Disruptive Inclusion: Why and How Christian Adult Learning is For Everyone

by Jen Smith

Overview

What is Christian adult learning? What questions are raised when Christian faith and learning meet? Many existing approaches primarily address issues such as curriculum content or teacher character. Building on the work of John Hull, Disruptive Inclusion approaches the intersection of theology and pedagogy suggesting that the christianness of Christian adult learning is best expressed by the posture adopted by learners, not only via what is taught and by whom. Specifically, Jen Smith claims that a key to Christian adult learning posture is how learners include the unexpected and disruptive in their learning. Drawing on key resources, such as the biblical narrative, Christian tradition, liturgy, community and her own experiences, Jen takes us on a deeply personal and practical journey into disruptive inclusion and invites us to re-imagine what effective Christian adult learning might look like in the classroom, pulpit and online learning settings.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780334065333
Publisher:	Hymns Ancient & Modern
Publication date:	03/31/2024
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.38(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Jen Smith is a tutor at the Queen’s Foundation Birmingham. She has a Masters in Biblical Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena California and a PhD in Theology from the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. Her doctoral research focused on Christian adult learning methodology and she is passionate about facilitating conversation about what it means to teach and learn both in the church and other theological educational settings.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements: Prologue: Part I: Re-directing the conversation 1: Me, you and Christian adult learning 2: From here to somewhere else: why and how? Interlude: Learning in and from the Bible Part II: Re-defining the task 3: The Christian basis for adult learning. Theology practised 4: The Christian basis for adult learning. Practice theologised 5: The Christian distinctives of disruptive inclusion: new questions and new answers to old questions. Part III: Re-shaping practice 6: Disruptive inclusion and classroom learning 1 7: Disruptive inclusion from the pulpit 8: Disruptive inclusion and online learning Epilogue: always under construction?

Editorial Reviews

"Robust, helpful books on Christian adult learning are a rarity. Jen Smith has gifted us one! Inspired by and building upon John Hull's ground-breaking What Prevents Christian Adults from Learning? published in 1985, Jen has produced a masterpiece of practical theology. Offering us her new model of disruptive inclusion, Jen lays out an exciting vision of learning which is scholarly, biblically-grounded, accessible and achievable. This is a must-read for all teachers, preachers and educators that could offer a whole new vision for their work of 'making disciples'."

Trevor Cooling

"Jen provides a helpful contribution for those interested in reflecting on how adults can learn in a way that is Christian. The book invites us to embrace the disruptive in church life as well as in the classroom, as part of our Christian journey. Jen weaves personal stories together with biblical reflection, great anecdotes and important literary voices."

Selina Stone

"Jen Smith is eminently qualified to write a classic text on adult Christian learning, and she has done so in this engaging and inclusive wisdom text. Passionate about adult Christian learning as something beyond the classroom and fundamental to Christian discipleship, Jen models the very best of disruptive and inclusive practice, both in what she writes and in how she lives and teaches. This text is rooted in excellent scholarship, both biblical and pedagogical, but is accessible to readers who don’t think of themselves as scholars and is written in such a way as to stimulate conversation all the way through. It is also rooted in the lifelong journey of learning, and demonstrates the curiosity, wonder and life-giving energy that all genuine learning gifts learners with. John Hull would recognise an educator of like mind and heart to himself in Jen, and would be proud of the way she has built on the foundations of his work."

Nicola Slee