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TMMC1287: Creating New Christian Communities

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Current modules are subject to change in light of the ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19.

Type Tied
Level 1
Credits 10
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Theology, Ministry and Mission

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To explore biblical, theological and sociological perspectives on the formation and development of new Christian communities.
  • To introduce historical and contemporary perspectives on the practice of church planting and the experience of Fresh Expressions of church and emerging churches.

Content

  • Introduction to biblical resources for church planting and community formation and to relevant theological themes.
  • Critical reflection on contemporary examples of creating new Christian communities and their historical precedents.
  • Consideration of sociological, strategic and missiological principles pertinent to the formation of new Christian communities.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • [SSK 1, 3]
  • Discuss intelligently biblical and historical sources, and methods used to relate them to community formation and church planting.
  • Describe and evaluate contemporary practices of creating new Christian communities, and the questions to which they give rise.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • [SSS 1, 3]
  • Recognise the importance of and how knowledge of content and genre affect the interpretation of biblical texts in relation to community formation and church planting.
  • Reflect on experiences and practices of community formation and church planting, drawing on biblical, historical and theological resources, communicating their reflections clearly and reliably in a range of contexts.

Key Skills:

  • [KS 1, 2, 3]
  • Identify, gather and evaluate source materials for a specific purpose.
  • Evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches, communicating their findings sensitively and respectfully, showing self-awareness about their own beliefs, commitments and prejudices.
  • Carry out a guided task that involves: independent inquiry; management of time and resources; using IT; meeting deadlines; evaluating the task and learning from it.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Lectures and personal study
  • Two summative assessment components: Written Assessment and Theological Reflection

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures81.7516 
Personal study84 
Total100 

Summative Assessment

Component: Written AssessmentComponent Weighting: 40%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Written Assessment1000 words100 
Component: Theological ReflectionComponent Weighting: 60%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Theological Reflection1500 words100 

Formative Assessment

More information

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