Faith-based Organising, Advocacy, and Social Transformation Certificate
Program Code: D-FOAST-C
Degree Designation: Certificate
Department: Divinity School
Website: divinity.duke.edu/academics/certificates/faith-organizing
Program Summary
The certificate in faith-based organizing, advocacy, and social transformation is for students seeking a Christian basis for involvement in either campaigning and advocacy work, community organizing, community development, conflict transformation, solidarity economy, or related forms of social, political, and economic witness. The certificate is available to students in Mdiv (residential and hybrid), MTS, and MA degree programs.
Such involvement can be a constitutive element of congregational ministry, work in not-for profit organizations (whether local, national, or international in reach), social justice activism, or part of involvement in the delivery and governance of public education, health, welfare, or housing. The certificate provides a pathway to the kinds of learning and formation needed for such endeavors. It will also connect students to others with a similar sense of vocation and direct them to expertise and learning opportunities in the Divinity School, the Center for Reconciliation, the Ormond Center, the broader university, the surrounding community, and to alumni beyond the Triangle area. In short, the certificate provides a framework for students seeking to learn how to cultivate thriving communities and a just and generous common life.
Academic Requirements
MDVR Requirements
Courses (complete 3 courses)
Core Courses (complete any) - see list below
Divinity Electives (complete any) - see list below
Elective on area of policy or practice
Listen to Podcast and Reflection
Project or Field Education
MDVH Requirements
Courses (complete 3 courses)
Core Courses (complete any) - see list below
Divinity Electives (complete 2 courses) - see list below
Listen to Podcast and Reflection
Project or Field Education within Formation for Ministry
MTS Requirements
Courses (complete 3 courses)
Core Courses (complete any) - see list below
Divinity Electives (complete 2 courses) - see list below
Thesis
Listen to Podcast and Reflection
MACP Requirements
Courses (complete 3 courses)
Core Courses (complete 2 courses) - see list below
Divinity Electives (complete any) - see list below
Listen to Podcast and Reflection
Vocational Integration Summary
Core Courses
PARISH 792 (Cultivating Thriving Communities)
WXTIAN 845 (Foundations of Conflict Transformation: Theology, Theory and Practice)
XTIANETH 813 (Listen, Organize, Act: Churches, Politics, and Community Transformation)
PARISH 802 (Prophetic Ministry: Shaping Communities of Justice)
Divinity Electives
BCS 763 (The Ethical and Political Thought of Martin Luther King, Jr.)
PARISH 792 (Cultivating Thriving Communities)
PARISH 802 (Prophetic Ministry: Shaping Communities of Justice)
PARISH 807 (The Theology and Spirituality of Place)
PARISH 809 (Restorative Justice, Prison Ministry, and the Church)
PASTCARE 761 (Introduction to the Ministry of Social Work)
WXTIAN 845 (Foundations of Conflict Transformation: Theology, Theory and Practice)
XTIANETH 813 (Listen, Organize, Act: Churches, Politics, and Community Transformation)
XTIANETH 814 (Christianity and Capitalism: A Theological Exploration)
XTIANTHE 841 (Political Theology)
XTIANTHE 842 (Womanist Theological Ethics)
WXTIAN 820 (History and Theology of Integral Mission)
XTIANTHE 779 (Introduction to Latinx Theology)
XTIANETH 819 (Ecce Homo! Christian Humanism in the Black Atlantic)
PARISH 806 (Caring for Creation)
PARISH 720 (The Incarcerated God: A History, Theology, and Ethics of Prisons)
PARISH 719 (Restorative Justice, Prison Ministry, and the Church)
Guidance for Non-Divinity Electives and Co-Curricular Requirements for Residential MDiv Students
Completion of one elective course focused on an area of policy or practice (e.g., healthcare, public health, public policy, environment, energy, food systems, schooling, prisons, housing, social work, social movements, public administration). This can be from courses offered either inside or outside the Divinity School as agreed with the certificate faculty directors (preference is given to courses external to the Divinity School).
Participation in one independent civic engagement or social action project or appropriate field education placement that involves some aspect of social, political, or economic witness as agreed in collaboration with the Office of Field Education and the faculty directors.
Listen to all episodes of the first series of the “Listen, Organize, Act!” podcast (available from the Ormond Center website) and write a 1000-word reflection on key points of learning from the podcast.
It is recommended, but not required that the students participate in designated spiritual formation groups and leadership training. This will typically entail participation in either CHURMIN 709: Sustaining Practices for Work on the Margins or CHURMIN 708 (Berean Cohort) spiritual formation group for at least one year.
It is recommended, but not required that the student undertake a version of the Industrial Areas Foundation’s 2 or 5-day training (or equivalent with parallel networks such as Faith in Action). Access to this training can be arranged via a church or organization in membership with an organizing network.
It is recommended but not required that students undertake the Summer Institute for Reconciliation.
Guidance for Co-Curricular Requirements for Hybrid MDiv Students
Participation/volunteer in either one independent civic engagement initiative, social action project, initiative in your vocational sector, campaign for social justice, or community-related church ministry that involves some aspect of social, political, or economic witness as agreed in collaboration with the faculty directors within Formation for Ministry.
Listen to all episodes of the first series of the “Listen, Organize, Act!” podcast (available from the Ormond Center website) and write a 1500-word reflection on key points of learning from the podcast in dialogue with and as they relate to the civic engagement/social action/ministry project participated in.
It is recommended, but not required, that the student undertake a version of the Industrial Areas Foundation’s 2 or 5-day training (or equivalent with parallel networks such as Faith in Action). Access to this training can be arranged via a church or organization in membership with an organizing network.
It is recommended but not required, that students undertake the Summer Institute for Reconciliation.
Guidance for Thesis and Co-Curricular Requirements for MTS Students
Write a thesis on a topic related to the certificate, as negotiated with faculty directors.
Listen to all episodes of the first series of the “Listen, Organize, Act!” podcast (available from the Ormond Center website) and write a 1500-word reflection on key points of learning from the podcast, ideally as these points of reflection relate to some experience/involvement in civic or community engagement.
It is recommended, but not required, that the student participate/volunteer in one independent civic engagement or social action project or appropriate church placement that involves some aspect of social, political, or economic witness.
Guidance for Final Elective and Co-Curricular Requirements for MA Students
Complete an assignment related to the aims and objectives of the certificate in a third course (arranged with the instructor)
Participation/volunteer in either one independent civic engagement initiative, social action project, an initiative in your vocational sector, campaign for social justice, or community-related church ministry that involves some aspect of social, political, or economic witness as agreed in collaboration with the faculty directors.
Listen to all episodes of the first series of the “Listen, Organize, Act!” podcast (available from the Ormond Center website) and write a 1500-word reflection on key points of learning from the podcast that relates to and in dialogue with the civic engagement/social action/ministry project participated in.
Complete a 1000-word summary about how the student’s current vocational work integrates with the specific concerns and focus of the certificate.