In an era marked by profound and often deepening environmental,
social, and economic crises, we are challenged to seek
sustainable solutions to these issues. This course surveys,
analyzes, evaluates, and applies ways in which various Christian
thinkers and communities define these local and global crises
and seek sustainable solutions.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students: Graduate students will be assigned additional readings, added or
more extensive written assessments, and a 15-20 minute research
presentation not assigned to undergraduate students. These
additional requirements will draw from sources, especially
primary sources, not assigned to undergraduate students.
Graduate students will be assessed according to additional
and/or more intensive criteria, such as breadth and depth of
analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and application of sources.
Athena Title
Christianity and Sustainabilit
Prerequisite
Third- or fourth-year student standing or permission of department
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to develop the procedural skills necessary to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate diverse educational materials critically and charitably.
By the end of this course, students will be able to survey definitions and models of sustainability, as well as organizations devoted to these concerns and outcomes and communicate their findings through writing and oral presentation.
By the end of this course, students will be able to encounter, recall, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate the history of Christian theoretical and practical responses to concerns in various areas of the triple bottom line of sustainability—ecological, social, and economic.
By the end of this course, students will be able to apply knowledge from the course through experiential learning, by developing research questions and surveying local Christian ministries about sustainability.
By the end of this course, students will be able to apply course materials to personal and professional knowledge, experiences, and goals.
Topical Outline
1. Defining Sustainability
(a) History and development of the concept
(b) The triple bottom line -- ecological, social, and economic sustainability
(c) Models of sustainability
(d) Governmental and non-governmental organizations for sustainability
2. Christianity and Sustainability
(a)“The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis?”
(b) Christian models of the God-world, God-human, human-human, and human-world relationships
(c) Awakening to new concerns and responses—equity, pluralism, environmentalism
(d) Christianity and the triple bottom line—ecological, social, and economic sustainability
(e) Relating the spheres—creation, community, commerce
3. Applying Sustainability in Local Christian Communities/Organizations
(a) Sustainable ministry survey
(b) Collect, record, and analyze data from local Christian ministry
(c) Create action plan to increase ministry sustainability
(d) Provide action plan to ministry (if desired; follow-up in future semesters possible)
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
Social Awareness & Responsibility
The capacity to understand the interdependence of people, communities, and self in a global society.
