Masters-Level Courses
The Bible (B)
ID 5020 Methodology: Biblical;
Theological
This is a team-taught course which
introduces you to
modern biblical criticism, critical theological reflection and the use of the
Bible in today’s church. Special
attention is given to the proposition that the path to the God of the Bible is
only possible on the basis of an ethical reading of biblical texts within the
context of contemporary historical and contextual analysis.
B 5120 Foundations of the Old Testament
The general introductory course to the Old
Testament. It emphasizes the
Pentateuch and historical books of the O.T., but also gives general attention
to the prophets as well. You will
utilize historical-critical methodologies as you explore the diverse origins of
the Judaic Scriptural tradition as it emerged from the religion of ancient
Israel. By utilizing the results
of modern archeological and comparative studies, significant attention is
placed on the surrounding cultures of the ancient Near East and their impact
upon the O.T. You will also learn
to write a carefully researched paper on a particular text and give attention
to its applicability to the problems of contemporary American life, especially
as those problems are evidenced in multi-cultural realities.
B 5121 Foundations of the New Testament
This is a general introductory course to the
New Testament. Utilizing the tools of modern scholarship, this course explores
the New Testament within the context of Second Temple Judaism(s), with emphasis on topics such as the meaning
and significance of the term “gospel,” various titles of Jesus such as “Son of
Man,” the Gospel of Thomas, Q, Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. Focus will be given to spiritual and
ministerial applications of the New Testament for contemporary church
leadership. Lectures, discussions,
slides. Course requirements
include reading the New Testament and selections from the Pseudepigrapha, the
Dead Sea Scrolls, the works of Josephus, and other writings from Second Temple
Judaism(s). You will create a
historical “map” of the books in the New Testament, write a summary of each New
Testament book in the light of
your ministry and a reflection paper.
B 6000 The Prophetic Tradition
This course is the second general course in
Old Testament and is required at most of the cooperating seminaries. You will explore the central role that
the prophetic movement played in ancient Israel with special attention to the
defining role of the free-lance prophetic movement and its institutionalization
in “prophetic schools” which facilitated the transition from charismatic figure
to religious text. The central
dynamic of the relationship of this prophetic material to subsequent
Deuteronomic materials is given particular emphasis. You will devote significant attention to the rise of wisdom,
cultic and other special historical interests that grew up around the prophetic
movement and interacted with it.
You will learn to write a carefully researched and argued exegetical
paper on a particular text taken from this material and give attention to its
application to the problems of contemporary American life.
B 6010 Paul the Apostle
This course is the second general course in
New Testament and is required at most of the cooperating seminaries. You will increase content familiarity
with the letters of Paul and later apostolic writings and the book of
Revelation in the light of modern scholarship for use in ministry. Historical, theological, literary and
sociological approaches will be used.
The relevance of the writings for the church today will be
emphasized. You will find your own
personal connection to each text studied.
Course requirements include a variety of readings, personal reflection
papers and an exegetical paper.
B 6100 Biblical Ethics
Building on Deuteronomic emphasis on
commandment in the formation of the Old Testament canon, you will explore
various subsequent themes that explore commandment in the life experience of
ancient Judaism, including its political, social, educational and religious
life. The importance of the
“primacy of ethics” for the biblical message for contemporary ministry will
also be developed in the class.
B 6110 Biblical Theology
From the various “theologies” of the Bible,
you will explore options in developing a holistic understanding of the biblical
message from the biblical text itself.
You will be exposed to the efforts of major contemporary biblical
theologians to find a biblical center.
You will write a research paper outlining your own approach to the
subject.
B 6120 Women and the Bible
You will learn explore the following issues:
accomplishments of biblical women in the context of the cultures and theologies
that defined their freedoms, the use of feminine metaphors to express the
actions of God in human history, “Wisdom,” Spirit,” “Church” as personified She,
the problem of the relationship between women and the Essenes, as recorded by
Josephus, Philo, and Pliny, the historical development of the association of
blood with impurity, and sexuality with evil, the prominence of women in the
life and ministry of Jesus and the early church, and the role of women in
non-biblical texts, such as the Babatha papers, Joseph and Asenath, the Acts of
Paul and Thecla, the Shepherd of Hermas. You will read from the Bible,
Pseudepigrapha, ancient historians, early Christian literature and contemporary
feminist critics. You will write a
paper or a project with class presentation, and a reflection paper.
