Winter 2019/Pasadena

CH575

Thompson

CH575: WOMEN IN CHURCH HISTORY AND THEOLOGY (4 Units: 160 hours). John L. Thompson.

DESCRIPTION: This course seeks to explore the experiences and contributions of women in the church from the post-apostolic period though the twentieth century, together with the theologies and pre­sup­positions that sometimes supported but more often discouraged their full participation in church and religious life. The course highlights conflicts women faced raised by doctrine, traditions, and practices of the Church and as well as issues of ethnic and racial bias.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who successfully complete this course will have demonstrated (1)knowledge of the cen­tral theological doctrines and historical developments that have shaped the shifting attitudes and practices of the Christian church with respect to women throughout its history; (2) an ability to analyze and articulate the historical signi­fi­cance, theological arguments, and cultural and philosopical presuppositions of the Christian past with respect to women’s roles in Christian history and ministry; (3) a critical and sympathetic appreciation for the breadth, unity, and diversity of women’s contributions to the Christian church and how to interpret these contextually.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three-hour sessions for a total of 30 hours’ classroom time in lecture and discussion, plus 10 hours of online directed learning activities (DLAs), for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 1200 pages required.

Clark, Elizabeth A. Women in the Early Church. Michael Glazier, 1983. ISBN: 978-0814653326, Pub. Price $29.95. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [181 pp. assigned]. Available for ~$10 on Google Play.

Heine, Susanne. Women and Early Christianity: A Reappraisal. Out of print with Augsburg as ISBN: 978-0806623597. Reprint ed. by Wipf & Stock, 2011: ISBN: 978-1610979757, Pub. Price $24.00. [99 pp. assigned].

Jewett, Paul King. The Ordination of Women. Eerdmans, 1980. ISBN: 978-0802818508, Pub. Price $17.00 [141 pp. assigned]

Riggs, Marcia Y. Can I Get a Witness? Prophetic Religious Voices of African American Women. Orbis, 1997. ISBN: 978-1570751134, Pub. Price $28.00. [100 pp. assigned]

Thompson, John L. Reading the Bible with the Dead. Eerdmans, 2007. ISBN: 978-0802807533, Pub. Price $26.00 [168 pp. assigned] Available for ~$10 on Kindle or Google Play.

Selected readings, available on course Canvas page and/or as eReserves. For specific page assign­ments for books listed above, see the full course syllabus.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Extensive recommended reading will be listed on the full course syllabus.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Assigned readings of 1200 pages. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1] [80 hours]
  2. Weekly 250-word forum posts in response to a set question on the week’s readings, along with a 125-word forum response (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2,3] [10 hours].
  3. Research essay (2500 words) focusing on one of the three following periods: early church; medieval/reformation church; or the modern church. Essays should address the theological, cultural, and philosophical presuppositions about women that have had a direct bearing on women’s roles in ministry, but may do so by investigating any instructor-approved topic that is of interest to the student (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2,3] [20 hours]
  4. Specialized report (2500 words) on the history of women in ministry in one’s own denomination or tradition (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1,2] [20 hours].
  5. Optional longer research project in lieu of research essay and specialized report, by permission only. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1,2,3] [40 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None. Instructor’s note: It is desirable (but not required) that the student have some basic knowledge of the world and thought of patristic, medieval, and Reformation Christianity (such as would be acquired in CH500/1, CH502/3, or HT500/2), but this course does not otherwise presuppose any acquaintance with church history, women’s studies, or gender issues.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH4 requirement in the 120 MDiv and 80 MAT Programs (Fall 2015). Option to meet the C5 requirement in the 120 MDiv and 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2015).

FINAL EXAMINATION: No.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.