EM302/502  History of Christian Missions

3 hours per week 1 semester

Lecturer:  Felix Chung

Description: The subject gives an understanding of the expansion of the church from the apostolic age to the present day; the motives and methodologies involved in the churches’ missionary outreach are examined and evaluated; the continuing influence of previous missionary policy on the subsequent development of the churches’ missionary task is examined.  There is also an opportunity for candidates to focus on the history of mission in particularlar areas.

Subject Outline: (each section weighted equally)
Section A: The spread of Christianity from the Apolostic Age to the 19th Century
Section B: A selected study of Church Mission
Section C: Developments in the 20th century

Textbook:  S C Neill & O Chadwick, A History of Christian Missions (Revelation; 2nd edition; New York: Penguin, 1991).

 

EM306/506  Issues in Missiology

3 hours per week 1 semester

Lecturer:  Felix Chung

Description: To introduce students to the nature, perspective, history, methodologies, theories and issues of missiology as a discipline.

Subject Outline: (each section weighted equally)
Section A: Selected Topics in the History of Christian Mission
Section B: Gospel and Culture
Section C: Area Study

Textbooks:  

J H Bavinck, An Introduction to the Science of Missions  (P & R, 1960).

Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, The Willowbank Report: Gospel and Culture (1978).

C Van Engen, Mission on the Way: Issues in Mission Theology (Baker, 1966).

R Winter & S D Hawthorn (eds), Perspectives on the World Christian Mission (rev ed; Wm Carey, 1992).

 

EM324/524  Evangelism Principles

2 hours per week 1 semester & 20 hours field work

Lecturer: Felix Chung

 Description:  A consideration of what evangelism is from the NT texts; theological perspectives such as divine sovereignty and human response; motivations and hindrances to evangelism; the role of evangelists and of the local church in evangelistic minuistry; communication the gospel in various ways in different contexts.

Textbooks:

J Chapman, Know & Tell the Gospel (H & S , 1984).

W Metzger, Tell the Truth (IVP, 1981).

J I Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God (IVP, 1977).

 

EM 403/603  Biblical Theology of Mission

3 hours per week 1 semester

Lecturer: Felix Chung

Pre-requisites: 16 credit points of core foundation level units

Course description: This subject aims at enabling students to understand the nature of God as a missionary God, concerned for the salvation of the whole creation; providing students with an understanding of the constant intention of God, throughout the period of biblical revelation, to redeem humanity and restore creation; assisting students to discern the divine intention and enablement for human co-operation in the universal purposes of God; and providing opportunity for students to integrate their study of the Scriptures, theology and personal understanding of vocation in mission.

Subject Outline:
Section A: Old Testament Perspectives:
1.God, Creation and the world; human sin and the effect of the fall.
2.The missiological significance of Babel and the Flood.
3.The Abrahamic covenant; God and Israel: election, covenant and responsibility.
4.Yahweh versus Baal; Israel and the nations; universal hope in the Psalms.
5.The missionary emphasis of the prophets.
6.The kingdom of God in the Old Testament.

Section B: New Testament Perspectives:
1.Mission in the synoptic Gospels and the ministry of Jesus.
2.Mission in the Gospel of John.
3.The Holy Spirit in the mission of the church; missionary principles in Acts
4.The Pauline theology of mission
a. Jew and Gentile in Christ.
b. The mission of the church and the powers; conflict, suffering and mission;
c. Mission and future hope; the consummation of all things in Christ.

Note: Sections A and B are weighted approximately equally.

Textbook: J Piper Let the Nations Be Glad! The Supremacy of God in Missions (2nd ed.: Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003).

 

EM408/608  Cross-Cultural Communication

3 hours per week semester 1

Lecturer: Felix Chung

Description:  To develop students’ understanding of the dynamics of the communication process and communication theory; to enable students to understand the divine usage of communication patterns, in particular the Bible from a communicational perspective; to equip students to analyse the principles and patterns involved in cross-cultural missionary witness, thus preparing them for such a ministry; to develop students’ ability to analyse their own past and present communication activity with a view to improving their communication skills; to give students an understanding of the process and meaning of the contextualisation of the gospel in particular situations.

