CREATED AND CALLED FOR COMMUNITY

Community of EducatorsMessiah College

Spring 2008

Inspiration Ernest L. Boyer, Sr. –

“Bridges between disciplines must be built, and the core program must be seen ultimately as relating the curriculum consequentially to life”.

Rodney J. Sawatsky – Our mission is “... to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith” ... by building a Christian community of learning…”

Kim S. Phipps, The core can transform our community of learners as we “gather around the core idea of learning how to live as thoughtful, faithful, gracious Christians in the 21st century.”

Mission

“Our mission is to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character, and

Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership, and reconciliation in

church and society.”

Foundational Values

Unity of faith, learning, and life Importance of person Significance of community Disciplined and creative living Service and reconciliation

Course Objectives

1) Explain the Identity and Mission, Confession of Faith, and Foundational Values of Messiah College.

2) Describe the biblical and theological implications of the Old Testament emphasis on being created in the image of God and the New Testament emphasis of becoming a new creation.

3) Articulate defining characteristics of different kinds of communities, including those that are faith-based, academic, national, international, ethnic, inter-ethnic, and professional.

4) Develop a working definition of Christian Vocation as it relates to reconciliation, service, and leadership.

Unit One: Creation

What does it mean to be fashioned in the Creator’s Image?

Creation Themes

Imago Dei Renewing

Creation Creativity Stewardship

Creation Learning Activities

Biblical texts (Genesis, 1 & 2; Psalm 104; Exodus 31:1-5; Acts 17:22-34).

Creation Projects Convocation Chapel

• Professor Valerie Smith

Selected Readings • J.R. Tolkien • Jacobsen & Sawatsky• Madeleine L’Engle• Bruce Birch

Unit Two: Community

What is community? What strengthens

and weakens community? How

can we build better community- campus, locally, nationally, and

globally?

Community Themes

Defining Community Dynamics of

Community Building

Community- Campus, Church, Local, National, and Global

Factors that undermine community

Community Unit Learning Activities

Biblical Texts (Exodus 19-20; Acts 2:37-47, 4:32-37; John 17:17-25; Luke 10:25-37; Romans 12; Matthew 5)

Convocation Chapel • Dr. Larry James

Selected Readings • Harold Bender• Martin Luther King, Jr.• Robert D. Putnam• Jacobsen & Sawatsky• Wang Anyi

Unit Three: Vocation

What is Christian

Vocation? How are service,

leadership, and reconciliation expressions of

vocation?

Vocation Themes

Love of God and Neighbor

“Doing” and “Being”

Service Leadership Reconciliation

Vocation Unit

Biblical Texts (Colossians 3:12-17; 1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 13:1-13; Mark 8:34-39; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 4: 1-6).

Convocation Chapel – David Brandt

Selected Readings• Desmond Tutu• Henri Nouwen• S.G. Hines & C.P.

DeYoung• Albert Schweitzer• Gerald Sittser• Mother Teresa

Commonplace Book

Reflection and Critical Thinking

Engagement with Course Texts

Record of Learning

Preparation for Class Dialogue

Faith Journey Narrative

Course Culmination Project Appropriate Creation,

Community, and Vocation into Life Context

Cite 6 course texts [2 from each unit]

Traditional essay, visual metaphor with narrative reflection, monologue/script

Co-curricular Connections

Study Groups

Imago Day

Service Day

Residence Life

Created and Called for Cookies