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Church and Society Reading Lists for Essays 2018-19
MIN020X304A
The assessment for this module is as follows:
• 1000-word observation exercise (Summative: 25%). Conduct an observation exercise to identify the beliefs embedded in your congregation’s corporate practice of public worship. Alternatively, you can identify the convictions or persistent beliefs embedded in the corporate practice of worship of a congregation other than the one you normally attend. Base the paper on your observation of one service of public worship that you attend. Submit your observation exercise electronically via Moodle no later than 2.00 p.m. on Friday 21st February 2020. • Ammerman, N., Carroll, J., Dudley, C. & McKinney, W. (1998) Studying Congregations: A New Handbook. Nashville: Abingdon Press. • Cameron, H., Richter, P., Davies, D. & Ward, F. (2005) Studying Local Churches: A Handbook. London: SCM Press. • Cartledge, M. (2010) Testimony in the Spirit: Rescripting Ordinary Pentecostal Theology. Farnham: Ashgate. • Cartledge, M. (2012) Practical Theology: Charismatic and Empirical Perspectives. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock. • Ellis, C. (2004) Gathering: A Theology and Spirituality of Worship in the Free Church Tradition. London: SCM Press. • Ellis, C. (2009), Approaching God: A Guide for Worship Leaders and Worshippers. Norwich: Canterbury Press. • Gateshill, P. & Thompson, J. (2000) Visiting Places of Worship. London: Hodder & Stoughton. • Parry, R. (2012) Worshipping Trinity: Coming Back to the Heart of Worship. (2nd edn.) Eugene, OR: Cascade Books. • Steven, J. (2002) Worship in the Spirit: Charismatic Worship in the Church of England. Milton Keynes/Colorado Springs: Paternoster. • Stringer, M. (1999) On the Perception of Worship: The Ethnography of Worship in Four Congregations in Manchester. Birmingham: Birmingham University Press. • Stringer, M. (2005), A Sociological History of Christian Worship. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. • Ward, P. (2005) Selling Worship: How What We Sing Has Changed the Church. Carlisle: Paternoster. • Webber, R. (1994) Worship: Old and New. (rev. edn.) Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
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• 3000-word essay (Summative: 75%). Submit your essay electronically via Turnitin no later than 2.00 p.m. on Friday 17th April 2020. Choose One of the Following:
1. Community Profile: Conduct an audit of the neighbourhood where your congregation meets to identify its main features and the challenges and opportunities it presents to Christian mission. In the light of your findings, what approach to mission in the local community do you think best suits your congregation in the next five years? • Ammerman, N. (1997) Congregations and Community. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press. • Ammerman, N., Carroll, J., Dudley, C. & McKinney, W. (1998) Studying Congregations: A New Handbook. Nashville: Abingdon Press. • Ammerman, N. (2005) Pillars of Faith: American Congregations and their Partners. Berkley and London: University of California Press. • Cameron, H., Richter, P., Davies, D. & Ward, F. (2005) Studying Local Churches: A Handbook. London: SCM Press. • Guest, M., Tusting, K. & Woodhead, L. (2004) Congregational Studies in the UK: Christianity in a Post-Christian Context. Farnham: Ashgate. • Farnsley II, A. (2000) ‘Congregations, Local Knowledge, and Devolution’ Review of Religious Research 42 (1), 96-110. • Miller, D. (2007) Global Pentecostalism: The New Face of Social Engagement. Berkley/London: University of California Press.
2. Why is ‘secularisation theory’ a contested idea? What is the value of secularisation theory today? • Beckford, J. (2003) Social Theory and Religion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. • Berger, P. (1998) ’Protestantism and the Quest for Certainty’ The Christian Century 115 (23), 782-796. (See Moodle) • Berger, P. (2014) The Many Altars of Modernity. New York: De Gruyter. • Berger, P., Davie, G. & Fokas, E. (2008) Religious America, Secular Europe? A Theme and Variations, Farnham: Ashgate. • Brown, C. (2009) The Death of Christian Britain: Understanding Secularisation 1800-2000. London: Routledge. • Bruce, S. (2002) God is Dead: Secularization in the West. Oxford: Blackwell. • Davie, G, (2015) Religion in Modern Britain: A Persistent Paradox. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell. • Ward, K. (2013) Losing Our Religion? Changing Patterns of Believing and Belonging in Secular Western Societies. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock. • Warner, R. (2010) Secularization and its Discontents. London: Continuum.
