This February, I’m teaching the course entitled “Church Planting in Post-Christendom” for Fuller Theological Seminary’s D.Min. Program. I will be leading us through the cultural terrain of Post-modernity and Post-Christendom as well as the theological terrain of ecclesiology (what is church theologically and historically?) all with the aim of dissecting the assumptions which undergird our practice of church-planting in N America. We’ll be looking at some of the major practicioners of the past, including those within the so-called “church growth” methodologies as well as those church-planters within so-called “missional” paradyms as well. (I think we will be surprised by what we discover about the writings and practices among current missional thinkers – wink, wink). I think it changes everything we do in church planting once we think through these various areas and answer why we do the things we do. The final leg of the class is then to sculp one’s own theology and practice of church-planting for one’s own context. I can’t wait!
If you happen to be someone taking the class with me, or thinking about taking the class with me, could you give me a comment or two on what your expectations are for the class! Many thanks.
davidfitch on December 11th 2008
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Sounds like a great course, David. Is it an online course? I’m an MDiv student at Western Theological Seminary right now (hub of much missional thinking), and a church planter, but I’d definitely being interested in taking the class.
p.s. How comes the progress at LotV on developing a missional evangelistic tool?
wish I could be there David…wish there was a way to do this online (shapevine or webinar of some sort)…I’d enroll!
Robin
rdugall@apu.edu
Professor Biblical Studies
It sounds like a great class. I am a DMin student at Talbot and writing my dissertation project on developing missional teams for church planting.
Is there any chance I could get your input on my preliminary survey HERE. It is only about 5 minutes of your time, but I sure would appreciate it.
Is there a recording of your course that might be available?
Hi Dave,
How many of the churches you’ll be studying in the class would be characterized as “church-planting churches”? Thinking through mission in postmodern, post-Christendom North America, and ecclesiology in general, are vital, but if church planting is really the emphasis, what vision will you present of how to sustain a church planting movement? What role(s) will each local church play versus denominational or affiliating bodies? Starting a new church is one thing; starting a church that has multiplication coded into its DNA is another. Just some food for thought.
hey all,
this is a Fuller D.Min course, not an online course, although we might have something online at Northern Sem in a few years. J.R. I’d be interested in you research … maybe we can connect when I’m in Pasadena … Beloved … the course syllabus is online at Fuller’s website ..you can see the authors and churches studied… Robin … hope to meet along the way ..
peace …
I’m tempted but I’m not sure if I can fit it in my schedule. Have you had discussions about hosting this class again in 2010 or 2011?? If so, I’ll definitely be there.
Sorry I didn’t answer your original question…
Hi David, if you could fill out he survey I linked to it asks for your contact info and I will give you a call.
In the meantime, here are some of the early responses to my preliminary survey.
I look forward to connecting with you brother.
Oh how I wish I was in the DMin, but alas I’m still working through my MAGL.
My wife and I are in the midst of attempting exactly that – post-Christian planting – down in North County San Diego.
I’ll check out the course description at the Fuller site and glean what I can, but perhaps you’d be willing to blog some highlights of the course here after teaching it?
I wish I were someone taking the course with you! What an incredible area to study! Is a similar course ever offered in the Chicago area? Or will the reading list for the course be available online? (hint hint) Sounds awesome!
I don't agree with everything in this summary, but you do make some very good points. I'm very interested in this topic and I myself do alot of research as well. Either way it was a well thoughtout and nice read so I figured I would leave you a comment. Feel free to check out my website sometime and let me know what you think.
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