Empowerment - Core

Instructor:

Dr. Robert Lupton, President of FCS Urban Ministries

”Give a person a fish and they will eat for a day, teach them how to fish and they will eat for a lifetime; if they have the skills to access or own the pond.  A commitment to empowerment moves us to create an atmosphere where men, women, and young people in under served communities can grow to become contributing members of society.   Instead of giving people hand outs and focusing on trying to make people’s lives ‘better’, empowerment focuses on creating opportunities for the poor to break out of poverty and dependence, so that they can provide for their own needs and the needs of their families.  

In this workshop, we will explore proven strategies that can help your ministry do a more effective job of empowering others.

Key Objectives:

• To understand the difference between betterment activities and empowerment activities
• To asses the effectiveness of our ministry efforts related to empowerment
• To move from simply empowering individuals to developing strategies for empowering entire communities

Required Reading:

How do people, programs and neighborhoods move toward reciprocal, interdependent relationships? To effect these types of changes will require new skill sets and resources, but the possibilities for good are great.

Relocation: Living Among the People - Core

Instructor:

Andy Bales, President of Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles, CA

“Jesus relocated. He didn’t commute to earth one day a week and shoot back up to heaven. He left His throne and became one of us so that we might see the life of God revealed in Him” — John Perkins 1982, 88

“Jesus isn’t here right now, we need to be Jesus in the neighborhood!” — John Perkins at 2002 CCDA Conference

How did Jesus love? "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) Jesus relocated. He became one of us. He didn't commute back and forth to heaven. Similarly, the most effective messenger of the gospel to the poor will also live among the poor that God has called the person to. A key phrase to understand relocation is incarnational ministry.

In this Institute class, we will explore both theological and practical aspects of living among the poor, and provide students an opportunity to dialogue about the benefits and challenges of incarnational living.

Key Objectives:

• To gain a clear Biblical basis for incarnational ministry
• To explore practical strategies for relocation
• To provide a safe place to dialogue about the benefits and challenges of living in the community

Required Reading:

Ministering Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational Model for Personal Relatinoships, by Sherwood Lingenfelter and Marvin K. Mayers

Ministering Cross-Culturally examines the significance of the incarnation for effective cross-cultural ministry. The authors demonstrates that Jesus needed to learn and understand the culture in which he lived before he could undertake his public ministry. The ideas in this book have proven proven to be successful for thousands of ministers.

Indigenous Leadership Development - Core

Instructor:

Dr. Wayne ‘Coach’ Gordon, Lead Pastor of Lawndale Community Church & Chairman of the Board of CCDA

The sustainability of an effective CCD ministry is fueled by the presence of indigenous leaders in every area of ministry and leadership. In this class students will learn biblical principals and key best practices that can be utilized to create a ministry culture where men and women are prepared to become the next generation of church and community leaders in your city.

Key Objectives:

• To explore the Scriptures regarding our call to develop indigenous Christian leaders for our ministries and for our community
• To develop a clear theology of leadership
• To identify some of the challenges to developing strong indigenous leaders
• To look at practical ways to develop indigenous leaders
• To look at leadership development within the context of a CCD ministry

Required Reading: 

Real Hope in Chicago, by Wayne L. Gordon and Randall Frame

Real Hope in Chicago is Wayne Gordon's inspiring account of how people, white and black, rich and poor, old and young, worked together to transform a decaying neighborhood into a place where love is lived out in practical and miraculous ways. It offers an exciting model for interracial cooperation, urban-suburban church partnering--and real hope for the inner cities of our nation.

Reconciliation: Bridging the Racial Divide - Core

Instructors:

Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, President, Skinner Leadership Institute

Dr. Isaías Mercado, Pastor, La Casa Del Carrpintero

The Church ought to be the greatest advocate for racial, cultural, and economic diversity in all of society.  If Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) ministries are to be ’Champions of Reconciliation” in this new Millennium we must take an honest look at the attitudes, the misconceptions, and the systems and structures that keep us from experiencing Biblical reconciliation.  Beyond traditional Black and White dialogues on race, we seek to engage unheard voices in this journey toward a redeemed community. Beyond traditional Black-White dialogue, we see this as a new day to engage unheard voice in this journey toward a redeemed community.  Through exploring scripture, sharing practical experiences and engaging in honest dialogue, we will seek to increase the reconciliation efforts and capacities of our ministries.

