alternative assignment: take the Sweet-Tickle plunge

After a couple class sessions and becoming familiar with the basic teachings of Leonard Sweet and Phyllis Tickle regarding the unique time we live in, some of you may be ready to take the challenge"

I will let (allow/dare/bless) anyone who wants to,

as an alternative to ALL THREE PAPERS ...and the mid-term (!)....

substitute ONE paper (6-8 pages) :

Paper:Summarize the views of Leonard Sweet regarding what he calls the "EPIC" days we are living in, and the argument of Phyllis Tickle that we are in a "once-in-500-years" juncture in church history. Draw out implications for what church leadership should/can look like in our day if we talke seriously both our biblical foundations and the times we live in. Suggest implications that may especially apply to Hispanic leaders or churches; and suggest implications that may be especially relevant for those in the Pentecostal/charismatic stream of the church.

Sources: Two books: "Postmodern Pilgrims" (or "Aqua Church" or "Aqua Church 2.0") by Sweet and "The Great Emergence" by Phyllis Tickle. Of course, your best bet is to read both books; but with the many articles, podcasts and excerpts we have already posted (and will post) on the "Helpful Websites" section of this blog; I will accept a paper that shows a serious engagement with the views of both authors , whether or not the entire books have been read.

Note: books can be very cheap on Amazon.com if you check "new and used" ;I see the Sweet "Aqua Church" book is 37 cents right now).

HELP:I would not be surprised if you could score an interview with one or both authors(Sweet's website is here, Tickle's is here) for an interview about these questions...they are both delightful and accessible "real"people; and I can help with contact. Just be sure you have done your homework and have a basic grasp of their overall arguments before the interview.

Videos of the Shackelton Saga

"Shackelton was a man clearly of his time, but a man also clearly living before his time.
He combined the prophetic and priestly functions of leadership. He reached out to where his crew was (priest) and reached out to where his crew was not but needed to go (prophetic).
He could 'tell it like it is,' but was willing to tell it like it was not but ought to be. Reaching people where they are is how leaders form relationships. But reaching people where they are not is how leaders form hope for 'what you can be' and help construct an imaginary toward which people can direct their steps. If 'what is' is not seen in light of 'what ought to be,' if the priestly isn't built on the prophetic, what comes forth is the therapeutic."
-Sweet, p, 22

Since Leonard Sweet draws from the story of Ernest Shackelton (some call him "the greatest leader") 's Antarctic expedition in our textbook,

here below are some video clips to complement your reading/experience of that story. I have also posted links to several Shackelton articles under "Helpful Websites" on the left hand column of this site. Enjoy!

A young man's school report on Shackelton:


Trailer for "The Endurance," movie about Shackelton:


Actual pictures of Shackelton and the expedition:



Basic story of Shackelton and the Endurance: