ES-CD-SS06 The Call to Discipleship

VTS Evening School Thursdays 7:30-9:30 PM

Dr. Kathleen Staudt Spring 2006

kstaudt@umd.edu

Course materials and email available on Blackboard

This course focuses on the experience of Christ's call to discipleship, exploring the theology of Baptism and ministry from the point of view of the laity. In particular, we will ask what it means to us to be "to represent Christ and his Church, to bear witness to him wherever [we] may be" (BCP p. Readings include classic theologians as Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Evelyn Underhill as well as more contemporary writers on call, including Verna Dozier, L. William Countryman, Carolyn Westerhoff, and Ben Campbell Johnson. Participants will reflect theologically on call and discipleship and will also explore their own experiences of discerning and responding to God's call through journaling, sharing of stories, guided meditation and prayer.

               The readings for each evening will be the basis for my presentation at the beginning of class, and provide starting points for your journaling and reflections in preparation for class. Readings are given in the order of priority. Read as much as you can, but don't be daunted if you can't get to every reading assigned for an evening.

               IF YOU ARE TAKING THE COURSE FOR CREDIT, plan on handing in to me, over the course of the semester, three 1-2 page reflection papers on the week's reading. By reflection paper, I mean a piece of informal writing, reflecting on the questions the reading raises for you, passages that particularly speak to you or challenge you, ways in which the reading invites you to think in new ways or expresses particularly well something that you believe deeply.

               In addition, those taking the course for credit should choose to read ALL of one of the books we're looking at or excerpting from for this course, and give a brief "book group introduction" style summary of the book. Hand in to me one more 1-2 page reflection on your book and how it speaks to the themes of call and discipleship. I'm also open to suggestions for other books. I'm assuming there will be more than one person reporting on any given book.

February 9: Introduction/Overview of the course: Discipleship, vocation, discernment church:

February 16: The Dream of God and the work of the church: Dozier, The Dream of God first and last chapters (on electronic reserve); Tutu, God Has a Dream, pp. 1-58.

February 23: The priesthood of all and the work of the church: theologies of ministry: Countryman, Living on the Borders of the Holy, preface and pp.1-31; 63-78; Placher on Luther and reformation ideas of ministry/priesthood pp. 205-213 (electronic reserve) Sedgwick, on "The Call of God" from The Christian Moral Life (electronic reserve) , Sims, selection from Servanthood (electronic reserve); Fenhagen, selection from Ministry and Solitude (electronic reserve).

March 2: Being the church: Making disciples v. attracting members; Baptismal ministry: (Tutu, 59-98 Underhill in Griffiths, pp. 29-41; Westerhoff Calling, Preface and section on Baptism and Ministry pp 3-29, 45-48 (also on electronic reserve) Bass, "A New Old Church" from The Practicing Congregation (electronic reserve)

March 9: Incarnational Living: discipleship in daily life: (Thompsett, pp. 1-26 (electronic reserve); Luther in Placher, pp. 213- 220 (electronic reserve); Neil Alexander on the ministry of the laity (electronic reserve); selections from Dozier, The Calling of the Laity stories from workplace (electronic reserve); Westerhoff, pp. 113-165 on "Baptism and Responsibility."

March 16: Discernment: hearing the call: Listening Hearts pp. 1-50. Individual and corporate discernment; Esther de Waal, "Listening," pp 41-54, In Ben Campbell Johnson, read pp. 1-64 (first three chapters): where do you recognize your experience in these accounts of call? Sharing stories of call

March 23: Discipleship and Prayer: Discerning the work of the Church: Staudt, "Annunciations in Most Lives:" (electronic reserve) Evelyn Underhill, selections from Life as Prayer (electronic reserve) also in Griffiths, Evelyn Underhill, "The House of the Soul," pp. 42-58 and "Practical Advice, pp.123-136.

March 30: Discerning in community: living into the call. Ben Campbell Johnson, Hearing God's Call, pp. 84-131; Listening Hearts, pp. 53-76.Esther de Waal, De Waal, Seeking God, pp.115-128 (electronic reserve) ". Bass, "Practice makes Pilgrims," from The Practicing Congregation (electronic reserve); Tutu, pp. 113-128. Countryman, "Being Priests," pp. 175-195 in Living on the Borders of the Holy.

April 6: The Cost of Discipleship: Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, Chapters 1 and 2, pp. 43-78 and Chapter 30 -- (pp. 246-271). Also link to "Speaking of Faith" Radio program on Bonhoeffer, provided on Blackboard site under "External Links" Allow an hour sometime to listen to this excellent radio program and look over some of the materials provided.

April 13: Maundy Thursday: No Class

April 20: Wrapup, reflections, book report-sharing day.