Key Objectives:

• To provide students with a Biblical perspective on racial reconciliation
• To understand how God’s radical grace impacts our views and attitudes about reconciliation
• To explore the implications of living in a racialized society
• To gain a clear understanding on the changing face of our world and nation and its impact for racial reconciliation
• To provide students with practical tools that can help them live out reconciliation in their personal lives and in their ministry settings
• To define the terms that impact racial reconciliation
• To provide a setting for honest dialogue on the topic of reconciliation

Required Reading: The Personal Transformation Through Reconciliation Workbook by Dr. Barbara Skinner.

Wholistic Ministry - Core

Instructor:

Dr. Jimmy M. Dorrell, Founder and Executive Director of Mission Waco in Waco, Texas; Pastor of Church Under the Bridge; Adjunct Professor at George W. Truett Theological Seminary (Baylor)

Based on a biblical theology of “wholeness,” it is important that Christians doing community development understand how to assess needs, develop programs, sustain funding, train staff, and evaluate their efforts. This workshop will focus on integrating faith and appropriate program development that addresses the wholistic needs of people. Programs for children and youth will be discussed along with adult special needs, including job programs, literacy, homelessness, alcohol/drug rehabilitation, and basic needs assistance.

Key Objectives:

• To help urban ministers base their work in a biblical theology
• To help practitioners understand the historical issues that have shaped current thinking about urban ministry and Christian community development.
• To help urban ministers understand the various “self images” of local churches so that they can work effectively with them.
• To understand the process of change
• How to set realistic, age-appropriate expectations for programs
• To help urban ministers design effective programs
• To recognize “best practices” of other national programs
• To learn more about funding streams to support wholistic programs.

Required Reading:

Trolls & Truth: 14 Realities About Today's Church That We Don't Want to See, by Jimmy Dorrell

The power of the gospel is revealed through a local church of homeless people, college students, and middle-class Christians who meet beneath the noise of 18-wheelers and rushing traffic under an interstate bridge in Waco, Texas, and brings a wake-up call for today's American church.

Redistribution: Working Towards a Just Distribution of Resources - Core

Instructors: 

Shane Claiborne, Co-founder of the Simple Way

Craig Wong, Executive Director of Grace Urban Ministries, Inc.

“Redistribution is not a prescription for community.  Redistribution is a description of what happens when people fall in love with each other across class lines.”  - Shane Claiborne, in The Irresistible Revolution 

Redistribution brings new skills, new relationships, and new resources and puts them to work to empower the residents of a given community of need to bring about healthy transformation. This is redistribution. Christian Community Development ministries harness the commitment and energy of men, women, and young people living in the community, and others who care about their community, and find creative avenues to develop jobs, schools, health centers, home ownership opportunities, and other enterprises of long-term development.

In this class, we will also explore how to work towards a just distribution of resources and the role of doing justice in underserved communities.

Key Objectives:

• Explore a theology of enough and the Christian responsibility to share their wealth with those in need
• To look at creative examples of redistribution from around the nation

Required Reading:

The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical, by Shane Claiborne

Using unconventional examples from his own life, Shane Claiborne stirs up questions about the church and the world, and challenges readers to truly live out their Christian faith.

Listening to the Community - Core

Instructors:

Dr. Ray Rivera, President of the Latino Pastoral Action Center

Dr. Luis Carlo, Associate Dean of Nyack College, NYC

In order to build trust with people who may be suspicious about our motives for being in the ‘hood’ because of negative past experiences, stereotypes, or ignorance, we must begin by getting to know people right where they are at.  As we listen to their stories and get to know their hopes and concerns for the present and future, we also begin to identify one another’s deepest felt-needs; those hurts and longings that allows us opportunities to connect with people on a deeper level, which is always necessary for true reconciliation to take place.

It is essential for community leaders to help the community focus on maximizing their strengths and abilities to make a difference for their community. The philosophy of Christian Community Development believes that the people with the problem have the best solutions and opportunities to solve those problems.

Christian Community Development affirms the dignity of individuals and encourages the engagement of the community to use their own resources and assets to bring about sustainable change.
 