B 6130 Jesus and Paul
You will comopare/contrast Jesus in the
context of Palestinian Judaism with Paul and the Judaism of the Diaspora. You will study the origins of
Christianity in light of Second Temple Judaism(s), reading from the Septuagint,
the New Testament, Jewish Hellenistic literature, Greek mystery religions and
birth narratives of heroic figures.
You will write a brief Gospel and a short letter about your belief and a
research paper or project with class presentation.
B 6140 Parables
This class will explore the following
questions:
· What are parables?
· Why did Jesus use them?
· Are there other parables in
the Bible?
· How are parables
interpreted?
· Are parables relevant today?
· Of what use are parables in
ministry?
· What contemporary authors
write parables?
Readings include the Bible, other writings
from antiquity, medieval and contemporary interpreters of the Bible, and
contemporary authors such as Kierkegaard, Kafka, and Borges. Lectures, discussion, movies, slides. You will write a parable, a research
paper or project with class presentation, and a reflection paper.
B 6340
Johannine Literature
This course is devoted primarily to the interpretation of
the Gospel of John, with secondary attention to the Johannine Epistles.
Study of the text will include literary, theological, historical, and
sociological dimensions. The implications
for the life and witness of the contemporary church will be considered.
Students will read extensively, write a substantial exegetical paper, and engage
in informed discussion.
B 6390 / TPM 6390 Paul and Ministry
This course brings Paul down to the level of the local church and its
ministry, or rather discovers that he fundamentally is at that level. His theology is always practical
theology. As church planter and
nurturer Paul is highly relevant to those now, or soon to be, immersed in the
grass roots realities of local church ministry. Some even say that a second Paul-inspired reformation is
underway, focused on how we do church, as the 16th century
reformation focused on what we believe about the gospel. As we read through the Pauline letters
we will examine current models and principles of church renewal and see how
they are rooted in Paul. Case
studies of vibrant churches will be shared. Weekly reflection paragraphs and a course project will be
required.
2 Credit Hour Courses (half
courses)
B 6405 Genesis / B 6415 Exodus / B 6425Ruth /
B 6435 Job/ B 6445 Psalms / B 6455 Isaiah / B 6465 Jeremiah
In a cycle over five years, courses on major
books of the Old Testament are offered.
The importance of each book in defining the religious thought of the Old
Testament is emphasized with particular reference to contemporary scholarship
that lays bare the origins and development of each book within its religious
and cultural setting. Particular
attention is given to the theological implications of each book and the
relevance to contemporary social issues.
Each class helps you develop your skills in writing a detailed study of
a passage from the book being examined.
B 6505 Matthew / B 6515 Mark / B 6525 Luke-Acts
In this series on the four Gospels, you will
look in detail at each of the Gospels in the light of both first century
Judaism(s) and contemporary ministry, with emphasis on prayer in Matthew,
forgiveness in Mark and leadership in Luke. Lectures, discussions, slides,
movies(s). Course requirements
include readings from the Bible, Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, Dead Sea Scrolls,
antiquarian and critical historians, theologians and contemporary
literature. You write a research
paper or project with class presentation, and a reflection paper.
Biblical Languages (BL)
BL 6000/6001/6002 Hebrew
A three-quarter sequence in the study of
biblical Hebrew. After mastering
the alphabet, pronunciation, key grammatical concepts, and a beginning
vocabulary, you will begin reading from the Hebrew Bible. At the end of the sequence, it is
expected that you are able to read biblical Hebrew narrative with relative
ease, and be able to translate the more difficult portions of the Hebrew Bible
with occasional reference to a standard lexicon.
