DESCRIPTION: This course discusses Christian beliefs about ecclesiology and eschatology. The topics include the church, its nature as expressed in various ecclesial traditions, ministry and mission, sacraments/ordinances, as well as various approaches to the last things: parousia, death, resurrection, new creation, judgment, millennium, heaven and hell. A contemporary Evangelical theology will be construed in dialogue with ecumenical and contextual/intercultural perspectives.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: An essential part of preparation for Christian ministry is to learn to think theologically through issues of faith and ministry.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) a basic understanding of issues in their traditional and contemporary expressions; (2) an ability to reflect theologically upon the course topics; (3) skills towards developing one's own theology in critical dialogue with various views; (4) an acquaintance with a range of cultural and contextual matters that shape our understanding of theological issues; (5) an appreciation of ecumenical and cultural diversity.

COURSE FORMAT: Meets twice weekly for two-hour sessions of lecture, discussion & student presentations.

REQUIRED READING: (* = required in all three systematics courses taught by Dr. Kärkkäinen)

* Dyrness, W. & Kärkkäinen, V.-M., eds. Global Dictionary of Theology. IVP, 2008 (selected pp.).

* Grenz, S.J. Theology for the Community of God. Eerdmans, 2000, pp. 1-25, 461-659.

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

  Schwartz, H. Eschatology. Eerdmans, 2000.

  A text on a special topic: choose one:

Braaten, C.E. & Jenson, R.W. The Ecumenical Future. Eerdmans, 2004.

Fudge, E.W. & R.A. Peterson. Two Views of Hell. InterVarsity Press, 2000.

Gelder, C. van. The Essence of the Church: A Community Created by the Spirit. Baker, 2000.

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

Grenz, S.J. The Millennial Maze. InterVarsity Press, 1994.

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

George, T. Pilgrims on the Sawdust Trail: Evangelical Ecumenism. Baker, 2004.

Hauerwas, S. & Willimon, W.H. Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony. Abingdon, 1989.

Gibbs, E. & Bolger, R.K. Emerging Churches. Baker 2006.

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. Toward a Pneumatological Theology. Ed. Amos Yong. UPA, 2002.

Moltmann, Jürgen. The Church in the Power of the Spirit. SCM Press, 1977.

__________. The Coming of God: Christian Eschatology. SCM Press, 1994.

Newbigin, L. The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society. Eerdmans, 1989.

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

Volf, M. After Our Likeness: The Church as the Image of God. Eerdmans, 1998.

  A contextual and/or intercultural text (sections relevant for the course): choose one:

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

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

Evans, J. We Have Been Believers: An African American Systematic Theology. Fortress, 1992.

González, J. Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Abingdon, 1990.

Parratt, J. Reinventing Christianity: African Theology Today. Eerdmans, 1995.

Parsons, S.F., ed. The Cambridge Companion to Feminist Theology. Cambridge Univ. Press, 2002.

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