Next week at Payne Theological Seminary Dr. Leah Fitchue, Dr. James Perkinson, and I will teach Spiritual Formation to incoming M.Div. students.
Here is our syllabus.
CM 150 Spiritual Formation
Payne Theological Seminary
July
2012 Intensive
SYLLABUS
Part I
July
21-23, 2012
Leah
Gaskin Fitchue, Ed.D.
Part II
July
24-26, 2012
John
Piippo, Ph.D.
Professors:
Leah Gaskin Fitchue, Ed.D.
Professor of Practical Theology
937-376-2946 x209 (Office phone)
John Piippo, Ph.D.
734-731-1709 (Cell phone)
johnpiippo.com (my website)
PAYNE
MISSION STATEMENT:
Payne
Theological Seminary, a free standing graduate school mandated by the African
Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC) in 1844, is dedicated to the preparation of
men and women for leadership in local, national and global ministries. Payne
Theological Seminary offers an Afrocentric theological education focusing on
teaching and research that emphasizes salvation which finds expression in
liberation, reconciliation, social justice, and the dignity of all humankind.
The seminary values African American history, the African American experience,
and the biblical tradition.
INSTITUTIONAL GOALS
Students should demonstrate:
1. Servant leadership in local,
national or global ministries as responsible stewards who serve with care,
humility, strength of character and boldness as they articulate a vision, and
inspire and guide others towards embracing higher ideals as articulated in
Payne’s mission.
2. Tolerance expressed as unreserved
acceptance of the universal concepts of love, justice and forgiveness that
finds expression in the capacity to be inclusive and open to difference;
3. Spiritual formation, growth and
transformation.
PROGRAM
GOALS
Students will:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of
their religious heritage.
2. Utilize their cultural context in
applying Biblical Studies, Historical
Studies, Theology and Ethics and
Practical Ministry.
3. Develop personal and spiritual
formation as they progress through the program.
4. Enlarge their capacity for
ministerial and public leadership.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course
is designed to engage participants in an exploration and expansion of their
inner spiritual life utilizing the spiritual disciplines. Personal
transformation is an internal process that occurs as the individual allows God
access to the whole of one’s being and life. The course combines:
1. Personal encounter with God
2. Keeping a spiritual journal as a
record of the activity of God in one’s life
3. Corporate sharing of one’s experience
with God
4. Reading and reflecting on three
required texts
5. Biblical and theological reflection on
key issues that arise in the life of one who seriously engages in the spiritual
disciplines
COURSE GOALS:
1. To encounter and experience God
2. To experience personal transformation
3. To deepen one’s prayer life
4. To discuss issues of personal transformation
with colleagues in ministry
5. To reflect biblically and
theologically on this experience, especially within the African American
perspective of Howard Thurman and Martin Luther King, Jr.
6. To understand personal spiritual
transformation as the necessary foundation for all relevant church, urban, and
global transformation
REQUIRED READING:
1)
Howard
Thurman, Essential Writings
2)
Richard
Foster, Celebration of Discipline
3)
Lewis
Baldwin, Never to Leave Us Alone: The
Prayer Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.
4)
James
Perkinson, White Theology
5)
James
Cone, The Cross and the Lynching Tree
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Attend and participate in class
sessions
2. Formation Covenant
The
basic principle of spiritual formation is to live in intimate and unceasing
union with God, the Father, the Mother, through Jesus, the Son, in the Holy
Spirit.
a.
As
you move forward to enhance your formation covenant, please briefly state the
most important goal for each of the following: Spiritual, Intellectual, and
Pastoral. This one page paper is due at the beginning of the first day of
class, Saturday, July 21.
b.
Following
the completion of Part I of CM150 Spiritual Formation, you are requested to
reflect on your spiritual formation paper submitted on July 21 and, again,
briefly state your most important goal for each of the following: Spiritual,
Intellectual, and Pastoral. The one page paper is to be emailed to lfitchue@payne.edu no later than 11:59
p.m. on Monday, July 23.
c.
At
the completion of Part I and Part II of CM 150 Spiritual Formation, you are
requested to draft the containing your most important goal for each of the
following: Spiritual, Intellectual, and Pastoral. This one-to-two page paper is
to be emailed to lfitchue@payne.edu no
later than 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, July 31. In addition, a copy is to be
submitted to Dr. Piippo with your Spiritual Journal.