BL 6010/6011/6012 Greek
A three-quarter sequence in the study of New
Testament Greek. After mastering
the alphabet, pronunciation, key grammatical concepts, and a beginning
vocabulary, you will begin reading from the New Testament. At the end of the sequence, it is
expected that you are able to read narrative portions of the New Testament with
relative ease, and be able to translate the more difficult portions of Paul’s
writings with occasional reference to a standard lexicon.
Systematic Theology (SYS)
ID 5020 Methodology: Biblical;
Theological
This is a team-taught course which
introduces you to
modern biblical criticism, critical theological reflection and the use of the
Bible in today’s church. Special
attention is given to the proposition that the path to the God of the Bible is
only possible on the basis of an ethical reading of biblical texts within the
context of contemporary historical and contextual analysis.
SYS 5120 God and Humanity in Relationship
In this course you will enter into the
pastoral task of interpreting Christian doctrine in the light of a
contemporary, pluralistic, global world.
The main focus will be of God and God’s relationship to humanity and to
the entire universe. You will be encouraged to explore various topics from a
variety of perspectives: your own experience, the theological articulation of
your own Christian tradition, significant contemporary theologians and the
newer voices of contextual theology. The course will culminate with the writing
of your personal creed.
SYS 6000/6001/6002/6003 Theology for Christian Praxis
SYS 6000 Christology/ SYS 6001 Women and Theology/ SYS 6002
Ecumenism/SYS 6003 Ecclesiology
These courses are offered on the basis of a
three-year cycle, alternatively exploring Christology, Women and Theology,
Ecumenism and Ecclesiology. In
each course you explore different facets of the pastoral task of interpreting
Christian doctrine in the light of the contemporary, pluralistic, and global
world. You will be encouraged to
explore these topics from a variety of perspectives: your own experience, the theological articulation of your
own Christian tradition, significant contemporary theologians and the newer voices
of contextual theology. This is a
web-enhanced course.
SYS 6100 Theology, Ecology and Spirituality
This course will explore issues in life and ministry through the
integrated lenses of theology, ecology and spirituality.
SYS 6240 Reformed Theology
Designed primarily to assist students from Presbyterian and
Reformed Churches to prepare for their ordination trials, this course will
review some key theological principles from the perspective of the Reformed
faith. Readings will include
historic Reformed confessional statements, some of the works of John Calvin,
and a survey of a variety of Reformed theologians’ works.
Historical Studies (HIS)
HIS 5020 The Growth and Development of Christianity I
This course identifies and explores the
fundamental theological questions of the Christian tradition and examines the
various ways in which the church evolved in response to those questions. Beginning with New Testament
communities it follows the growth and development of the church as an
institution, giving special attention to the ways in which the church responded
to persecutions, heresies and schisms.
It evaluates the impact upon the church of major historical events. It also explores the lives of the
saints and the history of prayer, liturgy and sacramental life in the early
centuries of the church’s story.
HIS 5120 The Growth and Development of Christianity II
This course will analyze the development of
the medieval church and its culture.
You will also explore cathedrals, monastic movements, the rise of
scholasticism, the growth of universities, the rise of the medieval papacy, and
the crisis that led to and fueled the Protestant Reformation. You will study the work of significant
reformers, including Luther, Calvin, the Anabaptists and the English
reformers. You will also discuss
the Catholic Counter Reformation and the rise of Protestant scholasticism, and
the forces that led to the origins and characteristics of traditions that led
to the formation of separate churches.
The Thirty Years War and the rise and development of the Age of
Enlightenment form the backdrop for the birth of modernity. This course will end with the opening
of the 19th century in Europe.
HIS 5121 The Growth and Development of Christianity III
This course surveys the exciting developments
in the history of theology, biblical studies and church historical studies in
Europe during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. You will also review the history of
Christianity in America from the age of colonialism to the present
century. A major part of the
course will involve research projects designed to explore the growth and
development of Christianity in Asia, Africa, or Latin America.
