Dr. R. Paul Stevens Marketplace Intensive Course

Doing God’s Business: A Practical Theology and Spirituality for Executive Leadership

Offered by Vocatio Creation
In partnership with North Point Alliance Church & HKPES
(Both lectures will be conducted in English only)

About R. Paul Stevens

Paul Stevens is Professor Emeritus of Marketplace Theology at Regent College, Vancouver, BC. Paul has been a pastor for 20 years, a student counselor with IVCF and a businessperson (Habitat Woodcraft). From 1999 until 2005 Paul was the David J. Brown Family Professor of Marketplace Theology and Leadership at Regent College. His mission is to empower ordinary people to integrate their faith and life from Monday to Sunday. He does this through teaching, coaching, advocating and writing. He is married to Gail, has three married children and eight grandchildren. Gail and Paul reside in Vancouver and travel to all continents to teach, learn and contribute.

Please click here for an interview article on Paul Stevens titled 史蒂文斯笑論壞鬼職場觀（轉載自「天道傳真」2008年1月號）.

Click here to download a Chinese article (in PDF) introducing the life and thoughts of Paul Stevens.

Course Description

This course will help people develop a biblical foundation for their life in the marketplace whether they are in leadership or not. Marketplace theology makes sense of our engagement in enterprise in the light of God’s revelation and purpose. In contrast to the mutual marginalization of business and Christianity this course proposes matters of integration. Developing governing commitments, developing a framework for ethical decision-making and discovering spiritual disciplines for the marketplace are themes that will be explored. Participants will gain transferable concepts and ideas that can help them make a difference in the work world and for those in pastoral leadership, to equip God’s people for their service

Educational Outcomes

1. Understanding the place of work, business, and enterprise in the purpose of God
2. Ethical guidelines and perspectives for facing challenging workplace situations
3. Spiritual disciplines appropriate for marketplace and civic involvement
4. Skills in dealing with concrete situations Christianly through case studies
5. Grappling with resistance in the workplace
6. Developing marketplace ministry as part of the ministry of the church in the world

Course Requirement

Course will be offered in English, all participants must have a recognized undergraduate degree (mature students will be considered on a case by case basis) and should be sufficiently proficient in English for graduate theological education.

Schedule

Dec 6 (Thu)
7.30-9.30pm

Open Lecture One
Taking Your Soul to Work: Experiencing God in the Marketplace
Dec 7 (Fri)
7.30-9.30pm		 Open Lecture Two
Breaking the Myth of Work-Life Balance: Living an Unbalanced Life Graciously

Dec 8 (Sat)
2.00-10.00pm

Weekend Intensive (Day One)
Five Approaches to Integrating Faith and Work
(Note: Readings are from R. Paul Stevens, Doing God’s Business: Meaning and Motivation for the Marketplace (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006). All students are requested to read them preferably before coming to the course)

1. Mission (Readings: Ch. 1, 2, 3)

  1. What on Earth Are We Here For?
  2. Kingdom Ministry and Kingdom Witness

2. Mysticism (Spirituality) (Readings: Ch. 7, 9)

  1. Boredom and Recovering Joy at Work
  2. Case Study: A Voice in the Wilderness
  3. Vocational Holiness

3. Morality (Ethics) (Readings: Ch. 8)

  1. Ethics: Spiritual Sources for Ethical Decision-making
  2. Professionalism and Integrity

Evening Panel Discussion with:
Dr. Peter Liu (Former CTO at the listed ASM Pacific Technology)
Mr. Raymond Tam (Administrative Officer)
Moderator: Mr. Sherman Lam (Senior executive with a listed developer)

Dec 9 (Sun)
2.00-6.00pm

Weekend Intensive (Day Two)
Five Approaches to Integrating Faith and Work (continued)

4. Meaning (Theology) (Readings: Ch. 4, 5, 6)

  1. Theological Reflection: Making Sense out of Life by Doing Theology
  2. What Is the Future of Our Work? Eschatology and Enterprise
  3. Case Study: Banking on the Future
  4. Why Is It So Hard? The Powers – Resistance, Spiritual Conflict and Warfare

5. Methodology (Strategies) (Readings: Ch. 10, 11)

  • Equipping God’s People for Societal Service
  • So What in the World Are You Doing? Spirituality and Social Transformation

Click here for details of the two Open Lectures that form a foundational part of the course.

Location

December 6-7: EFCC Tung Fook Church, 1/F, Park Commercial Centre, 180 Tung Lo Wan Road, Causeway Bay (Exit B, Tin Hau MTR)

December 8-9: North Point Alliance Church (The Truth Building), 1/F, Block 4-6, City Garden, North Point (Exit B, Fortress Hill MTR)

Book

All participants are requested to read R. Paul Stevens, Doing God’s Business: Meaning and Motivation for the Marketplace (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006) preferably before coming to the course. Book order service is available to participants registered on or before November 15 and ordered book can be picked up before the course.

Fees (excluding book and meal)

 
On/before Nov 15
After Nov 15
Individual (Practitioner)
$1,600
$1,800
Individual (Pastor/Christian Worker)
$1,400
$1,600
Group of three or above
$1,400
--

Register
To register, please download the course brochure and return the registration form with your cheque payment made payable to Vocatio Creation Limited to Suite A, 12/F, Empire Land Commercial Centre, 81-85 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong. Alternatively you may deposit the fees into our Hang Seng Bank account 768-121790-883 and fax us your payment slip together with the form. An email confirmation along with the course outline and a reading list will be sent to you upon successful registration. No refund will be considered after registration and transfer is not permitted.

For further information, please contact us at:

Tel: (852) 3101 9588
Fax: (852) 3575 7414
Email: RPS@VocatioCreation.com.hk
URL: www.vocatiocreation.com.hk

General Terms & Conditions

Application & Payment

1. Please send the registration form with your payment in crossed cheque payable to “Vocatio Creation Limited” to: Suite A, 12/F, Empire Land Commercial Centre, 81-85 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong. Alternatively you may deposit the fees into our Hang Seng Bank account: 768-121790-883. Please fax the payment slip, your name and contact number to us at (852) 3575-7414. Please note we do not accept applications in person at our above mailing address.
2. If you enroll in more than one person, please fill out a separate registration form for each applicant. Please list out all the applicants on the bank receipt or on the back of the cheque.
3. Fees paid are not refundable. Fees will only be refunded if the course is full or cancelled. Transfer is not permitted for this course.

Admission

1. Admission is made on a first-come first-served basis. Late applications will only be considered if there are still vacant places.
2. We reserve the right to cancel the event if there is insufficient enrolment or unforeseen difficulties arising from mounting the course. We may, at our discretion, refuse to admit an applicant.
3. Your admission will be confirmed by letter or email, but we shall not be responsible for any delivery failure. Please contact us if you do not receive our confirmation 5 days before the event starting date.
4. We will make every effort to ensure that the course meet at the place and time advertised, and with the same speaker(s). However, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary.

Adverse Weather Arrangements

If the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or the Typhoon Signal No.8 or above is hoisted at the following hours, the course will be suspended as below:

Signals hoisted by
Sessions suspended
12:00noon
Sessions that start between 2:00 and 6:00pm
5:30pm
Sessions that start from 7:30pm
When the following Signal is hoisted during the course already in progress
Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above
Course will be immediately suspended
Black Rainstorm Signal
Course will be continued