3. Keep daily, structured devotional
times with God for 6 weeks, 5 days per week, one hour per day, beginning the
week of July 29, 2012.
4. Keep a Spiritual Journal that records
what God is saying to you during these times.
5. Type out your journal and e-mail it to
Dr. Piippo using Microsoft Word. This document should be sent no later than Monday,
September 17, 2012.
6. Read the three books that are required
reading. Write a 5-page paper summarizing the required reading. Submit this
paper no later than September 17, 2012, to Dr. Piippo.
EVALUATION:
- This is a pass/fail course.
- Class attendance is required.
- Keep the required prayer times.
- Keep a spiritual journal and submit.
- Read the required texts, write a 5-page reflection
paper, and submit.
No
laptops or texting in class, please.
COURSE SCHEDULE/TOPICS
*all
classes will take place from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. unless otherwise instructed by
professor
Part
I
Saturday,
July 21, 2012
Introductions
Morning Lecture
- Black
Theology
Questions and answers
Group activity
Afternoon Lecture
- Black
Theology
Questions and answers
Group activity
Sunday,
July 22, 2012
Worship Service
Quinn
Chapel AME Church
Dr.
Frederick Wright, Pastor
10998
Southland Road
Cincinnati,
OH 45240
513-825-4900
Post Worship Service Session
- Dialogue
and reflection
Monday,
July 23, 2012
Morning Lecture
- White
Theology - Dr. James Perkinson, Professor of Ethics and Systematic
Theology, Ecumenical Theological Seminary
Questions and answers
Afternoon Lecture
- White
Theology - Dr. James Perkinson
Questions and answers
Wrap Up
Part
II
Tuesday,
July 24, 2012
Explanation of Syllabus
One hour of prayer and listening to
God
Corporate sharing & response
Teaching
- Intro to Spiritual Formation
- Keeping a Spiritual Journal
- Restoration, Renewal, Formation, Transformation
- One’s need for renewal and transformation
- Formation into Christlikeness
- Spirituality of Howard Thurman
Wednesday,
July 25, 2012
One hour of prayer and listening to
God
Corporate sharing & response
Teaching
- Review
- Recognition of the gap
- Realization that only God can form us
- Abiding in the presence of God
- How to hear the voice of God
- Spirituality of Howard Thurman & Martin Luther
King, Jr.
Thursday,
July 26, 2012
One hour of prayer and listening to
God
Corporate sharing & response
Teaching
- Review
- Metaphors of the spirit
- Removing the false self
- Ontological dualities (the “from-to” nature of
spiritual transformation)
- Humility
- Discernment
- Spirituality of Howard Thurman & Martin Luther
King, Jr.
Dr. Piippo will present his own
lectures on Theology and Practice of Spiritual Formation. Extensive notes will
be published on his website during the week of classes. (johnpiippo.com)
Annotated
Bibliography
Blackaby, Henry T., and King, Claude V. Experiencing God. An excellent, clearly written text that is especially good for church study.
Boyd,
Greg. Satan and the Problem of Evil: Constructing a Trinitarian Warfare Theodicy
(IVP:
2001). An excellent study on the kingdom of God, esp. on spiritual battle and
the kingdom of Satan. A coherent Christian response to the philosophical
problem of evil.
Boyd.
Present Perfect: Finding God In the Now.
(Zondervan: 2010) This is an excellent, clearly written little book that
contains some deep spiritual insights that are not found in other spirituality
texts. Greg’s meditation on “death” is worth the price of the book.
Brother
Lawrence of the Resurrection. The Practice of the Presence of God
(Garden City: Image, 1977). A spiritual classic by a 17th-century
monk that is still relevant today, and is especially good at knowing God in the
everyday, mundane tasks of life.
Buechner,
Frederick. Godric (New York: Harper and Row, 1980). A beautiful novel,
spiritually deep and uplifting. The character of Godric reminds me of Thomas
Merton.
Campolo,
Tony, and Darling, Mary Albert. The God
of Intimnacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism,
and Justice. Nicely puts together the spiritual disciplines and social
activism.