HIS
6000 Reformation History and Thought
This
course will offer an overview of the context in which the Protestant
Reformation grew, such as Medieval religion, humanism, and scholasticism.
It
will offer an introduction to the theologies of such Protestant reformers as
Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, Martin Bucer, and John Calvin, along with a
discussion of the doctrines of the sacraments, the church, and Scripture. And it will review the so-called
Counter-Reformation and one of its major forces, the Society of Jesus, founded
by Ignatius of Loyola.
HIS 6200 Seminar on the Theology of John
Calvin
A systematic study of Calvin’s theology, with
particular focus on the development of the Reformer’s thought in the various
editions of the Institutes of the Christian Religion.
HIS 6215 Life
and Thought of Martin Luther
This course will give an overview of Martin Luther's life
and his major writings. We will
read some of his main treatises, along with the small catechism, and some
letters to his wife.
Ethics (ETH)
ETH 5000 Church and
Society
The foundational course in the ETS curriculum. It will provide you with an analysis of
the church in relationship to the world, including the following:
·
Biblical-theological
perspectives on community and mission
·
Critical
historical topologies of the relationship between Christ and culture and models
of the church
·
An in-depth focus
on the issues of the church in contemporary North America in relationship to
issues of economic justice, racism, patriarchy and the environment.
Throughout the course the problem and possibility of ecclesial
“integrity” will be continuously questioned: how to “become” the church on a
journey of transformation that is simultaneously contemplative, communal and
accountable to broader social struggles.
Each of these levels of concern serves as tests for the other. You will also examine the local church
as a community of faithful witness and merciful work as it strives to nurture
worship and wisdom and sagacity in dealing with personal weaknesses and
interpersonal conflict.
ETH 5100 Theoretical Foundations of Christian Ethics
You will explore the meaning of ethics, the
principle sources of ethical wisdom and various systematic approaches dealing
with ethical dilemmas. The role of
the Bible, tradition, reason and experience will be reflected on as sources of
ethical truth. The strengths and
limitations of natural law, situation ethics, proportionalist/personalist, as
well as virtue, narrative and communitarian approaches to ethical reasoning are
discussed. The impact of the
liberation movements (Hispanic, Afro-American, Feminist/Womanist) upon ethics
will be considered, as well as the proposals regarding the formulation of a
Global Ethic.
ETH 6000 Colonialism, Nationalism, Racism, Sexism
This course will provide you with an
opportunity to examine critically the historical formation and contemporary
expression of the “isms” noted in the title. The articulation of such forces in personal, cultural and
institutional patterns will be analyzed in an interdisciplinary fashion, especially
in conjunction with critical theory, post-structuralism, feminist thinking,
critical cultural studies, and post-cultural discourse analysis. In addition to theoretical texts
addressing the four “isms”, you will explore imaginative and political responsibilities
in the context of these forms of domination.
ETH 6120 Race, Religion and Hermeneutics
This course will present a historical analysis of the Jubilee
biblical tradition. The course will review the history and development of
racist ideology in Western culture generally, and American culture
specifically. A primary focus will be the Curse of Ham mythology and the ways
it has been institutionalized anthropologically, sociologically, economically,
politically and theologically. Topics will include racism, its historical
development, the slavery connection, the development of its theological
justification, racist distortions of select biblical texts and racist myths.
ETH 6400 Racism and Sexism
This course will examine how two major social, psychological,
political, and spiritual oppressive constructs – racism and sexism – affect and
infect us all. We will present and experientially work with avenues,
constructs, and methodologies for healing in both areas. Two particular
theological orientations that will be brought to bear are Womanist and
Trinitarian theologies. Students will have opportunity to work with a
particular constructive tool, i.e., their genogram, to explore how these
oppressive constructs have impacted their family systems, their development,
and their current view of the world.
Theology and Practice of Ministry (TPM)
GEN 5001 Writing and the Ministry
This class is designed to help you develop the writing
skills for your seminary career and future work in ministry. The work is
this class focuses upon the different genres of seminary writing, MLA style,
the writing process including editing and revision, and research methodologies.
