Missiology course at Protestant Theological Faculty of Charles University

Protestant Theological Faculty of the Charles University Prague

Urban Mission perspectives including exposure visit to Amsterdam

(RET6054)

2014/2015 spring semester

Teaching blocks:

1. Mar 2-3
2. Mar 9-10
3. May 18-19
(on Monday's 11.00-12.30 and 15.10-16.45, on Tuesday's 16.50-18.25)

April 16-21, 2015 Exposure trip Amsterdam (participation only possible for registered students) *

In the first (theoretical) part of the course we will study the dynamics of “Gospel-Church-context” relations mainly based on the work of Lesslie Newbigin and his successors. Students will also learn about the sociological background of the urban areas. By examining a case study of urban mission in Hungary, students will get insight in the aspects of congregation and community building as well as evangelising the youth in particular in housing-estates.

The second (practical) part of the seminar is a study trip to Amsterdam where the student will examine the cultural context of the city and the response of the Church in mission. During this visit they will around the city and try to identify the „idols of the city”, the context, culture, people groups the churches have to face in Amsterdam. The students also will participate in worship services of two different congregations. This way they will examine a more traditional and a more modern approach to the challenges of the urban setting.

During the two days study visit theological students

• Will get a taste of the context in the Netherlands and especially of Amsterdam. They will participate in a “theological sightseeing” in the city, in which they explore the culture(s) and the city idols and reflected on them from the prospective of Christian mission.
• Understand what urban mission means in a city with many nationalities, strong secularized, different non-western immigrants with their religion, and that there are many different contexts even in one city.
• Observe the role of the pastor and what role members of the church play in two congregations.
• Visit of a Sunday service and discussions with church members

* With Eurolines departure on Thursday evening 16th, return on Monday evening 20th April. Scholarships available. Own contribution 1000 CZK per person.

Impressions of Urban Mission Seminar 2011

„I learnt a lot from the trip to Amsterdam. We could see in practice what we have heard and learned before at the classes. The two church services were good example for me as a future pastor how the Sunday worship can be made different with slight changes. Walking in the red light district I was wondering how the Gospel can be preached there. This question accompanied me during the whole visit to Amsterdam. As a result now I see that the there is no boundary that can stop the Gospel, but it needs to be preached in different ways in accordance with the given context. Similarly I found the classes very useful and interactive. It was a well-structured class with good theoretical materials well linked to our own Hungarian context.” (Áron Ablonczy, 1st year students)

 „The course changed my whole view on mission. I encountered new insight that convinced me how important church planting is. I learnt from Lesssle Newbigin, that mission is not a programme of the church, but it belongs to the nature of the church. Before I lived a selfish life being concerned only about my own salvation. I learnt that our Christian congregation must be open to reach people who have nothing to do with Christianity. This requires a new model for pastors. Instead of turning our backs to the world, the pastors should prepare and empower the church to be missionaries where they are.” (Virág Bella, 1st year)

„I learned that though the context of Amsterdam is different to my background, but the Gospel is the same. And we have to proclaim the Gospel differently in different contexts.  The characteristic of a big city is that it is a conglomerate of many people from different backgrounds. Therefore we have to discover many different contexts and preach the Gospel in many different ways.” (Ilona Henrietta Nagy 2nd year)

 „I am thankful to God that I could participate in this course. Before I knew nothing about church planting, but during the semester my eyes were opened to mission prospective and to the necessity of missional churches. The course combined well the theoretical background to the practical relevance giving an insight to the methods of re-organizing and planting churches.” (Zsófia Mező 2nd year student)

“I understood one of the most important findings in Theology: seeing the city, quarter, congregation as not my area of work but God’s field. He installed us as workers in his vineyard, and He gives us all strength and company to this work. As I see where the pastors give the leadership to God, there real communities are formed. The missional attitude is able not only to attract new people to the churches but to revive the old, tired church members. The missional prospective in my understanding also means co-operation with the different denominations. (Hunor Koncz, 3rd year student)

„Before I started to attend this course, I thought I would never have any intention to start a church plant or work in urban mission. The more I read and learnt in this field during the semester, the more I felt this topic is mine. The trip to Amsterdam had great impact on both my thinking and my spiritual life. This course has renewed my spirit and theology.” (Ágnes Bobok, 1st year student)

 „I feel the course opened my eyes to a mission prospective which I did not have before.”  (Dávid Balogh 3rd year student)

 „If I had to summarize in one sentence what I had learnt in the course, I would say: we need to pay attention to the context, not caring only about our traditions and own thoughts. We should pay attention to the needs of the people, because we cannot do mission without examining the context. As a result of our short trip in Amsterdam I learnt more than in many theoretical courses I had before” (Boglárka Bikki 1st year student)

 „I never thought that this topic would touch me so deep. The trip to Amsterdam really broadened my perspective both as a Christian and as a theological student. It was a good experience, though not everything I heard was new to me, but the course made me to think about mission.” (Flóra Baintner 1st year student)