Collins,
Kenneth J. Exploring Christian Spirituality:
An Ecumenical Reader (Baker Book
House: 2000). An excellent one-volume text.
Cone,
James. A Black Theology of Liberation.
Costen,
Melva Wilson. African American Christian
Worship.
Dawn,
Marva. Unfettered Hope: A Call to Faithful Living In An Affluent Society
(Presbyterian Publishing Corporation: 2003). This is a deep, profound study
allowing us to see our materialistic world and our spiritual place in it
through God’s eyes.
Deere,
Jack. Surprised By the Voice of God: How God Speaks Today Through Prophecies,
Dreams, and Visions (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996). A very good, clearly
written biblical and historical presentation of how one hears God speaking to
them.
Dillard,
Annie. Pilgrim At Tinker Creek (Harper and Row). This makes my personal
top ten ever-read list. A beautiful meditation of the creation, especially its
microscopic aspects.
Fee,
Gordon. God’s Empowering Presence (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1994).
This massive text is, arguably, the definitive statement of the apostle Paul’s
spirituality. A detailed study of every Pauline reference to the Holy Spirit.
Fee.
The First Epistle to the Corinthians (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987).
Superb, meditative, scholarly commentary on what it means to be pneumatikos
(“spiritual”).
Felder,
Cain Hope. Stony the Road We Trod:
African American Biblical Interpretation. (Augsburg: 1991) This edited
collection does an excellent job distinguishing the Eurocentric bias in
biblical hermeneutics from an African American perspective which gives place to
the now-experiential reality of God’s Spirit speaking to us through the written
text.
Foster,
Richard. A Celebration of Discipline (San Francisco: Harper and Row). The modern
classic on the spiritual disciplines. If you have not yet read this it should
be one of your choices.
Foster. Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home (Harper and Row:
1992). Examines several different types of prayer that are both biblically and
historically Christian.
Foster.
Life With God: Reading the Bible for
Spiritual Transformation. (HarperOne: 2010)
Foster.
Longing for God: Seven Paths of Spiritual
Devotion. (Intervarsity Press: 2009)
Foster,
and Griffin, Emilie. Spiritual Classics:
Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups on the Twelve Spiritual
Disciplines (Harper and Row: Feb.
2000). A very good collection representing the great Christian types of
spirituality.
Foster.
Streams of Living Water: Celebrating the
Great Traditions of Christian Faith
(Harper and Row: 1998). On the following traditions: contemplative, holiness,
charismatic, social justice, evangelical, and incarnational.
Gutierrez, Gustavo. We Drink From Our Own Wells:
The Spiritual Journey of a People (Maryknoll: Orbis, 1988). Excellent,
especially in its emphasis on corporate spirituality.
Holmes, Urban T. Spirituality
for Ministry. Still one of the best books on this subject.
Jones, Cheslyn, et. al., eds. The Study of
Spirituality
(New York: Oxford, 1986). A very good one-volume source on the history of
Christian spirituality.
Kelleman,
Robert, and Edwards, Karole A. Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of
African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction. (Baker: 2007)
Kelly,
Thomas. A Testament Of Devotion (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1941). This
brilliant, provocative little text makes my top ten ever-read books on
Christian spirituality. A modern classic.
Kraft, Charles. Christianity
With Power: Your Worldview and Understanding of the Supernatural (Ann Arbor, Mi.: Servant, 1989). A brilliant study in paradigm
theology by an anthropologist and missiologist at Fuller Theological Seminary.
Ladd, George. The Gospel of the Kingdom:
Scriptural Studies in the Kingdom of God (Eerdmans: 1959). A classic,
still-used examination of the kingdom of God as both present and future.
Schoalrly, but it often reads devotionally.
Leech, Kenneth. Experiencing God: Theology As
Spirituality
(San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1985). An excellent historical study, from
biblical times to the present, of the experience of God.
Leech.
Soul Friend: The Practice of Christian
Spirituality (New York: Harper and
Row, 1980). The best book available on spiritual direction.
Leech. True Prayer: An Invitation to Christian
Spirituality
(San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1980).
Lovelace,
Richard. Dynamics of Spiritual Life: An
Evangelical Theology of Renewal
(Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1979).