This class will help you improve your ability to effectively use the library’s
resources, online databases, and computer software.
TPM 5001 Church Leadership for the 21st Century
This course explores the personal leadership styles, values and
principles of a congregational leader, especially as they are manifest in
non-church, mission culture of our time.
Skills addressed include:
·
Creating and sustaining
congregational vision
·
Developing a
spiritually based leadership style using prayer, meditation and the Meyers-
Briggs Personality Inventory
·
Utilizing
congregational conflict resolution
·
Embodying a
congregational stewardship lifestyle
TPM 5010 Introduction to Christian Worship
Based on the premise that leading worship is
a minister’s primary responsibility, this course provides an overview of
Christian worship from historical, cultural, and pastoral perspectives. It incorporates the various denominational
emphases and pastoral challenges found in the contemporary American
church. After establishing the
basic notions of symbol, ritual, and sacred time and space, you focus
particularly on the ministry of the word and on the sacraments of baptism and
Eucharist. Assignments enable you
to appropriate the basic concepts in ways consistent with your own interests.
TPM 5011 Introduction to Christian Education
This course will introduce you to the basic
theoretical concepts and practices that support a congregation’s educational
ministry. Class sessions will
focus upon the historical and theological foundations of educational ministry,
the work of contemporary theorists, and current practice in the field. You will explore the educational
assumptions that underlie your own teaching; design, present and critique
teaching models; and discover resources that will facilitate your ministry in
education.
TPM 5012 Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling
This course will cover basic types of
professional pastoral care and counseling that became normative for traditional
Protestantism in the 20th century, along with more recently
articulated African-American and feminist approaches. It will also cover basic types of lay and small group
pastoral care in the emerging church of the future. You will practice basic counseling skills in one-on-one and
small group approaches, and be introduced to a variety of readings, skill
exercises and an empathy training project.
TPM 5100 Ministry Practicum
This course is the centerpiece of the ETS
MDiv degree and is required at all the cooperating seminaries. It is a supervised ministry experience
that is usually taken during the middle part of the program (middler year for
full-time students). It integrates
classroom learning and the practice of ministry. It takes place in a congregational (or other) setting and
provides experience in congregational (or other) functions of ministry. Supervision is provided on site by a
member of the pastoral staff and at ETS in the class led by the Ministry
Practicum director. You are
expected to have a plan for Ministry Practicum in place by the time you have
completed seven to nine courses. Contact
the Ministry Practicum director to develop this plan. You are expected to complete the practicum in a
congregational setting other than your home church. You will earn 8 quarter- hours of credit in the MDiv
program, and 4-12 quarter hours of credit (or their semester equivalent) in the
Cooperative MDiv program. There
are a number of perquisites for this course see the description earlier in this
catalog.
TPM 5110 Introduction to Preaching
This course introduces the student to both
the theory and practice of preaching by studying a variety of sermons,
communications skills, modes of preaching and use of Scriptures. Course requirements include readings,
directed reflection papers, sermons with exegesis and a research paper.
TPM 5210 Introduction to Christian
Spirituality
In this introductory course important facets
of Christian Spirituality will be highlighted. Spirituality will be examined in relationship to theology,
faith, psychology, history and culture.
Practices to nourish the spiritual journey, such as various ways of
prayer, reflection and journaling, will be introduced, experienced, and
discussed.
TPM 5220 Inter-religious Dialogue
The emphasis of this course is on
conversation with the authoritative voices that represent diverse religious
communities and living religions in America today, including imams, rabbis and
priests. You will also learn the
basic principles of the world’s religions as you visit mosques, temples, and
gardens. This course is especially
useful for those in chaplaincy or CPE, pastors in places of encounter and
public ministry or educators who teach global awareness. You will read introductory texts in
comparative religion, and view selected videos.
