DESCRIPTION:

This course provides a foundational understanding of Christian ecclesiology & eschatology with reference to their biblical, traditional & contemporary formulations, as expressed in various ecclesial and contextual/intercultural perspectives. Topics include the nature, ministry and life of the church, including ordination, sacraments, prayer, parousia, death, resurrection, judgment, heaven & hell.

An informed understanding of the life, worship and goals of the church is crucial to Christian preaching, teaching, evangelizing and discipleship.

This five-week intensive course will meet twice a week for four-hour sessions of lecture, discussion and student presentations.

Ferguson, S.B. & D.F. Wright, eds. New Dictionary of Theology. InterVarsity Press, 1988. (sections)

Grenz, S. . Theology for the Community of God. Eerdmans, 2000, pp. 461-660.

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. An Introduction to Ecclesiology. InterVarsity Press, 2002

Schwartz, H. Eschatology. Eerdmans, 2000.

Select one contextual/intercultural text:

Barr, W.R. Constructive Christian Theology in the Worldwide Church. Eerdmans, 1997.

Boff, L. Ecclesiogenesis: The Base Communities Reinvent the Church. Orbis, 1986.

Elwood, D.J., ed. Asian Christian Theology: Emerging Themes. Westminster Press, 1980.

Lincoln, E.C. & L.H. Mamiya. The Black Church in African American Experience. Duke, 2001.

Russell, L.M. Church in the Round: Feminist Interpretation of the Church. WJK, 1993.

Select one special topic text:

Bauckham, R. God Will Be All in All: The Eschatology of Jürgen Moltmann. T&T Clark, 1999.

Fudge, E.W. & R.A. Peterson. Two Views of Hell: A Biblical & Theological Dialogue. IVP, 2000.

Gelder C. van, ed. Confident Witness. (Gospel and Culture Series.) Eerdmans, 1999.

Guder, D.L. & L. Barrett, eds. Missional Church. Eerdmans, 1998.

Gunton, C.E. & D.W. Hardy, eds., On Being the Church. T&T Clark, 1989.

Kimball, D. The Emerging Church. Zondervan, 2003.

McGrath, Alister E. A Brief History of Heaven. Blackwell Publishing, 2003.

Schmemann, A. Introduction to Liturgical Theology. Tr. Moorhouse. 3rd ed. St. Vladimir's, 1997.

Stackhouse, J.G., ed. Evangelical Ecclesiology: Reality or Illusion? Baker, 2003.

Ware, Kallistos. The Orthodox Church. Penguin, 1993. (Part II: Faith and Worship).

White, James F. The Sacraments in Protestant Practice. Abingdon, 1999.

Recommended titles will be listed in the syllabus.

(1) Required reading (1,200 pages). (2) Four 2-page reading responses (10% of grade, due each Tuesday beginning 6/28). (3) One 4-page book report on a selected contextual/intercultural text (5% of grade, due the 2nd Thursday), one 4-page book report on a special topic (5% of grade, due the 4th Thursday). (4) Optional class presentation in place of contextual/intercultural report. (5) Mid-term short answer quiz (10% of grade, 3rd Thursday). (6) One 8-10 page research paper (40% of grade, due Aug 19th). (7) Take-home final exam (30%, due July 27).