Urban Ministries Course Descriptions

The Urban Ministries Track in the Division of Intercultural Studies is designed for both professional and lay people wishing to understand human needs and community development opportunities. Course work develops skills in identifying and marshaling resources to meet those needs. Careful consideration is given to the unique challenges of friendship evangelism in an ethnically diverse and complex society.

The program offers students the unique opportunity to study the sociology of community development from a Christian perspective. Professors are concerned about the intellectual and spiritual development of each student. The curriculum combines concurrent on-campus and field work in a range of human service organizations and settings.

UMS 505 - How the City Works. This survey course acquaints the student with the social, economic, and political systems in an urban community using Metropolitan Portland as a model. Structures of authority, systems of finance, social care, and other services to the urban resident will be analyzed. Students will also be introduced to several models of urban ministries. 2 hours.

UMS 506 - Theology of the City. The Theology of the City guides the student in developing a theology of mission for the city using Scripture as the primary text in addition to other relevant writings. It assists the student in gaining an understanding of the complexity of the power structures in a city, showing the relationship between the spiritual, political, and socio-economic dimensions, and how they affect the quality of life of its population. Metropolitan Portland will be used as a primary case study. 2 hours.

UMS 510 – Meeting Human Needs in the City. The course covers the preparation for applying the Great Commandment principle in addressing human needs in a community. It guides the student in developing their attitude and skills of Christian servanthood in meeting community and human needs. Serving in a specific community under the guidance of the community leaders, the student will learn to assess the various needs and resources of the community. The student will develop the understanding and skills of meeting human needs in a redemptive manner. 2 hours.

UMS 511 - Facilitating Community Transformation. This course focuses on the socio-economic, political, and religious dimensions of the city, and the principles and practice of transforming a city or community for the Great Commission. Attendance of community forums provides the student the experience of developing a partnered ministry among Christian resources in the community. The student learns to identify and marshal Christian, community, and urban resources for accomplishing the tasks of the Great Commission in the context of the Great Commandment. 2 hours.

UMS 531 - Urban Ministry Internship. Students live and minister in an urban community different from their own. This "cultural immersion" includes competent supervision, rigorous accountability, continued theoretical input, and practical application, and may include language learning. Timing and location are flexible, but normally a minimum of six months length is required. 2-8 hours.

UMS 541 - Strategic Planning and Granting Writing for Urban Ministry.

This course guides the student in accomplishing a basic community demographic survey, formulating a vision for a ministry, and building strategic planning skills. Models and methods for effective change will be studied, followed by the development of competence in grant seeking and grant writing to help bring the vision into reality. 2 hours.

UMS 543 The Life and Ministry of Senior Adults. The student will examine the human aging process and how older people work and live in modern, urban settings. How is aging affected by the individual choices of diet, physical exercise, pursuit of mental challenges, self-efficacy, spiritual nurture, and involvement with other people? The student will explore ways of providing senior adults with a clear sense of purpose and belonging, particularly through meaningful involvement in local church or community ministry.

UMS 580 - Individualized Research. An elective research seminar course designed to meet the specific needs of the individual student. Direct guidance by a professor within the discipline gives an opportunity for a significant learning experience. 1-4 hours.