Key Objectives:

• To understand the importance of listening to others as an act of respect and empowerment
• To learn some new tools for discovering the assets of our communities
• To explore the tension that exists between focusing on meeting needs and developing assets in a given community

Required Reading:  

Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community's Assets, by John P. Kretzmann and John L. McKnight

This guide summarizes lessons learned by studying successful community-building initiatives in hundreds of neighborhoods across the U.S. It outlines what local communities can do to start their own journeys down the path of asset-based development.

Church Based Community Development- Core

Instructor:

Dr. Wayne ‘Coach’ Gordon, Lead pastor of Lawndale Community Church & Chairman of the Board for CCDA

It is the responsibility of the local church to evangelize, disciple and nurture people in their Christian life. It is also the responsibility of the church to love our under resourced neighbors and neighborhoods. Churches that are rooted in the community should be seen as lovers of their community and neighborhoods.

Christian Community Development sees the church as taking action towards the development of its community. It is out of the life and presence of the church body in the neighborhood that ideas and ministry programs should emerge.

Key Objectives:

• To explore the various philosophies of church ministry that exist today
• To understand the distinctives of being a community or ‘parish’ church
• To examine the core competencies of a church-based community development ministry

Required Reading:

Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development, by Dr. John M. Perkins

The urban poor are oppressed, observes Perkins, but not always in the ways normally thought. They oppress themselves by clinging to their role as "victims". From the wisdom gained in his many years of working with both black and white church leaders, Perkins helps readers rethink their assumptions about what inner-city ministry should be and relates what the Bible says it is.

Developmental Youth Ministry - Elective

Instructors:

Dr. Dan Hodge, Director of the Center for Hip Hop Studies and Urban Culture

Dr. Ron Ruthruff, Director of Ministry and Program Development for New Horizons Ministries

Yvonne Sawyer, Executive Director of Family & Children Faith Coalition of Florida

A common denominator in virtually every effective CCD ministry is a strong and flourishing children's and youth ministry that empowers the lives of young people and engages them in community ministry. In this class we will explore the unique characteristics of youth ministry that is ‘Developmental' in its theology, philosophy and practice. Developmental Youth Ministry sees evangelism, discipleship, life-skills development, education, and a radical commitment to justice and community transformation as essential to the leadership development process.

Key Objectives:

• To examine a Biblical framework for developmental ministry (Helping children become empowered adults, growing in their leadership of our churches and in society along the way)
• To gain a better understanding of the stages of development for children and adolescents
• To Introduce the 40 Developmental Assets model developed by the Search Institute as a potential framework for more effective youth development
• To assess whether our current models of discipleship and leadership development are more focused on ‘bettering’ their lives or on developing their full potential as leaders
• To develop a profile of what an empowered young person looks like, and discover key principles we can implement in our programs to achieve that end
• To examine some ‘best practices’ from urban youth ministries nationwide

Required Reading:

Reclaiming Our Prodigal Sons and Daughters: A Practical Approach for Connecting with Youth in Conflict, by Scott Larson and Larry Brendtro

This resource provides you with a penetrating portrayal of the rootlessness of many of today’s youth and offers you a powerful, practical plan for reaching them. The authors bring perspectives from at-risk youth and base their ideas on the best research and practices available on positive youth development.

Economic Development in the Hood - Elective

Instructor: 

Dr. Mary Nelson , Senior Associate at Bethel New Life

The long term stability of an individual’s life will be greatly dependent on their ability to earn a livable wage. To this end the existence of viable employment options and business ownership also create more stable communities. In this workshop we will explore the challenges of creating and leveraging activity that will result in sustainable economic development in under resourced communities. We will especially look at how churches and faith-based ministries can engage in this process.

Key Objectives:

• To gain clarity about what Christian community economic development is and is not.
• To gain a basic understanding of the different approaches and  roles for community economic development.
• To determine first steps in developing economic development initiatives and suggestions for follow-up.

Required Reading:   

Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community's Assets, by John P. Kretzmann and John L. McKnight

This guide summarizes lessons learned by studying successful community-building initiatives in hundreds of neighborhoods across the U.S. It outlines what local communities can do to start their own journeys down the path of asset-based development.

Harnessing the Forces of Gentrification for the Kingdom - Elective

Instructor:

Dr. Bob Lupton, President of FCS Urban Ministries

Gentrification; the revitalization of urban communities often at the expense of the poor - is a powerful new nationwide movement that is gaining momentum and will impact virtually all urban ministries in the near future. Some will oppose it as a curse upon the poor. A more promising approach is harnessing its force for the benefit of the poor.

