Urban Mission Perspectives

Syllabus

Proposed course outline: 1. Introduction to the developments of urbanisation worldwide and the challenges of urban mission 2. Lesslie Newbigin and the Gospel - Church - context dynamics (1) a. the gospel, as the biblical basis for holistic mission; 3. Lesslie Newbigin and the Gospel - Church - context dynamics (2) 4. Sociological background of urban mission, housing and social context of church planting experience over the past 20 years, the United States housing estates; 5. Case study of Urban mission in Hungary: Dr. András Lovas

The following issues are taken into account: a. large urban church planting models b. the birth of churches and housing services, c. development of the church in a housing estate, d. Christian community development and community organizing questions e. missionary work among the young people in housing estates.

April 15-19 - Study trip to Amsterdam

Annotation

Teaching takes place in weeks: Mar 2-6, Mar 9-13, Apr 15-19, May 18-22.

In the first (theoretical) part of the course we will study the dynamics of "Gospel-Church-context" relations mainly based on the work of Lesslie Newbigin and his successors. Students will also learn about the sociological background of the urban areas. By examining a case study of urban mission in Hungary, students will get insight in the aspects of congregation and community building as well as evangelising the youth in particular in housing-estates.

The second (practical) part of the seminar is a study trip to Amsterdam where the student will examine the cultural context of the city and the response of the Church in mission. During this visit they will around the city and try to identify the "idols of the city", the context, culture, people groups the churches have to face in Amsterdam. The students also will participate in worship services of two different congregations. This way they will examine a more traditional and a more modern approach to the challenges of the urban setting.

During the two days study visit theological students

• will get a taste of the context in the Netherlands and especially of Amsterdam. They will participate in a "theological sightseeing" in the city, in which they explore the culture(s) and the city idols and reflected on them from the prospective of Christian mission.

• understand what urban mission means in a city with many nationalities, strong secularized, different non-western immigrants with their religion, and that there are many different contexts even in one city.

• Observe the role of the pastor and what role members of the church play in two congregations.

• Visit of a Sunday service and discussions with church members

The present course will seek

• to introduce the student into the relevant issues of urban mission and pastoral leadership,

• to expose the student to housing estate churches in Prague and through that to help the development of critical analytical attitudes and skills

• To offer biblical and sociological knowledge assisting ministry

• To explore the need and methods of empowering church members for ministry

• To foster personal reflection on being involved in urban mission

In addition it is very important to offer students the opportunity to learn about questions on urban mission in another context than the Czech. As part of the course a four days exposure trip to Amsterdam will create conditions for further study and reflection.

The objective of the course is to present the challenges of urban settings and the different requirements for pastors to the students as future pastors through academic theories and examples of local congregations in urban settings. The unique new feature is that through the contacts between Dutch and Czech Reformed pastors, this seminar will partially be taught in Prague and partially in Amsterdam.