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3. Identify and discuss the human dynamics that make leading a multiethnic congregation in the United Kingdom such a challenging task. • Adedibu, B. (2013) ‘Faith without Borders: Maximising the Missionary Potential of Britain’s Black Majority Churches’ Journal of Missional Practice (2). Available at: https://journalofmissionalpractice.com/author/babatundeadedibu/#. • Beckford, R. (2014), Documentary as Exorcism: Resisting the Bewitchment of Colonial Christianity. London: Bloomsbury. • DiAngelo, R. (2012) What Does it Mean to be White? Developing White Racial Literacy. New York: Peter Lang. • Eddo-Lodge, R. Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People about Race. London: Bloomsbury Circus. • Marti, G. (2005) A Mosaic of Believers: Diversity and Innovation in a Multi-Ethnic Church. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press. • Patten, M. (2016) Leading a Multicultural Church. London: SPCK. • Reddie, A. (2009) Is God Colour Blind? Insights from Black Theology for Christian Ministry. London: SPCK. • Shannahan, C. (2010) Voices from the Borderland: Re-Imagining Cross-Cultural Urban Theology in the Twenty-First Century. London: Equinox.
4. Is America more religious and Europe more secular? Discuss. • Beckford, J. (2003) Social Theory and Religion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. • Berger, P. (1998) ’Protestantism and the Quest for Certainty’ The Christian Century 115 (23), 782-796. (See Moodle) • Berger, P. (2014) The Many Altars of Modernity. New York: De Gruyter. • Berger, P., Davie, G. & Fokas, E. (2008) Religious America, Secular Europe? A Theme and Variations. Farnham: Ashgate. • Casanova, J. (1994) Public Religions in the Modern World. Chicago/London: University of Chicago Press. • Davie, G. (2000) Religion in Modern Europe: A Memory Mutates. Oxford: Oxford University Press. • Davie, G. (2002) Europe: The Exceptional Case: Parameters of Faith in the Modern World. London: Darton, Longman & Todd. • Davie, G. (2015) Religion in Modern Britain: A Persistent Paradox. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.
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5. What has sociology to do with theology? Are these academic disciplines inimical to each other or can they enter into creative dialogue in the service of mission? • Beckford, J. (2003) Social Theory and Religion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. • Berger, P. (1969)The Social Reality of Religion. London: Faber and Faber. • Berger, P. (1970) A Rumour of Angels: Modern Society and the Rediscovery of the Supernatural. (rev. edn.) Garden City: Anchor Books. • Gill, R. (1994) A Vision for Growth: Why Your Church Doesn’t have to be a Pelican in the Wilderness. London: SPCK. • Gill, R. (1996) Theology and Sociology: A Reader. (new. ed.) London: Cassell. • Gill, R. (2003) The Myth of the Empty Church Revisited. Farnham: Ashgate. • Gill, R. (2012)Theology in a Social Context: Sociological Theology (vol. 1) Farnham: Ashgate. • MacLaren, D. (2012) Mission Implausible: Restoring Credibility to the Church. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock. • Willis, E. (1995) The Sociological Quest: An Introduction to the Study of Social Life. (2nd edn.) St Leonards, NSW: Allen and Unwin.
6. What challenges and opportunities do whiteness, race, and ethnicity pose to Christian mission in 21st century United Kingdom? • Adedibu, B. (2012) Coat of Many Colours: The Origin, Growth, Distinctiveness and Contributions of Black Majority Churches to British Christianity. Blackpool: Wisdom Summit. • Berger-Schmitt, R. (2000) Social Cohesion as an Aspect of the Quality of Societies: Concept and Measurement (EU Reporting Paper No. 14). Mannheim: Centre for Survey Research and Methodology. • Leech, K. (1988) Struggle in Babylon: Racism in the Cities and Churches of Britain. London: Sheldon Press. • Parekh, B. (2000) The Future of Multi-ethnic Britain: Report of the Commission on the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain. London: Profile Books. • Reddie, A. (2009) Is God Colour Blind? Insights from Black Theology for Christian Ministry. London: SPCK. • Shannahan, C. (2010) Voices from the Borderland: Re-Imagining Cross-Cultural Urban Theology in the Twenty-First Century. London: Equinox. • Sturge, M. (2005) See What the Lord has Done! An Exploration of Black Christian Faith in Britain. Milton Keynes: Scripture Union.
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7. Are the beliefs and practices of Christians in their daily lives worthy of the attention of Academic Theology and Christian ministers? Discuss. • Ammerman, N. (2007) Everyday Religion: Observing Modern Religious Lives. Oxford: Oxford University Press. • Ammerman, N. (2013) Sacred Stories, Spiritual Lives: Finding Religion in Everyday Life. New York: Oxford University Press. • Astley, J. (2002) Ordinary Theology: Looking, Listening and Learning in Theology. Aldershot: Ashgate. • Christie, A. (2012) Ordinary Christology: Who Do You Say I Am? Answers from the Pews. Farnham: Ashgate. • Heelas, P. & Woodhead, L. (2005) The Spiritual Revolution: Why Religion is Giving Way to Spirituality. Oxford: Blackwell. • Hopewell, J. (1987) Congregation: Stories and Structures. Philadelphia: Fortress Press. • Hummel, L., Moschella, M. & Frances, J. (eds.) (2010) Pastoral Bearings: Lived Religion and Pastoral Theology. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. • McGuire, M. (2008) Lived Religion: Faith and Practice in Everyday Life. Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press.