Lovelace. Renewal
As a Way of Life: A Guidebook for Spiritual Growth (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1985).
Manning, Brennan. The Ragamuffin Gospel. A beautiful, very
thoughtful meditation on the grace of God.
Manning,
Abba’s Child. This book spoke deeply to me about my need for
experiential knowledge of the love of God.
Manning,
The Importance of Being Foolish: How to
Think Like Jesus. Very good as it gets at the real Jesus.
May, Gerald. Addiction and Grace (San Francisco:
Harper and Row, 1991). An excellent, clearly written book with an especially
helpful section on addiction to control.
May. Care of Mind, Care of Spirit: A
Psychiatrist Explores Spiritual Direction (New York: Harper and Row, 1992). A
very good text on the nature of spiritual direction.
May.
Will and Spirit: A Contemplative
Psychology (Harper and Row: 1987).
An excellent text.
Mbiti, John. African Religions and Philosophy.
Mbiti. Introduction to African Religion.
McManus, Erwin. The Barbarian Way: Unleash the Untamed
Faith Within (Thomas Nelson: 2005) Don’t be put off by the title. I loved this
book about what it means to be a real follower of Jesus.
McLaren, Brian. The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering
the Truth that Could Change Everything
(Thomas Nelson: 2007). I loved this book about the kingdom of God.
Merton, Thomas. The
Inner Experience: Notes On Contemplation (Harper: 2003).
This is Merton’s final book. Few write about contemplation as well as he does.
Merton. New Seeds of Contemplation (New
York: New Directions, 1961). Merton at his best.
Merton. No Man Is an Island (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1983). Contains the classic
chapter, “Being and Doing.”
Merton. Seeds (Shambala: 2002). A killer collection
of Merton quotes. A tremendous introduction to the depth, wisdom, and
discernment of Thomas Merton. Prophetic.
Merton. The Sign of Jonas (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1981). One of Merton’s journals,
containing many spiritual gems,
Miller, J. Keith. A
Hunger for Healing: The Twelve Steps as a Classic Model for Christian Spiritual
Growth (New York: Harper and Row, 1991).
Miller. Hope In the Fast
Lane: A New Look at Faith in a Compulsive World (New York: Harper and Row, 1987). An excellent text on overcoming sin
in one’s life. Especially good on identifying the deep source of stress and
overcoming stress.
Miller. The Secret Life of
the Soul (Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1997). About the
vulnerability needed for the transformation of the soul.
Muse, J. Stephen, ed. Beside
Still Waters: Resources for Shepherds in the Marketplace (Smyth and Helwys: 2000). An excellent text that uses Psalm 23 to
speak to Christian leaders regarding spiritual issues. Very good on our need to
care for ourselves physically.
Mulholland, Robert. Shaped By the Word: The
Power of Scripture in Spiritual Formation (Nashville: Upper Room Press, 1985).
An excellent book on how the Bible interprets us.
Nelson,
Alan. Broken In the Right Place: How God Tames the Soul (Nashville:
Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1994). A very good book on how spiritual brokenness
effects personal transformation.
Nouwen,
Henri. A Cry for Mercy: Prayers From the Genesee (Garden City, New York:
Image, 1981). A beautiful book of prayers expressing our heart’s fears,
struggles, and longings.
Nouwen.
Behold the Beauty of the Lord: Praying with Icons (Notre Dame: Ave Maria
Press, 1987).
Nouwen.
Gracias! A Latin American Journal (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1983).
One of Nouwen’s spiritual journals.
Nouwen.
In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership (Harper and
Row). A brilliant little book, among the best I have ever read on pastoral
leadership.
Nouwen.
Lifesigns: Intimacy, Fecundity, and Ecstasy in Christian Perspective
(New York: Image, 1986).
Nouwen.
Making All Things New: An Invitation to the Spiritual Life (New York:
Harper and Row, 1981).
Nouwen.
Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the
Spiritual Life (Notre Dame: Ave
Maria Press, 1980).
Nouwen. Reaching Out: The
Three Movements of the Spiritual Life (Garden City, New
York: Image, 1976).
An excellent text; a modern classic. On solitude,
hospitality, and prayer.
Nouwen. Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long
Walk of Faith.