In this Institute class, Dr. Bob Lupton, veteran community developer, takes us into the complex dynamics of gentrification, explores its challenges and opportunities, and examines practical, proven strategies that produce gentrification with justice. Two real-time Atlanta communities that are currently in the process of transformation will serve as living laboratories for the course. Participants will see firsthand how communities are assessed, plans are developed, strategies are implemented and deals are made, all for redemptive impact on gentrifying neighborhoods.

Key Objectives:

• To learn practical assessment tools for determining the readiness of a community to gentrify
• To understand how a redevelopment plan is structured and implemented within the community
• To examine how partnerships and funding can have major impact in harnessing gentrification for Kingdom purposes

Required Reading:

Renewing The City: Reflections On Community Development And Urban Renewal, by Robert D. Lupton

Community developer and urban activist Robert Lupton looks to the Old Testament example of Nehemiah as a role model for community transformation and renewal. Lupton sees the book of Nehemiah as the memoirs of an urban developer who transformed a decaying city into a place of security and vitality.

Developing Urban & Suburban Partnerships - Elective

Instructor:

Rev. Alvin Bibbs, Willow Creek Association 

Whether you represent a church or a ministry exploring partnership opportunities, partnerships can help you maximize resources, decrease duplication of effort, and increase your capacity for the greater good of the Kingdom. In this workshop we will discuss, assess and explore ideas for building, resourcing and sustaining mutually beneficial partnerships. As a result of these partnerships, the value of reconciliation is naturally expressed and lived out.  

Key Objectives:

• Gain perspective on the value of connection between a wholistic compassion ministry and an authentic partnership
• Identify the benefits and results of ministry partnerships
• Begin to assess, identify, select and initiate a transforming partner relationship
• Create a partnership resourcing plan for finances, staff and volunteers Instructor: Rev. Alvin Bibbs, Willow Creek Association

Required Reading:

Cross-Cultural Connections: Stepping Out and Fitting in Around the World, by Duane Elmer

Duane Elmer offers the tools needed to reduce apprehension, communicate effectively and establish genuine trust and acceptance between cultures while demonstrating how we can avoid being cultural imperialists and instead become authentic ambassadors for Christ.

An Introduction to Community Development & Organizing - Elective

Instructor:

Richard Townsell, Senior Business Development Manager for Fannie Mae

In this class, participants will learn some of the principles and practices of church based community development as practiced by the Lawndale Christian Development Corporation and other community development corporations.  This course presents the relationship between biblical faith and community development theory and practice through discussions of effective models of community development, and an overview of the resources and leadership skills necessary for effective community development.

Key Objectives:

• The participants will learn some of the theologies, philosophies and methodologies that influence urban ministry as developed by the Christian Community Development Association and be able to evaluate the strengths and limitations of each in a variety of urban contexts.
• The participants will learn about asset based community development and build a plan for mobilizing the assets and talents of their community versus focusing on the deficiencies and needs of the community.
• The participants will discuss organizing a constituency and developing a community plan.  Implicit in that plan is an understanding of power, leaders, relationships and negotiation.

Required Reading:

Going Public: An Inside Story of Disrupting Politics As Usual, by Michael Gecan

A New York city neighborhood once called " the beginning of the end of civilization" is where Michael Gecan starts. Hired by residents to help them save their community, he and local leaders spend more than a decade wrestling New York politicians in an impassioned effort against all odds that brings in five thousand new homes.

Equipping Youth for Financial Literacy - Elective

Instructors:

Dr. Amy Sherman, Ph.D. Center on Faith in Communities & Editorial Director, FASTEN

Brian Jenkins, CEO, Entrenuity; Barbara Schneider, Powell Center for Economic Literacy

Donna Broughton, Powell Center for Economic Literacy

This one-day EleVate class hones in on three important issues related to youth economic development: economic literacy, financial life skills, and youth entrepreneurship. Participants will gain a Biblical foundation for thinking about economics; practical skills in teaching economic and financial literacy skills to youth; and a vision for launching youth entrepreneurship activities.

Key Objectives:

• To lay the Foundation of Biblical principles for economic literacy
• To introduce the Keynote Economic Concepts framework
• To introduce Economis: An On-Line Token Economy for Your Ministry
• To introduce Youth Entrepreneurship Development

Required Reading: To be determined

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