Contact: adunning@uparkumc.org . For urgent matters, call or text at 720.346.0498.
This seminar provides an opportunity for a cohort of D.Min. students to collaborate in developing their research projects. Students will establish the theoretical framing of their project by engaging with relevant literature, rigorously analyze their research context, and begin the descriptive work their project requires. In that process, students will refine their research question and select research strategies that fit their project.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
Shared Course Readings
Much of the reading for this course will be project specific to each student, established by the students in conversation with the instructor. Each week there will also be shared reading for conversation that addresses the topics of the course. These shared readings will focus on:
Required Texts
Bennett, Zoë, Elaine Graham, Stephen Pattison, and Heather Walton. Invitation to Research in Practical Theology. 1 edition. London ; New York: Routledge, 2018.
Kaur, Valarie. See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love. One World Publishing, 2020.
Elllison, II, Gregory C., ed. Anchored in the Current: Discovering Howard Thurman as Educator, Activist, Guide, and Prophet. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2020.
Supplemental Texts (These are recommended works on practical theology, each of which pays helpful attention to questions of method and theory. There is no need to purchase them for this course but they may be helpful in your work.)
Browning, Don S. A Fundamental Practical Theology: Descriptive and Strategic Proposals. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1991.
Miller-McLemore, Bonnie J., ed. The Wiley-Blackwell Reader in Practical Theology. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell, 2019
Osmer, Richard. Practical Theology: An Introduction. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2008.
Evaluation in the course will be based on the following:
Date | Day | Details | |
Jan 11, 2022 | Tue | Getting Reacquainted | due by 06:59AM |
Jan 11, 2022 | Tue | Introduction and Orientation to the Class | due by 06:59AM |
Jan 13, 2022 | Thu | What is practical theology again? Who are we as practical theological researchers? | due by 06:59AM |
Jan 15, 2022 | Sat | Prophetic Leadership and Research Reflections 1 | due by 06:59AM |
Jan 18, 2022 | Tue | King Day Holiday--no assignment | due by 06:59AM |
Jan 20, 2022 | Thu | Why does our theoretical approach matter? | due by 06:59AM |
Jan 22, 2022 | Sat | Identifying Key Theoretical Assumptions or Concepts in Your Project | due by 06:59AM |
Jan 25, 2022 | Tue | Prophetic Leadership Reflections 2 | due by 06:59AM |
Jan 27, 2022 | Thu | Identifying your "trusted sources" | due by 06:59AM |
Jan 29, 2022 | Sat | Prophetic Leadership and Research Reflections 3 | due by 06:59AM |
Feb 01, 2022 | Tue | Situating Ourselves in Relation to Traditions/Theologies | due by 06:59AM |
Feb 03, 2022 | Thu | Concept map locating your theoretical partners | due by 06:59AM |
Feb 05, 2022 | Sat | Prophetic Leadership and Research Reflection Journals | due by 06:59AM |
Feb 05, 2022 | Sat | Prophetic Research and Leadership Reflections 4 | due by 06:59AM |
Feb 08, 2022 | Tue | Journey Week, Day 1: Theoretical Concept Presentations | due by 06:59AM |
Feb 09, 2022 | Wed | Journey Week, Day 2: Methodology, Process, and Ethics in Practical Theological Research | due by 06:59AM |
Feb 09, 2022 | Wed | Journey Week, Day 2: Describing Research Contexts | due by 06:59AM |
Feb 15, 2022 | Tue | Prophetic Leadership and Research Reflections 5 | due by 06:59AM |
Feb 17, 2022 | Thu | Midterm Paper: Exploration of a Theoretical Concept | due by 06:59AM |
Feb 19, 2022 | Sat | Prophetic Leadership and Research Reflections 6 | due by 06:59AM |
Feb 22, 2022 | Tue | Practices and Communities of Practice | due by 06:59AM |
Feb 24, 2022 | Thu | Contextual Research: Individual and Interpersonal | due by 06:59AM |
Feb 26, 2022 | Sat | Prophetic Leadership and Research Reflections 7 | due by 06:59AM |
Mar 01, 2022 | Tue | Troubling the Notion of "Practice" in Practical Theology | due by 06:59AM |
Mar 03, 2022 | Thu | Contextual Research: Community and Organizational Level | due by 06:59AM |
Mar 05, 2022 | Sat | Prophetic Leadership and Research Reflections 8 | due by 06:59AM |
Mar 08, 2022 | Tue | Moving on as Researchers in Practical Theology? | due by 06:59AM |
Mar 10, 2022 | Thu | Contextual Research: Cultural, Ideological, National/Policy Level | due by 06:59AM |
Mar 15, 2022 | Tue | Prophetic Leadership and Research Reflections 9 | due by 05:59AM |
Mar 17, 2022 | Thu | Annotated Bibliography for Contextual Description | due by 05:59AM |
Mar 19, 2022 | Sat | Messengers and Prophets of a Future Not Our Own | due by 05:59AM |
Mar 19, 2022 | Sat | Prophetic Leadership and Research Journals | due by 05:59AM |