TPM 6000 Church Management for the 21st Century
Pastors have a variety of responsibilities
within the congregation, a significant portion of which deals with management
responsibilities. You will explore
ways to make this an effective portion of your ministry. A particular emphasis is placed on the
congregational leader’s spiritual formation through worship, prayer and
meditation. Skill development areas
include:
· Organizational change
· Church financial management
· Mobilizing volunteers
· Analysis of ministry context
· Personnel management
· Building utilization
· Creating effective
evangelism and mission programs
A portion of this course will include
dialogue with practicing pastors from the Detroit area in their context of
ministry.
TPM 6020 Faith-based Economic Development
A comprehensive examination of leadership skills needed to initiate and
implement faith-based economic projects within the context of the local parish
and neighborhood. Attention is
given both to the biblical and theological foundation for this specialized form
of ministry, as well as the practical skills needed to carry out the successful
project. You will also engage the
task of developing a black liberation theology grounded on traditional
Judeo-Christian economic principles.
TPM 5130 Foundations of Urban Ministry
This course will introduce you to the
contemporary discussion concerning the city, and the importance of this
discourse for understanding ministry in the contemporary American setting. It will examine contemporary models of
urban ministry, including site visits and discussions with innovative
practitioners of the art of urban ministry. It will also examine the underlying causes of the current
problems of urban life, focusing especially on racial and class conflict. It will probe these issues in the light
of Christian ethical thought and strategies for renewal.
TPM 6100 Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)
This is not a regular seminary course,
although it earns academic credit for the ETS MDiv degree as well at some of
the cooperating seminaries, and/or fulfills denominational or seminary
requirements. CPE can also be a
way of fulfilling some Ministry Practicum requirements. It is a 400-hour experience offered in
a variety of part-time (Fall, Winter, Spring) or full-time (Summer) formats,
with some evening programs, in several area hospitals. CPE time frames do not correlate with
the academic calendar and vary from hospital to hospital. Application must be made to each
hospital usually many weeks in advance, or months in advance for the summer
program. For more information
contact Dr. Urias Beverly.
TPM 6110 Advanced Preaching
The second level course in preaching is designed
to enable you to build on the basic skills developed in the foundational
course. This course offers
advanced insights and skills development needed for specific types of
preaching. You explore issues
important in contemporary preaching.
Course requirements include readings, directed reflections, class
sermons with exegesis and a videotaped sermon preached in a parish
setting.
Prerequisite TPM 5110.
TPM 6130 The Ancient/Future Organization of the Church
The M. Div. program
executes the mission of ETS of developing faithful and effective church leaders
predominantly through student engagement with the following curricular
components: ethically-based theological curriculum, leadership education
grounded in experience, ecumenical openness and respect, a multicultural
(sub)urban learning community, critical reflection on tradition and
contemporary issues, inter-religious dialogue, and
biblical/theological/spiritual maturity.
In this particular course, we will focus on elements of :
- Leadership Education grounded in experience
- Ecumenical openness and respect
- A multi cultural, urban learning community
TPM 6140 Theory and Practice of Prayer
In this course you will survey ancient and
contemporary theological understandings of the life of prayer and specific
prayer disciplines. You will
explore your own experience of prayer and claim and deepen it in the context of
the experience of Christian prayer through the centuries. Insights from other traditions and
contemporary human sciences will also be introduced as appropriate.
TPM 6150 Developmental Approaches in Christian Education
A variety of elements and experiences contribute to one’s
formation as a person of faith. In
this course, you will explore psychological models that help you understand
cognition, personality, and the development of attitudes and values. You will explore the application of
such concepts as cognitive structural theory, faith development, multiple
intelligences, and mentoring in the design, implementation, and critical
evaluation of Christian educational programs.
TPM 6300 Urban Evangelism
The Urban Evangelism Course will explore in depth the
context and dynamics of evangelism in the urban scene. We will consider theological and
biblical principles, historical trends, characteristic features, varieties of
forms, and creative possibilities.
We will review and critique approaches and programs (particularly in the
Detroit and surrounding area).
