The Market Driven Church – can you suggest a better title?
6 Oct 2009
The D.Min module Fuller Seminary have asked me to teach is coming together. However my provisional title which I think captures what I’m trying to do with the module, sounds too much like a Rick Warren book.
So with no prizes other than my eternal gratitude, taking a look at below, what titles would you suggest capture the zeitgeist of my course?
DESCRIPTION:
This course provides students with an exploration of the nature of consumerism and the market, of how these realities shape human identity and relationships, and how close or far they are from the nature of Christian conversion and formation. With this understanding we then examine current forms of church and in particular emerging church, to assess how far they are captive to these forces, or able to resist them. Lastly in light of this we consider what alternatives might be possible for our church and ministries in terms of structure, leadership, evangelism and discipleship.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Understand how people are shaped and formed by Consumerism and the Market, and how this helps or hinders Christian formation
- Understand how far modern and emerging churches are captive to the forces of Consumerism and the Market
- Produce alternative practical strategies for church structure, leadership development, and spiritual formation that can better respond to these forces
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
Many Christian leaders in churches, Christian organizations and various mission communities recognize that the world is rapidly becoming interconnected economically, technologically, culturally and politically. Increasingly our consumer-oriented market-based society, people often regard churches of all stripes as a matter of personal preference and convenience, and are forming new ecclesiologies around these changes, uncritically.
At the same time, leaders are often culturally aware, yet they lack any confidence and grounding in Scripture, church history and theology. Consequently, they find themselves struggling to adapt in order to fruitfully and effectively proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in this context. This course is designed to attend to these problems and challenges.
COURSE FORMAT:
This two-week intensive course will feature dialogical lectures, personal and small group reflection, guest presentations, various media (web – research, PowerPoint presentations, videos), and the practice of interpretive skills. Students will continue to implement research and participate in moodle activities throughout the year, and engagement with other social media tools, such as twitter.
REQUIRED READING:
Cavanaugh, William T. Being Consumed : Economics and Christian Desire. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2008.
Frost, Michael, and Alan Hirsch. The Shaping of Things to Come : Innovation and Mission for the 21st-Century Church. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Publishers, 2003.
Gibbs, Eddie, and Ryan K. Bolger. Emerging Churches : Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2005.
Hsu, Albert Y. The Suburban Christian : Finding Spiritual Vitality in the Land of Plenty. Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP Books/InterVarsity Press, 2006.
Long, D. Stephen. Divine Economy : Theology and the Market Radical Orthodoxy Series. London ; New York: Routledge, 2000.
Miller, Vincent Jude. Consuming Religion : Christian Faith and Practice in a Consumer Culture. New York: Continuum, 2003.
Polanyi, Karl. The Great Transformation : The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time. 2nd Beacon Paperback ed. ed. Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 2001.
Weber, Max, and Talcott Parsons. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Mineola, N.Y.: Dover Publications, 2003.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Pre-Seminar
* 3,000 pages (8 units) reading all books above.
* A reading log will be due the first day of class.
Post-seminar
- Write a 7,500 word academic paper that demonstrates:
-
- A theological description of the affects of consumerism and the Market on identity
- An assessment of how effective modern and emerging ecclesiologies are countering these Consumer and Market forces
- A proposal of strategies for the students own ministry context in light of this, with regards to church structures, leadership and spiritual formation
Tagged: Consumerism, ecclesiology, emerging church
20 comments
Trackback
Comment by Terri Taylor
1.35 pm on 6 Oct 2009
Perhaps “Idolatry, Community and the Post Modern Church”
Reply to this comment
Comment by steven hamilton
1.45 pm on 6 Oct 2009
being a big cavanugh fan, add his title to it:
Being Consumed: Discipleship in the Market-shaped Church
or
Churchonomics: The Formation of Spiritual Consumers
or
Stagflation: The Gospel in a Market-flattened Church
or
Trickle-down Discipleship: Supply-side Churchonomics and the People of God
btw – great reading list!!!
