The course gives you good knowledge regarding current developments in missiological thinking. This includes various topics from the mission theology, such as the relationship between diakonia and evangelization, a theology of religions, and contextualization. The course will also discuss relevant mission strategies based on the current challenges of 21st century missionary work. Further, the course gives you good knowledge of selected events from the history of mission.
Teaching amounts to 40 hours of classroom instruction and is mainly given through lectures and/or seminars. The classroom experience aims to stimulate you to independent reflection.
Knowledge
The students have:
- good knowledge of current issues in Christian mission today.
- good knowledge of selected topics from the mission theology.
- knowledge of selected events from the history of missons.
- knowledge of missional challenges posed by urban- and Western culture.
- good knowledge of selected topics from the theology of religions.
- good knowledge of the identity and reasoning of diakonia as integral to Christian mission.
- knowledge of theological developments regarding diakonia within the global Evangelical movement.
Skills
The students can:
- analyse and interpret cultural challenges to Christian mission, posed by urban- and Western cultures.
- analyse and interpret various challenges to Christian mission posed by other religions.
- reflect on the relationship between Christianity and the other religions.
- find, evaluate and refer to information and academic material on current missionary activity to highlight an issue.
- apply their knowledge from the course in carrying out future work in church and mission.
- plan and put into action different types of diaconal measures.
- orally and in writing, reflect on problems regarding diaconal reasoning and practice of the contemporary church.
To be eligible for final assessment you must:
- Attend a minimum of 70 % of the lectures (cf. chap. 5.5)
* Students who don’t complete the attendance requirement, must retake the course the next time it is offered.
* See the document “Attendance Regulations for Fjellhaug International University College” for more details.
All course requirements and exams are individual.
Course Requirements:
To receive final assessment, you must:
- Oral group discussion and a short group report (150-200 words) that summarizes the discussion.
Deadline for submission is given at the start of the semester but notice that the requirements must be fulfilled not later than two weeks before the exam date.
Final Assessment:
| Form of assessment | Duration | Grading scale | Comment |
| Oral Exam | 20 minutes | A-F | No preparation time. |
Final assessment is based on the oral exam. The course and the oral exam will be graded A-E for pass and F for fail.
Some readings are available digitally on the school’s learning management system (LMS) and are marked with *.
*Bevans S.B. (2013): “Migration and Mission: Pastoral Challenges, Theological Insights”. In: E. Padilla and P.C. Phan (eds). Contemporary Issues of Migration and Theology. (Christianities of the World). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. (20 pp.)
Dowsett, R., Phiri, I., Birdsall, D., Terfassa, D.O., Yung, H. and Jørgensen K. (eds.) (2015): Evangelism and Diakonia in Context. Oxford: Regnum Books International. s. 7-45, 61-72, 141-152, 226-250, 325-338, 363-371.
Dowsett, R (2017): “Evangelism, Service and Social action in the Missional Understanding of the Cape Town Commitment” in Norwegian Journal of Missiology, 4, 2017: 45-53. https://journals.mf.no/ntm/article/view/4401/3716
*Gravaas, H.A., Sauer, C., Engelsviken, T., Kamil, M., Jørgensen, K. (eds.) (2015): Freedom of Belief & Christian Mission. Oxford: Regnum Books International. pp. 47-57, 127-148.
Goheen, M. W. (2014): Introducing Christian Mission Today. Scripture, History and Issues. Illinois: IVP Academic, pp.117-435.
Moreau, S., Corwin, G., McGee, G. (2015, 2nd edition): Introducing World Missions. A Biblical, Historical and Practical Survey. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, pp. 85-146.
Pocock, M., Van Rheenen, G., McConnell D. (2005): The Changing Face of World Missions. Engaging Contemporary Issues and Trends. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic. pp. 21-44, 79-128, 183-208.
Rijneveld, Hahne. (2007): “Dependency”. (24 pages) http://www.missiologie.org/mediapool/79/797956/data/Hahne-Rijneveld_Dependency.pdf
The Lausanne Covenant (1974). (8 pages) https://www.lausanne.org/content/covenant/lausanne-covenant
The Cape Town Commitment (2010). (54 pages) https://www.lausanne.org/content/ctc/ctcommitment
*Yung, Hwa (2014): “How Can the Church in the South Contribute to the Church in the North?” in: K. E. Larsen and K. Jørgensen (eds.): Power & Partnership. Oxford: Regnum Books International, pp.132-140. (9 pp.)