There will be guest inputs, media examples, and use of periodical
resources as well as two or three basic texts. Students will be expected to engage in and reflect upon
their experiences, present responses to readings, and create a project within
their ministry context or faith community involvement.
TPM 6541 Music for Worship: A Pastoral Approach
This course explores different areas of church music,
including hymnody, both past and present, and materials from several
denominations. Introduction to
music notation and singing, psalm-singing, discussions of the importance of
music in worship and the role of
church musicians are covered. Students are encouraged to bring hymnals and other music
materials from their congregations, as well as any instruments they may
play. There are
assigned readings and a short paper.
TPM 6600: United Church of Christ History, Theology, and
Polity
This course's primary objectives are to: 1) give you a firm
grounding in the history, theology, and polity of the UCC; 2) expose you to a
sense of the “ethos” of the UCC; and 3) help you develop an understanding of
the UCC in its present state and in contemporary society.
TPM 6610 Baptist History and Polity
The Baptist History and Polity Course is designed to give
students critical understanding and appreciation of Baptist life, thought, and
practice through 400 years of history. This purpose will be accomplished
through required reading, research, class participation, and engagement with
the varied topics, i.e.: Baptist origins; theological, cultural, and historical
factors affecting Baptist development; contributions of significant Baptist
leaders. This course meets a
requirement of the American Baptist Churches for ordination or recognition of
prior ordination.
TPM 6630
Presbyterian History and Polity
This
course will provide you with a foundational understanding and appreciation of
the background and workings of the Presbyterian Church (USA). It fulfills
Presbytery of Detroit requirements in these areas of study.
TPM 6610 Baptist History and Polity
The Baptist History and Polity Course is designed to give
students critical understanding and appreciation of Baptist life, thought, and
practice through 400 years of history. This purpose will be accomplished
through required reading, research, class participation, and engagement with
the following topics:
A. Baptist origins and struggles to achieve identity
B. Theological, cultural, and historical factors affecting
Baptist development
C. Contributions of significant Baptist leaders
D. Baptist influences on the wider Christian world and on
public life
E. Evolution of Baptist life at local, regional, and national
levels with attention to contemporary polity and practice
This course meets a requirement of the American Baptist
Churches for ordination or recognition of prior ordination.
TPM 7060 Church Growth: Spiritual and Sociological
Dimensions
Church size, growth, and decline are all vital concerns for
those in ministry. Some denominations are closing churches while other
denominations need to build bigger churches to accommodate growing
congregations. In this course learners examine the spiritual and sociological
dimensions of congregation formation beginning with the rise of Christianity.
The course begins with a review of Jesus Before Christianity in which
Alan Nolan provided us with a compelling portrayal of the ideological context
in which Christianity began. Theories for effective church growth are explored
using the ATLA Religion database. Scripture will be examined by debating
evangelism versus missional theology, for example. And finally the course reviews
how features of modern culture and society impact the church and call the
church to constant reconstruction—following an ever changing Christ.
PM 5001 Formation
for Ministry.
This course is designed to help students build a strong
spiritual foundation for ministry. The course touches on aspect of ministry
such as prayer, spirituality, personal growth and integration of family,
academic and ministerial responsibilities. It is usually conducted on Saturdays
and includes two retreat days.
PM 5002 Tradition
and Trends in Ministry.
This historical and theological survey of the evolution of
Christian ministry will examine the ordering of ministries, women in ministry,
ecumenism and ministry, team ministry, and the future ministering community.
PM 5100 Supervised
Internship.
This internship provides an opportunity for experience-based
learning in a supervised ministerial setting. Credit hours will be determined by length and nature of the
Internship Project. 4 - 8 quarter
hrs.
PM 5200 Pastoral Ministry Final Project
The final project provides the opportunity to demonstrate
integration of academic theology with pastoral work in a chosen filed of
ministry. Final project credit
hours will be determined by length and nature of the Final Project. The final project provides the
opportunity to demonstrate integration of academic theology with pastoral work
in a chosen filed of ministry. 4-
- 8 quarter hours.