It is great to see so much of the context, as well as the guts of what you intend to use from our class. I am pleased to see that you are finding creative ways of applying the materials, though not surprised at you knack for doing so. As your assessors indicated, it will be important to look well beyond this particular corpus of materials in order to connect with the students well, as you undoubtedly intended to do all along. But as far as the usefulness of the course material itself goes, you seem to have exploited it well. And I can see from your extensive notes and reflections that you have been processing the material vigorously. It does make a difference, when you have in mind specific outcomes for implementation and application!
You have some marvelous instincts and sound intuitions. As time goes on and the program allows, I encourage you to deepen and refine them by bringing them more fully into disciplined conversation with the resources of theological reflection — scripture, scholarship, methodological considerations, and so forth. That will inevitably mean more reading and more footnotes 🙂
A small note about Outcome 4d — the interdisciplinarity in view there goes beyond theological disciplines. So, biblical and literary studies, theology and science, social sciences and pastoral care, theological ethics and medicine, and so forth. That may already be apparent to you, but I wanted to clarify it because it can sound a bit vague.
I agree — an exciting adventure! I am eager to see how the saga continues to unfold in coming months. As we have discussed, this venture needs you and your special capacities. But you will have to be proactive in making them available—eschew passivity, I mean.
I think that your decision to remain committed to a church home while pursuing the St Annes Initiative shows wisdom and maturity. Those investments will complement each other.
A nit-picky thing about Outcomes related to these reflections: it is easy to see how the dreams point to the sorts of Outcomes that you have flagged. That you are thinking about them and basically understand what they’re about is obvious. But we probably aren’t at the point yet where we can talk about having demonstrated much in relation to them. Not yet, anyway. But please keep them before you as you continue to work out such things as, What is my basic understanding of the Gospel? What do I believe are my core theological commitments, and how do these efforts express them, as they unfold? And how do the experiences cause me to reflect back and revise my understandings, as we go along?
BTW — I think it’s OK to have a track in your Portfolio that is more reflective and less demonstrative, i.e. space to reflect on experiences, rather than demonstrating Outcomes. This piece may fit the reflective rather than demonstrative side, You could create a track and flag it as such.
Thanks for pointing out the importance of creativity! I don’t know how it would work as a discrete Outcome, but creativity is meant to help constitute the stuff out of which we make our expressions and responses, or to supply the vitality evident in them.
A well-turned phrase or evocative and apt image is creative; an innovative and resourceful response to a ministry crisis is creative; creativity is always evident in a well-researched and well-written term paper. And yes, we see it in the graphic and performance arts, which some use to beautiful and powerful effect in their ministries and in addressing degree program Outcomes.
I appreciate your reflections here. This issue of power and its relationship to leadership is a tricky one. At what point does surrender of power become an abdication of leadership? Or is abdication OK? Also, I am wondering whether you think this is mostly a matter of a person’s attitude and character, or if it translates into actual structures and policies of leadership in a community.
I know that you have come to some clearer insights about your pathway and are much more comfortable with the immediate future than you were a few months ago. I am grateful for that measure of clarity and the peace that has come with it. But remember that it’s still OK to be seeking, questioning, experimenting, and remaining light on one’s feet in the face of possibly surprising alternatives.
Jeff Childers on Pathways — Spring 2013
4:46 pm, 05.10.13
Thanks for your work on this!
It is great to see so much of the context, as well as the guts of what you intend to use from our class. I am pleased to see that you are finding creative ways of applying the materials, though not surprised at you knack for doing so. As your assessors indicated, it will be important to look well beyond this particular corpus of materials in order to connect with the students well, as you undoubtedly intended to do all along. But as far as the usefulness of the course material itself goes, you seem to have exploited it well. And I can see from your extensive notes and reflections that you have been processing the material vigorously. It does make a difference, when you have in mind specific outcomes for implementation and application!
Well done. I hope the class goes well.
Jeff Childers on Contextual Theology
6:36 pm, 04.24.10
You have some marvelous instincts and sound intuitions. As time goes on and the program allows, I encourage you to deepen and refine them by bringing them more fully into disciplined conversation with the resources of theological reflection — scripture, scholarship, methodological considerations, and so forth. That will inevitably mean more reading and more footnotes 🙂
A small note about Outcome 4d — the interdisciplinarity in view there goes beyond theological disciplines. So, biblical and literary studies, theology and science, social sciences and pastoral care, theological ethics and medicine, and so forth. That may already be apparent to you, but I wanted to clarify it because it can sound a bit vague.
Jeff Childers on Discovering God at St. Ann's
10:07 am, 04.21.10
I agree — an exciting adventure! I am eager to see how the saga continues to unfold in coming months. As we have discussed, this venture needs you and your special capacities. But you will have to be proactive in making them available—eschew passivity, I mean.
I think that your decision to remain committed to a church home while pursuing the St Annes Initiative shows wisdom and maturity. Those investments will complement each other.
A nit-picky thing about Outcomes related to these reflections: it is easy to see how the dreams point to the sorts of Outcomes that you have flagged. That you are thinking about them and basically understand what they’re about is obvious. But we probably aren’t at the point yet where we can talk about having demonstrated much in relation to them. Not yet, anyway. But please keep them before you as you continue to work out such things as, What is my basic understanding of the Gospel? What do I believe are my core theological commitments, and how do these efforts express them, as they unfold? And how do the experiences cause me to reflect back and revise my understandings, as we go along?
Jeff Childers on Dispatches from the Trails End
9:59 am, 04.21.10
BTW — I think it’s OK to have a track in your Portfolio that is more reflective and less demonstrative, i.e. space to reflect on experiences, rather than demonstrating Outcomes. This piece may fit the reflective rather than demonstrative side, You could create a track and flag it as such.
Jeff Childers on Dispatches from the Trails End
9:57 am, 04.21.10
Thanks for pointing out the importance of creativity! I don’t know how it would work as a discrete Outcome, but creativity is meant to help constitute the stuff out of which we make our expressions and responses, or to supply the vitality evident in them.
A well-turned phrase or evocative and apt image is creative; an innovative and resourceful response to a ministry crisis is creative; creativity is always evident in a well-researched and well-written term paper. And yes, we see it in the graphic and performance arts, which some use to beautiful and powerful effect in their ministries and in addressing degree program Outcomes.
Jeff Childers on Leadership & Power Reflection
9:49 am, 04.21.10
I appreciate your reflections here. This issue of power and its relationship to leadership is a tricky one. At what point does surrender of power become an abdication of leadership? Or is abdication OK? Also, I am wondering whether you think this is mostly a matter of a person’s attitude and character, or if it translates into actual structures and policies of leadership in a community.
Jeff Childers on Reflection on Ministerial Identity
9:42 am, 04.21.10
I know that you have come to some clearer insights about your pathway and are much more comfortable with the immediate future than you were a few months ago. I am grateful for that measure of clarity and the peace that has come with it. But remember that it’s still OK to be seeking, questioning, experimenting, and remaining light on one’s feet in the face of possibly surprising alternatives.
Jeff Childers on Reflection on Ministerial Identity
9:38 am, 04.21.10
The sound track is a lovely addition — but not long enough to complete the reading.