Church
http://www.ucc.org/justice/multiracial-multicultural/pronoucement.html
b) Pronouncement O&A
2) Read one of the following:
a) Alika & Okawara, “Sho-Chiku-Bai: Japanese-American Congregationalists”http://www.ucc.org/about-us/hidden-histories/sho-chiku-bai.html
b) Armijo, “Immigrant Theology:Theology in Context” http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/armijo-immigrant-theology.pdf
c) Alston, “The Afro-Christian Connection”http://www.ucc.org/about-us/hidden-histories/the-afro-christian-connection.html
d) Jackson, “An Indian Perspective on the United Church of Christ” http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/jackson-indian-perspective.pdf
3/3 - Week 9: Change - National Structure & Ecumenical Partnerships
Vital Theme Discussion - We Thank God by Working for a Just and loving World (Lorrie Gaffney & Kari)
Theme:
Readings:
3. Unified Governance (UGOV) http://www.ucc.org/governance/finalproposal.pdf
4. Readings on Ecumenical Partnerships
3/10 - Week 10: Change - Future
Assignment #2 - Final Policy and Practice Paper due Friday, March 14th
Theme:
Readings:
1) John Thomas "The Big Tent and the Great Parade" http://www.ucc.org/news/significant-speeches/the-big-tent-and-the-great.html
2) Walker chapter 6
Weekly Rhythm:
Our thinking and engagement with each other is focused towards our course objectives, equipping ourselves to further understand and articulate the United Church of Christ.
Each week we will be conversing together about the readings and themes for the week. I will post questions at the start of the week and we'll engage with these and with each other throughout the week.
By Monday, at 11:59 PM I will post a group of thematic questions in response to the readings for the week.
Wednesday, at 11:59 PM Post a reflection on the reading doing one of three things: 1) respond to the thematic questions posed by the instructor for the week's reading, 2) Begin a new conversation by posing a thoughtful question about the readings not raised in the thematic questions, or 3) respond to a classmate's post in a way that extends the conversation. Over the course of the quarter I will be looking to see that you have done each of these things.
By Friday, at 11:59 PM post two or more brief contributions to the conversation which extend the conversation even further. Some of the ways you can do this include: 1) responding to issues raised in a classmate's post, 2) by responding to questions raised in a classmate's response to your original post, 3)by bringing insights from past weeks' readings to the discussion, 4) by drawing on your personal and professional background to respond to the conversation.
Some guidelines to posting:
1. Respond to the question, or pose a new question: The questions are not a quiz, therefore you can depart from the question, but do so in a substantive way.
2. Our goal is to engage in multiple conversations, if you are not inspired by the conversation, start a new one. This is not how 'real world' conversation works, so we will aim to achieve a multiplicitous discussion.
3. Post on time: In order to achieve a dynamic conversation we need each person’s voice in the mix. Thus, it is very important for you to be prompt and thoughtful with your postings.
4. Your postings constitute your attendance in class, so it is important to post on time to maximize your success in the course.
Substantive Engagement:
Your individual goal each week is to demonstrate substantive engagement. A key evidence of a substantive contribution is that it adds something to the conversation. Don't repeat what others have already said or simply tell us that you agree or disagree with the author, instructor or classmate. Tell us why, and tease out the implications of your responses. Locate your comment or question in relationship to the text we are discussing. It might usually take between 100 to 250 words to make a substantive post, but I will be looking for substance, not counting words.
Written Assignments:
As a graduate student it is expected that you turn in clear, concise and thoughtful work that critically engages with the course material as well as demonstrates creative and original thinking.
Please adhere to the following general guidelines:
UPLOAD TO CANVAS by stated due date
Please observe due dates and post your written assignments by the due date. If you need to alter a due date for a larger assignment due to circumstances out of your control, please speak with me.
Incompletes: As an adjunct faculty member, I am not permitted to grant incompletes 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 | |
| Jan 07, 2014 | Tue | Week 1: Identity - What We Believe | due by 06:59AM |
| Jan 09, 2014 | Thu | Week 1: Introductions & Reading Engagement | due by 06:59AM |
| Jan 14, 2014 | Tue | Week 2: Identity - Faith | due by 06:59AM |
| Jan 14, 2014 | Tue | Sign up for "Vital Theme" | due by 06:59AM |
| Jan 21, 2014 | Tue | Week 3: Identity - Theology | due by 06:59AM |
| Jan 28, 2014 | Tue | Week 4: Covenant - Freedom from or freedom for? | due by 06:59AM |
| Feb 04, 2014 | Tue | Week 5: Covenant - Church | due by 06:59AM |
| Feb 10, 2014 | Mon | #1 Faith Formation Resource | due by 06:59AM |
| Feb 11, 2014 | Tue | Week 6: Covenant - Ministry | due by 06:59AM |
| Mar 15, 2014 | Sat | #2 Final Paper | due by 05:59AM |