Subject Outline: Theories and models of cross-cultural communication; Worldviews and their significance for cross-cultural communication; Cognitive processes and communication; Behavioural patterns and communication; The influence of social structures on communication.

Textbooks:

David J Hesselgrave, Communicating Christ Cross-Culturally (Zondervan, 1978).

D S Gilliard (ed.), The Word Among Us: Contextualizing Theology for Mission Today  (Word, 1978).

Contemporary Christian Communications  (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1979).

 

EM409/609  Cultural Anthropology

3 hours per week semester 1

Lecturer: Felix Chung

Description:  These subjects establish in the students’ understanding a basis for accepting and utilising the insights and knowledge of cultural anthropology as a tool in Christian mission; develop in students a Christian perspective upon anthropology and an anthropological perspective upon Christianity; enable students to develop a working knowledge of the patterns and processes of culture and cultural change, enabling them to understand their own cultural context and to accept the validity of different cultures;  give students an understanding of culture as the context within which God interacts with people and the significance of this to churches in the world today.

Outline:  (section A and B are weighted approximately equally)
Section A: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology;
Section B: Anthropology for Cross-cultural Ministry

Texts:

Paul Hiebert, Cultural Anthropology,2nd ed (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1992).

Mari Womack, Being Human: An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, 2nd ed (Upper Saddel Valley: Prentice Hall, 2001).

Michael A Park, Introducing Anthropology: An Integrated Approach, 2nd ed (NY: McGranHill Comp, 2003).

R. Grunlan & M Mayers, Cultural Anthropology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1979).

 

EM418/618  Ministry in a Culturally Diverse Context

3 hours per week semester 2

Lecturer: Felix Chung

Description: These subjects prepare students for ministry in a culturally diverse society;  assist students to understand the historical development and nature of Australia’s multi-cultural society and the churches’ response;  equip students to learn to relate to people of diverse cultures with cultural sensitivity and apply such knowledge in building bridges for evangelism and caring ministry;  expose students to models of cross-cultural ministry and evangelism as examples in which they can build their own ministry;  develop in students a critical understanding of the strength and weakness of different models of multicultural ministry.

Subject Outline:
Section A: Multiculturalism in Australia (Section A is worth 70%)
Section B: Multicultural ministry: Model and Practice (Section B is worth 30%)

Textbooks:

D A Carson, The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism (Zondervan, 1996).

D Anderson,  Multicultural Ministry: Finding Your Church’s Unique Rhythm  (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004).

R Brynjolfson & J Lewis, eds., Becoming an Intentionally Intercultural Church (Waynesboro, GA: World Evangelical Alliance missions Commission, 2004).

Felix Chung, Multiculturalism and Education (Melbourne: PTC Media, 2006).

J Docker & G Fischer, Race, Colour and Identity in Australian and New Zealand (Sydney: UNSW, 2000).

J Jupp,  From White Australia to Woomera: The Story of Australian Immigration  (Cambridge: CUP, 2003).

Multicultural Australia: United in Diversity (Canberra Australian Government Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, 2003).

New Agenda for Multicultural Australia  (Canberra: Australian Government and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, 1999).

 

EM421/621  Living Faiths

3 hour per week 1 semester

Lecturer: Botros Botrosdief

Description:  To enable students to study some non-Christian living faiths in some detail; to give students an appreciation of the insights to be found in these faiths and a sensivity to their world-views.

Subject Outline: The historical roots, beliefs, cultural influences and contemporary reforms in two of the following living faiths: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Primal religions.

Textbooks: 

P G Hiebert,  Understanding Folk Religion: A Christian Response to Popular Beliefs and Practices (Baker 1999).

D Burnett, World of the Spirits: A Christian Perspective on Traditional and Folk Religions (Monarch, 2000).

