SCCs Course Outline at Tangaza University College, Nairobi from January to April, 2019
TANGAZA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE:
PTC 418: SMALL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES AS A NEW MODEL OF CHURCH IN AFRICA TODAY
(3 HOURS/WEEK, 2 CREDITS)
SECOND SEMESTER JANUARY- APRIL 2019
COURSE OUTLINE:
Name of Institution: Tangaza University College Faculty: School of Theology
Department: Pastoral Theology Academic Year: 2018 – 2019
Semester: 2nd Semester (January – March 2019) Course Code: PTC 418
Credit Hours: 2hrs Classroom Location: Hall, B17, B3
Lecture Times: 8.30 am – 11.25 am (Thursdays) Prerequisites: N/A
Lecturers:
Mwanajumuia Fr. Joseph Healey, MM. Email: JGHealey@aol.com
Mwanajumuia Fr. Eligius Mkulima, CSSp. Email: eligiusnjau@gmail.com
Mwanajumuia Fr. Nicholas Obiero, CP. Email: obieronicholas585@gmail.com
Purpose of the Course
Examines how Small Christian Communities (SCCs) are a “New Way of Being/Becoming Church” and a “New Model of Church” in Africa today.
Expected Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Appreciate SCCs not as projects and programs, but as a way of life and being/becoming church today.
- Know how to facilitate SCC gatherings and activities in the parishes/dioceses/schools.
- Understand the roles and responsibilities of different members in SCCs.
- Enhance better ways of collaboration among different members of SCCs.
- Share personal, practical, pastoral experiences in SCCs with one another.
Course Content
SCCs Resources, Tools and Methods; Ecclesial Communities in Vatican II and Post-Conciliar Documents; History and Theology of SCCs in Africa Especially in the AMECEA Region; Key Pastoral Priority of Building SCCs in the AMECEA Region and Africa; How Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, Brothers, Sisters and Catechists Animate SCCs in Parishes and Schools in Eastern Africa; SCCs Facilitation and Leadership Skills; Importance of Lay Participation and Active Involvement in the SCCs; Participation of Youth in SCCs and Forming Specific Young People Small Christian Communities (YPSCCs) in Africa; Missionary Life and Outreach of SCCs in Africa and Beyond; SCCs Involvement in the 2019 Kenya Lenten Campaign; Lumko Method of Bible Sharing in SCCs; Pastoral Challenges in SCCs today.
Mode of Delivery
Lectures, case studies, group and class discussions, workshop approach, practical assignments and presentations, guest speakers.
Instructional Materials
Students handouts, video and power-point presentations, internet, textbooks.
Course Assessment
Student’s Assessment: There will be two exams for this course. The first will be a take-home term paper (Continuous Assessment Task) of between 3-5 pages and will involve a Case Study on a Small Christian Community of one’s interest, using the three steps of See, Judge and Act. This will be written out and handed back in class before the Mid-Semester Break on Thursday, 21 February 2019. It will be marked out of 20%.
The Final Exam will be more comprehensive, requiring integration of the entire course. It will be written, and the questions will (not exclusively) be of a short essay type. Their purpose will be to test the integration of the materials presented in class and the materials from reading assignments. You must be able to demonstrate that integration in the exam with specific examples from your personal, practical, pastoral experiences (Class DVDs, SCC Website, SCCs Facebook Page and Class Discussions). This will be marked out of 50%. Lastly, class attendance and active participation in class practicums and contributions will earn you 10% of the remaining marks.
Academic Staff Performance: Observation by Head of Department/Dean; peer evaluation at faculty level; end of semester course evaluation completed by students.
Core Reading Materials
Ahern, K. and Malano, C.D., eds. (2018). God’s Quad: Small Faith Communities on
Campus and Beyond, Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books. Paperback and Ebook
available on Amazon.
AMECEA, Child Safeguarding: Standards and Guidelines, Nairobi: Paulines
Publications Africa, 2019.
Chimombo, E., Healey, J., Ishengoma, R., Mulenga, F., Musimba, R. & Omolo, A., eds.
(2018). Strengthening the Growth of Small Christian Communities in Africa: A
Training Handbook for Facilitators. Second Revised Edition. Nairobi, Kenya:
Paulines Publications Africa. Paperback and Ebook available on Amazon.
Documentation on the Synod of Bishops in October, 2018 on Young People, Faith and
Vocational Discernment including the Working Document (Instrumentum
Laboris) and the Final Document.
Healey, J. (2012). Building the Church as Family of God: Evaluation of Small Christian
Communities in Eastern Africa. Eldoret, Kenya: AMECEA Gaba Publications.
The Online Digital (Ebook or Electronic Book) Version of this book is regularly
updated as a free, online Ebook and is available on the left-hand side under
“Ebooks” of the “Home Page” of the Small Christian Communities Global Collaborative Website at:
https://smallchristiancommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Build_new.pdf
Paperback and Ebook available on Amazon.
Internet Resources and Websites especially the Small Christian Communities
(SCCs) Global Collaborative Website (including the Small Christian
Communities Facebook Page). www.smallchristiancommunities.org
Kenya Lenten Campaign Booklet (2019). Theme: “Uniting, Healing and Renewal of our
Nation…God’s Gift.” See especially Week Two on “Family Values.”
