- Consideration of the role and responsibility of the pastor as an interpreter of the gospel with emphasis upon our Wesleyan heritage and the students own growing sense of theological identity. Basic terms, tasks, and methods of Christian theology are introduced, and representative classical themes are defined and illustrated.
Objectives include:
1. Challenge students to re-examine their understanding of faith.
2. Critical consideration of theological methods and the role of the Wesleyan use of Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason.
3. Introduction to the problems inherent in issues such as theodicy, revelation, Christology, law and grace, justification, ecclesiology, and eschatology.
4. Development of pastor's identity as a theologian.
5. Utilization of theology as a resource for pastoral functions. - Consideration of the role and responsibility of the pastor as an interpreter of the gospel with emphasis upon our Wesleyan heritage and the students own growing sense of theological identity. Basic terms, tasks, and methods of Christian theology are introduced, and representative classical themes are defined and illustrated.
Objectives include:
1. Challenge students to re-examine their understanding of faith.
2. Critical consideration of theological methods and the role of the Wesleyan use of Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason.
3. Introduction to the problems inherent in issues such as theodicy, revelation, Christology, law and grace, justification, ecclesiology, and eschatology.
4. Development of pastor's identity as a theologian.
5. Utilization of theology as a resource for pastoral functions. - Reflects critically upon significant individuals, decisive events, and fundamental tenets of the Christian faith as found in early and medieval Christianity. Utilizing the categories of grace and faith as a focusing lens, the student appropriates the Christian heritage and enters into the church's ongoing task of interpreting, articulating, and enacting the gospel for contemporary life. Use of primary sources in encouraged.
Objectives include:
1. Examination of an emerging Christian orthodoxy in dialogue and debate with Gnosticism, Montanism, Marcionism, and Greek philosophy.
2. Study of major theologians and church leaders whose writings focus key doctrinal issues (e.g. Origen, Tertullian, Ireneaus, Augustine, Aquinas, Pseudo-Dionysius, etc.)
3. Engagement with pivotal theological concerns in their historical context (e.g. faith and reason, authority of Scripture, Christology, salvation, ecclesiology, the Christian life, ministry, sacraments, pneumatology, providence, predestination, eschatology, etc.)
4. Focus upon the distinctive aspects of Eastern Orthodox theologies in comparison with Roman Catholicism.
5. Exploration of major theological developments in Medieval Christianity.
6. Appreciation and appropriation of the relevance of historical theology for pastoral ministry. - Critical reflection upon significant individuals, decisive events, and fundamental tenants of the Christian faith as found in the development of United Methodism. Utilizing categories of grace and faith as a focusing lens, the student appropriates particulars of the Wesleyan heritage and enters into the Church's ongoing task of interpreting, articulating, and enacting the gospel in contemporary life.
Objectives include:
1. Review of factors in the English Reformation, the Puritan revolution, and German Pietism which illuminate the Evangelical Revival.
2. Introduction to John, Charles, and Susanna Wesley with emphasis upon the ministry and theology of John and the development of Methodist societies within 18th century Anglicanism.
3. Consideration of significant theological and historical developments in Methodism and in the Evangelical United Brethren tradition in 19th and 20th century America.
4. Reflection upon pressing theological and church polity issues facing contemporary United Methodism.
5. Appreciation for and appropriation of the contributions of historical theology.
6. Continued growth of the pastor's identity as theologian.
- Critical reflection upon significant individuals, movements, decisive events, and fundamental tenants of the Christian faith which in the past century, or so, have shaped contemporary theologies. Through study of varied theological expressions in modern and post-modern decades the student enters into the church's enduring task of interpreting, articulating, and enacting the gospel for contemporary life. Attention will be given to selected primary sources.
Objectives include:
1. Consideration of 19th century theological issues which form the backdrop for 20th century developments.
2. Examination of the liberal-conservative split of the late 19th and early 20th centuries as well as ensuing neo-evangelical movements, orthodox theologies and liberal developments.
3. Analysis of the Barthian/Neo-orthodox traditions.
4. Interpretation of theologies of history and eschatology (e.g. Niebuhr, Pannenburg, Moltmann).
5. Reflection upon Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American liberation theologies with due reference given to ethnic, feminist/womanist/mujerista, and class expressions.
6. Exploration of other significant theological movements such as feminist, ecumenical, contemporary Roman Catholic, post enlightenment, post modern, evangelical, Eastern Orthodox, and process theologies.
7. Appreciation for African, Asian, Latin American contemporary theologies.
- Critical reflection upon the individuals, decisive events, and theological developments during the period of the Protestant Reformation. Utilizing the categories of grace and faith as a focusing lens, the student appropriates the Reformation heritage and enters into the church's ongoing task of interpreting and enacting the gospel for contemporary life. Attention will be give to selected primary sources.
Objectives include:
1. Reflection upon movements and events in the period prior to the beginning of the Protestant reform (e.g., mysticism, nominalism, the Renaissance, the Papal Schism, the martyrdoms of Huss and Savanarola, etc.).
2. Examination of the Reformation on the European continent with due attention given to the theologies of Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and the Anabaptists.
3. Engagement with pivotal theological concerns in their historical context, including the relationship of faith and reason, justification by grace through faith, sacramental theology, ecclesiology, and Christology.
4. Analysis of the Catholic Reformation as reflected in the Council of Tent and such figures as Ignatius Loyola, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, and Blaise Pascal.
5. Analysis of the English Reformation of the 16th century and the rise of Puritanism in the 17th century.
6. Understanding and appreciation of the historical development and context of Christian theology.
7. Continued growth and development of the pastor's identity as theologian.