Nouwen. Spiritual Formation: Following the
Movements of the Spirit.
Nouwen. The Genesee Diary: Report From A
Trappist Monastery
(Garden City, New York: Image, 1976). This book makes my top ten ever-read list
in terms of spiritual impact. An excellent example of journaling that is of
spiritual value.
Nouwen,
The Inner Voice of Love (Image Books: 1999). I find it hard to
express how much God used a slow, meditative reading of this book to effect
changes in my life.
Nouwen.
The Living Reminder: Service and Prayer
in Memory of Jesus Christ (New
York: Harper and Row). A tremendous book for pastors and Christian leaders.
Nouwen. The Only Necessary Thing: Living a
Prayerful Life.
Nouwen. The Return of the
Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming (New York: Image,
1992). Simply put, one of Nouwen’s best and one of my very favorites.
Nouwen. The Way of the Heart (New York: Ballantine, 1981). A beautiful, meditative little book on
solitude, silence, and prayer.
Paris, Peter. The Spirituality of African
Peoples.
Payne, Leanne. Listening
Prayer: Learning to Hear God’s Voice and Keep a Prayer Journal (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1991). A very good, well-written text on
what it means to hear God’s voice.
Peterson, Eugene. The Contemplative Pastor:
Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction (Dallas: Word, 1989). I have read
this book two or three times. It always reminds me of my priorities in pastoral
ministry.
Peterson.
Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: A
Conversation in Spiritual Theology. The first of five books in Peterson’s
summary of his spiritual theology.
Quinn, Robert. Deep
Change (Jossey-Bass: 1996). A very good book, written from
a leadership-business perspective, on the inner transformation required to lead
effectively.
Senn, Frank, ed. Protestant
Spiritual Traditions (New York: Paulist, 1986). Various authors writing
from the following perspectives: Lutheran, Reformed, Anabaptist, Puritan,
Pietist, and Methodist.
Smedes, Lewis. Shame
and Grace. (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1994). For me, a
beautiful book on overcoming self-condemnation by a deeper understanding and
experience of the grace of God.
St. Teresa of Avila. Interior
Castle. (Image Books: 1972) A spiritual classic.
Thomas, Gary. Sacred
Pathways (Zondervan: 2000). Very good on showing different
spiritual styles and various ways persons experience God (the naturalist,
sensate, traditionalist, ascetic, activist, caregiver, enthusiast,
contemplative, and intellectual).
Thurman, Howard. For the Inward Journey: The
Writings of Howard Thurman (Harcourt Brace: 1984). An excellent anthology of Thurman’s
spiritual writings.
Thurman. Jesus and the Disinherited (Beacon:
1996). If you’re going to read one book by Thurman this is the one to read. He
is brilliant, insightful, and extremely relevant for even today. There s a
timelessness about Thurman’s writings.
Thurman. Howard Thurman: Essential Writings.
(Orbis: 2006) Edited by Luther Smith. Smith is one of our great, if not our
greatest, Thurman scholars. His introduction to Thurman’s writing is very
helpful.
Thurman. Meditations of the Heart. (Beacon:
1999)
Weems, Renita. Listening
for God: A Minister’s Journey Through Silence and Doubt (Simon and Schuster: 1999). An excellent reflection of the silence of
God and intimacy with God.
West, Cornel, and Glaube Jr., Eddie S. African
American Religious Thought: An Anthology. (Westminster John Knox: 2003)
Willard, Dallas. The Divine Conspiracy:
Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God (Harper Collins: 1998). What a deep,
beautiful book on the kingdom of God.
Willard. Hearing God: Developing a Conversational
Relationship with God (IVP: 1999)
Willard. Renovation of the
Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ
(Navpress:2002). This excellent book is all about spiritual transformation and
is especially helpful in defining biblical terms like “soul,” “heart,” “spirit,”
and “body.”
Willard. The Spirit of the
Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives (Harper and Row: 1988). A great book, profound, clearly written.
Richard Foster called it “the book of the decade.”
Wilmore, Gayraud. Black Religion and Black
Radicalism: An Interpretation of the Religious History of African Americans.
Wimber, John. Power
Healing (Harper and Row). An excellent, encouraging text
filled with realism and hope.