K Cragg et al, Islam from Within-Anthology of Religion (Wadsworth,1980).

J Jomier, How to Understand Islam (SCMP, 1989).

P Parshall, New Paths in Muslim Evangelism (Baker 1980).

A F Fernando et al, Buddhism Made Plain (Rev ed Orbis, 1985).

R H Robinson et al, The Buddhist Religion (Wadsworth, 1982).

 

EM415/615  Christian Ministry in Islamic Contexts

3 hours per week semester 1

Lecturer: Botros Botrosdief

Outcomes: At the end of this unit, students should be able to:
(a) understand Islamic faith and practice, including biblical and theological perspectives on Islam;  
(b) appreciate the diversity of Muslim world views and practice in the modern world and the implications for Christian witness;
(c) identify and respond to contemporary points of encounter and challenge arising out of the interface between Christian and Muslim faiths, including the place and practice of dialogue;
(d) critically analyse various forms of Christian witness among the broad spectrum of Muslim peoples; 
(e) outline the various spititual and socio-cultural factors involved in the growth of Christianity in Islamic contexts.

Subject Outline: Biblical and theological perspectives of Islam; Muslim beliefs and practices; Christian-Muslim worldview comparison; contemporary trends in Islam; reform movements; political Islam; modernisation; secularisation; diversification of 20th Century Islam; Muslim world views; significance to Christian witness; Christianity in Muslim majority countries; Christ-ward movements; Messianic Muslims; secret believers; persecution; issues in contextualaisation among Muslims; doctrine; practice; church forms; Christian conversion among Muslims; theological and sociological factors in religious change: belief; power; Christian lifestyle; mission approaches; socio-political factors; mission strategy among Muslims: evangelism; church-planting; holistic ministry; issues in Christian-Muslim dialogue; Muslims in Australia; local church relations.

Textbooks:

C Catherwood, Christians, Muslims and Islamic Rage (Zondervan, 2003).

C G Chapman,  Cross and Crescent: Responding to the Challenge of Islam (IVP, 2003).

D Greenlee, From the Straight Path to the Narrow Way: Journeys of Faith (STL, 2005).

B A McDowell & A Zaka, Muslims and Christians at the Table: Promoting Biblical Understanding (P & R, 1999).

J D Woodberry, Muslims and Christians on the Emmaus Road: Crucial Issues in Witness among Muslims (MARC, 1989).

 

EM417/617  Spiritual Formation for Cross-Cultural Ministry

3 hours per week 1 semester

Lecturer: Felix Chung

Description: This subject introduces students to practical and theoretical issues related to personal growth and ministry in a cross-cultural setting.

Subject Outline: (Each subject weighted equally)
Section A: Personal Spiritual Development
Section B: Relationship in Cross-cultural Ministry
Section C: Distinctive Factors in Cross-cultural Ministries

Textbooks:

P Casse, Training for the Cross-Cultural Mind (Society for Inter-Cultural Education, 1980).

M Foyle, Honourably Wounded (MARC, 1987).

E Peterson, The Contemplative Pastor (Word, 1989).

D Watson, Discipleship (Hodder & Stoughton, 1981).

 

EM427/627  Church Dynamics and Growth

3 hours per week 1 semester

Lecturer: Felix Chung

Description: To develop in students a critical understanding of the theology, principles and procedures of church growth and their significance for contemporary ministry theory and practice; to introduce students to the processes of evaluation, strategy development and effe ctive methodologies in a congregational situation; to enable students to identify the critical issues of contemporary church growth theories from biblical principles and evangelical perspective.

Subject Outline: (Section A, B and C are weighted approximately 40%, 30% and 30% respectively).
Section A: Principles
Section B: Practice
Section C: Field Work

Textbooks:  

H Conn, Theological Perspectives on Church Growth (Presbyterian & Reformed, 1977).

D A McGavran, Understanding Church Growth (Rev. Ed., Eerdmans, 1980).

W Shenk, Exploring Church Growth (Eerdmans, 1983).