Recommended Reference Materials
Cowan, Michael A. and Lee, Bernard J. (Eds), (1997). Conversation, Risk and Conversion: The Inner and Public Life of Small Christian Communities, Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books.
Foley, Gerald, (1995). Family – Centered Church: A New Parish Model, Kansas City, MO: Sheed and Ward.
Flynn, K. (2007). Communities for the Kingdom: A Handbook for Small Christian
Community Leaders, Eldoret, Kenya: AMECEA Gaba Publications.
Healey, J. & J. Hinton, eds. (2005). Small Christian Communities Today: Capturing the
New Moment. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books and Nairobi, Kenya: Paulines
Publications Africa.
Kleissler, Thomas A., Margo A. LeBert and Mary C. McGuinness (Eds), (1991). Small Christian Communities: A Vision of Hope, Mahwah, New York: Paulist Press.
Lobinger, F. (2000). Training for Community Ministries: Building Small Christian
Communities, Lumko No. 19M. Nairobi, Kenya: Paulines Publications Africa.
Mkulima, Eligius (2014). “Building SCCs as a Method for New Evangelization” in
Spiritan Mission to the Maasai in the Archdiocese of Arusha in Tanzania: A
Pastoral Approach in the Light of the New Evangelization. Arusha: Candid Press.
Segundo, J. L. (1973). The Community Called Church. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis
Books.
Ugeux, B. and P. Lefebvre (2002). Small Christian Communities and Parishes. Nairobi,
Kenya: Paulines Publications Africa.
Vandenakker, John Paul, (1994). Small Christian Communities and the Parish, Kansas City, MO: Sheed and Ward.
Wijsen, Frans, Peter Henriot, and Rodrigo Mejia, eds. (2006). The Pastoral Circle
Revisited: A Critical Quest for Truth and Transformation. Maryknoll, New York:
Orbis Books and Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa.
Course Syllabus:
This course will be covered within the following topics:
- Introduction to, and Overview of, our SCCs Course.
- SCCs Resources, Tools and Methods.
- Theology and History of SCCs in Vatican II Document and in Africa especially in AMECEA. Key Pastoral Priority of Building SCCs in Eastern Africa.
- How Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, Brothers, Sisters and Catechists Animate SCCs in Parishes and Schools in Eastern Africa.
- Facilitation and Leadership Skills in SCCs.
- Importance of Lay Participation and Active Involvement in SCCs.
- Participation of Young People in SCCs in Africa and Forming Specific Young Small Christian Communities (YPSCCs) in Africa.
- SCCs Involvement in the 2019 Kenya Lenten Campaign: Week Two on “Family Values”.
- Final Summary and Integration of SCCs Course.
Teaching Schedule for the Semester
Week 1
| Date | Theme of Lecture | Further reading/assignment |
| January 10th | Introduction to, and Overview of, our SCCs Course.
SCCs Resources, Tools and Methods. |
|
| Bible Sharing |
Week 2
| Date | Theme of Lecture | Further reading/assignment |
| January 17th | Theology and History of SCCs in Vatican II and in Africa especially in AMECEA.
Key Pastoral Priority of Building SCCs in Eastern Africa.
|
|
| Ukweli Video on SCCs |
Week 3
| Date | Theme of Lecture | Further reading/assignment |
| January 24th | How Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, Brothers, Sisters, and Catechists Animate SCCs in Parishes and Schools in Eastern Africa.
|
|
| Bible Sharing |
Week 4
| Date | Theme of Lecture | Further reading/assignment |
| January 31st |
Facilitation Skills. |
|
| Group Dynamics |
Week 5
| Date | Theme of Lecture | Further reading/assignment |
| February 7th |
Leadership Skills. |
|
| Group Dynamics |
Week 6
| Date | Theme of Lecture | Further reading/assignment |
| February 14th | Importance of Lay Participation and Active Involvement in SCCs.
|
|
| Bible Sharing |
Week 7
| Date | Theme of Lecture | Further reading/assignment |
| February 21st | Participation of Young People in SCCs in Africa and Forming Specific Young People Small Christian Communities (YPSCCs) in Africa. |
· Final Document of the Synod of Bishops in October, 2018 on Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment. |
| Bible Sharing |
CAT (Assignment/Reflection paper submitted on February 21st).
Mid-Semester Break (February 28th)
Week 8
| Date | Theme of Lecture | Further reading/assignment |
| March 7th | SCCs Involvement in the 2019 Kenya Lenten Campaign. | · 2019 Kenya Lenten Campaign Booklet: Uniting, Healing and Renewal of our Nation… God’s Gift – Week Two on “Family Values” that includes the challenge of child abuse and the specific topic: “SCCs Promotes Child Protection in the Neighborhood.”
|
| See, Judge, Act |
Week 9
| Date | Theme of Lecture | Further reading/assignment |
| March 14th | Final Summary and Integration of SCCs Course. |
|
APRIL – FINAL EXAM (Written).
Lecturers:
Mwanajumuia Fr. Joseph Healey (Box 18) Signed: ……………………………
Mwanajumuia Fr. Eligius Mkulima (Reception) Signed: ……………………………
Mwanajumuia Fr. Nicholas Obiero (Reception) Signed: ……………………………