Reply to this comment
Comment by Ben Sternke
5.13 pm on 6 Oct 2009
Not sure they are great titles, but a few things come to mind:
Identity and Spiritual Formation in a Market-Dominated World
Consumerism as Spirituality and Identity
Regardless of the title, the course looks fantastic! Hope it goes well.
Reply to this comment
Comment by James Henley
6.42 pm on 6 Oct 2009
I’m a big fan of keeping titles simple. What about “Church in the marketplace” or “Church in a consumer culture”?
Reply to this comment
Comment by Brint Keyes
9.28 pm on 6 Oct 2009
“Not For Sale: Being The Church in a Consumerist Culture.”
Wish I could sign up!
Reply to this comment
Comment by Steve Burnhope
6.53 am on 7 Oct 2009
Depends how ‘catchy’ or academic you want/need to be.
How about “Buying and Selling Jesus: Spiritual Formation in a Consumer-Led Society”
Reply to this comment
Comment by Jonny
7.30 am on 7 Oct 2009
Sounds like a fascinating course!
On the idea of reworking other book titles:
“Consumer shaped Church”?
Reply to this comment
Comment by Jason Clark
8.04 am on 7 Oct 2009
Tnx guys, great suggestions
Keep them coming
Reply to this comment
Comment by Peter Spence
9.02 am on 7 Oct 2009
Seems to me that you are looking a common issue in post modern church, so how about: “Church Shopping – The drifting post modern consumer”
Reply to this comment
Comment by Jeremy Hitt
3.12 pm on 7 Oct 2009
“Commodity, Communion or Coercion”
“Jesus Christ Super-Mogul”
“Marketing Matters”
“Church: The Financial Frontier” (Star Trek theme LOL)
“Just Do It: Church Marketing”
“The Market Place: We’re No Longer Turning Over Tables”
“The Church, the Culture Club and Consumer Chameleons” (throw back to the 80s music scene)
But honestly the Market Driven Church is my favorite. You may not have a bad title as is… You could chose one of the above and do worse! LOL
Reply to this comment
Comment by Steve Burnhope
3.35 pm on 7 Oct 2009
‘The Anchor Store in the Heavenly Mall? – the Role of Church in a Consumer Culture’
‘Churches Today: Competing Brands Serving the Consumer Market?’
‘The Church and the Consumer Congregation: Should we be Competing, Conforming, or Converting?’
Reply to this comment
Comment by Steve Burnhope
3.37 pm on 7 Oct 2009
Dying to Self or Dying to Shop? The New Consumer-Driven Ecclesiology.
Reply to this comment
Comment by Steve Burnhope
3.39 pm on 7 Oct 2009
‘When I Survey the Wondrous Shop, in which the Prince of Glory died.’
Reply to this comment
Comment by Jason Coker
8.24 pm on 7 Oct 2009
My fav so far is James Henley’s, “Church in a Consumer Culture.” Along those lines, here’s my two cents:
“The Gospel for a Consumer Society”
“Contextualizing the Gospel in a Consumer Culture”
I too love your reading list, but just a heads up: I’ve probably taken no less than three courses at Fuller in which “The Shaping of Things to Come” was required reading. I would be likely to take this course (since my entire church plant strategy is built around this issue), but if I saw that book on the list I would be just a little bummed out – not that it isn’t good.
Reply to this comment
Comment by Jason Clark
12.04 pm on 8 Oct 2009
Tnx again everyone, great suggestions
Reply to this comment
Comment by Daveen Wilson
11.59 am on 9 Oct 2009
CHURCH: Optional Product or Essential Sacrament?
Reply to this comment
Comment by ordinandy
10.47 am on 12 Oct 2009
How about “Consuming faith”?
Reply to this comment
Comment by John Grebner
4.19 pm on 14 Oct 2009
Consumer Formation
Church of the Consumer
Reply to this comment
Comment by Graham
10.08 pm on 14 Oct 2009
God, Mammon and Church – a theological dialogue
Reply to this comment
Comment by Pat Rijhwani
7.54 pm on 21 Oct 2009
Idea for new title for your D Min module on consumerism – “Consumerism explosion”. ?? Pat
Reply to this comment