Introduction to Strategic Mission

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

Undergraduate

1. Outline the nature of the mission of God and the church’s role as God’s partners in God’s mission with reference to its holistic nature.
2. Articulate an understanding of the socio-cultural-religious contexts of Muslim, Buddhist and Australian Aboriginal communities.
3. Identify and interpret key Biblical texts which show the early church engaging with people who have different socio-cultural-religious heritages.
4. Describe the notion of contextualisation and its implications for practice.
5. Level 1: Outline major trends in global mission.
   Level 2: Analyse major trends in global mission and outline their implications.

Postgraduate

1. outline the nature of the mission of God and the church’s role as God’s partners in God’s mission with reference to its holistic nature;
2. articulate an understanding of the socio-cultural-religious contexts of Muslim, Buddhist and Australian Aboriginal communities;
3. identify and interpret key Biblical texts which show the early church engaging with people who have different socio-cultural-religious heritages;
4. describe the notion of contextualisation and its implications for practice;
5. analyse major trends in global mission; and
6. critically evaluate these trends in global mission with respect to their impact on cultural differences.

Undergraduate

Level 1

• One reflection on assigned reading (1,000 words) (25%)
• One 15-minute educational presentation (25%)
• One essay (2,000 words) (50%)

Level 2

• One reflection on assigned reading (1,000 words) (25%)
• One 15-minute educational presentation (25%)
• One essay (2,500 words) (50%)

Postgraduate

Level 8

• One reflection on assigned reading (1,000 words) (20%)
• One 30-minute educational presentation (30%)
• One essay (3,000 words) (50%)

Set texts recommended for purchase are highlighted in blue

• Accad Fouad Elias. Building Bridges: Christianity And Islam, Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1997.
• Bjork, David. Unfamiliar Paths: The Challenge of Recognizing the Work of Christ in Strange Clothing, Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1997.
• Bevans, Stephan & Schroeder, Roger. Constants In Context: A Theology of Mission for Today, Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2004.
• Coleman, Doug. A Theological Analysis of the Insider Movement Paradigm from Four Perspectives: Theology of Religions, Revelation, Soteriology and Ecclesiology, Pasadena: WCIU Press, 2011.
• Davis, J R. Poles Apart? Contextualizing The Gospel, Bangkok: Kanok Bannasan (OMF Publishers), 1993.
• Moreau, Scott, Contextualization in World Missions: Mapping and Assessing Evangelical Models, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2012.
• Myers, Bryant. Walking With The Poor, Maryknoll: Orbis, 2016.
• Ott, Craig and Strauss, Stephen, Encountering Theology of Mission: Biblical Foundations, Historical Developments, and Contemporary Issues, Grand Rapids: Macmillan, 2010.
• Rainbow Spirit Elders. Rainbow Spirit Theology: Towards An Australian Aboriginal Theology, Blackburn, Vic: HarperCollins, 1997.
• Reisacher, Evelyne, Toward Respectful Understanding & Witness Among Muslims, Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2012.
• Rynkiewich, Michael. Soul, Self, and Society: A Postmodern Anthropology for Mission in a Postcolonial World, Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2012.
• Winter, Ralph, Hawthorne, Steve, Perspectives On The World Christian Movement: A Reader, 4th edn, William Carey Library, 2013.