C Schwarz, Natural Church Development (Church Smart Resources, 1996).

 

EM440/640  Cross-Cultural Field Education

1 hour per week & 50 hours field work*

Lecturer: Felix Chung

Description: To provide opportunity for students to experience at first hand some of the issues involved in cross-cultural ministry. To enable them to develop sensitivity to the inter-relationships between human life, the Christian gospel, Christian ministries and culture. To help them reflect upon their own culture and its impact upon their understanding of their ministry and humanity.

Subject Outline: (Sections A, B and C are weighted approximiately 20%, 60% and 20% respectively)
Section A: Preparation
Section B: Fieldwork; Section C: Evaluation and Reflection

* Students can choose from not less than 50 hours field work in some form of Christian work with people from a culture different than the student’s own; or a missionary trip of not less than 4 week’s residence in a culture other then the student’s own, or other form of field work approved by the lecturer.

Textbooks:  

M Collins, Manual for Today’s Missionary (William Carey, 1986).

S Lingenfelter & M Mayers, Ministering Cross Culturally (Baker, 1986).

T Ward, Living Overseas: A Book of Preparation (Free Press, 1984).

P Hiebert, Anthropological Insights for Missionaries (Baker, 1985).

 

PVM41/PVM61  Folk Religions

Type B Elective

3 hours per week semester 1

Lecturer: Felix Chung

Description:  This unit is primarily designed for students who plan for further mission study. However, it is also designed as a general introduction to those who are interested in rfaith dialogue or evangelism in a cross-cultural context.

Aims: At the end of this unit, students should be able to: summarize the major theory of folk religions from a cultural anthropological perspective; identify the characteristics, issues, and problems of folk religions; analyse the characteristics, issues, and problems of folk religions; critique at least one of the folk religious phenomena in the Australian context; and respond to a specific issue of folk religions in the Australian context by developing appropriate missiological strategies.

Subject Outline:  
Part A: Folk religions as systems of belief and meaning: The problems and solutions.
1. The phenomena of folk religions
2. Worldviews as systems of explanation
3. The meaning of life and death
4. Avoiding adversity and gaining success
5. Guidance and supernatural knowledge

Part B: Folk religions as systems of behavior: Symbols, rituals, myths, religious institutions and movements
6. Symbolism, rituals, myths and sense of the sacred
7. The relationship between beliefs and behavior
8. Religious leaders: Shamans, prophets, and priests
9. Cults, sects, denominations and ecclesia

Textbooks:

Paul G Hiebert, Understanding Folk Religion: A Christian Response to Popular Beliefs and Practices (Baker, 1999).

Ronald Enroth, A Guide to New Religions Movements (IVP, 2005).

Catherine Sanders, Wicca’s Charm: Understanding the Spiritual Hunger Behind the Rise of Modern Witchcraft and Pagan Spirituality (Colorado Springs: Waterbrook Press, 2005).

 

PVM42/PVM62  Ethnographic Research

Type B Elective

3 hours per week semester 2

Lecturer: Felix Chung

Description: This subject introduces student research methods in anthropology, skill and knowledge of conducting ethnographic research, collecting information, analysing information and writing an ethnography.

Aims: At the end of this unit, the students should be able to:
1. Describe the concept and methodology of research methods in anthropology with special emphasis on ethnographic research.
2. Know how to conduct a minor research by using participation observations.
3. Know how to conduct a minor research by using ethnographic interviews.
4. Master the skill of collecting and analysing information using ethnographic research methods
5. Write up ethnography.
6. Identify issues of applying ethnographic research in cultural learning.
7. Critically evaluate the problem of applying ethnographic research in cultural learning.

Textbooks:

Michael V Angrosine, Doing Cultural Anthropology: Projects for Ethnographic Data Collection, 2nd ed., (Waveland Press, 2006).

Michael V Angrosine, Project in Ethnographic Research (Waveland Press, 2004).

James Spradley, Participant Observation (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1980).

James Spradley, The Ethnographic Interview (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc, 1979).