Public Life of Small Christian Communities

Course Description

This course acquaints students with the public life of SCCs, that is, their engagement in the larger social and cultural world of which they are a part. It includes a focus on social analysis, racism, and the role of scripture in calling forth a community’s public life.  It also introduces the small Christian communities of Brazil.

Course Goals

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• explain and illustrate the concept of “public life”;
• reflect on the meaning of public life from the perspective of faith;
• understand the experience of SCCs attempting to forge a public life;
• understand the concept of “broad-based community organizations”; and
• be familiar with the basic Christian communities of Brazil.

Required Textbooks

Boff, Clodovis. Feet-On-the-Ground Theology: A Brazilian Journey. Lima, OH: Academic Renewal, 2002. ISBN# 0-8834-4554-9. (Copies are available through major booksellers and through the publisher by calling 1-800-537-1030 or 419-227-1818 or by ordering online at www.arpress.com.)

Brueggemann, Walter. The Prophetic Imagination. Revised and updated ed. 1978. Philadelphia: Fortress, 2001. ISBN# 0-8006-3287-7.

Cowan, Michael, and Bernard Lee. Gathered and Sent: The Mission of Small Church Communities Today. Mahwah, NJ : Paulist, 2001 . ISBN# 0-80914-132-9.

Whitehead, Evelyn, and James Whitehead. Community of Faith: Crafting Christian Communities Today. 1992. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse.com, 2001. ISBN # 0-595-19808-2. (Order at custservice@iUniverse.com or by calling 1-877-823-9235, ext. 5; copies should also be available through major booksellers.)

Recommended Textbook

Kleissler, Thomas, et al. Small Christian Communities: AVision of Hope for the 21st Century. Rev. ed. New York: Paulist, 2002. ISBN 0-8091-4157-4