Winter 2014/Irvine
CH504
Feldmeth
CH504: MODERN CHURCH HISTORY. Nathan P. Feldmeth. Mike McNichols.
DESCRIPTION: This course will trace the development of Christianity from the dawn of the seventeenth century to the present day. Emphasis will be given to key personalities, ideas, and movements that have shaped Christian belief and practice in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceana. Major developments in missions, revivalism, liberalism, modernism, fundamentalism, Pentecostalism and ecumenism will be covered, with a special emphasis on how these movements were interpreted in their own time and by later Christian writers.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: To minister effectively in any context requires an understanding of the forces that shaped the modern church. Students will gain an awareness of key ideas and movements necessary for understanding and working in the church in North America and overseas.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who complete this course will demonstrate an ability to (1) identify and explain principal theological developments and historical events and personalities that have shaped the modern church throughout the world; (2) think critically about historical texts and arguments, placing them in context; (3) interpret a variety of ecclesial traditions and experiences, including their own, with critical awareness and reflection; (4) critically assess their religious and cultural assumptions by examining the complexity and diversity of modem Christian history; (5) gain an appreciation for the multiplicity of ways in which the Christian faith is experienced and expressed in various parts of the world.
COURSE FORMAT: This hybrid class will meet for ten weeks for a total of forty hours. Class time is divided between 20 hours online spread over nine weeks, and 20 hours in a geophysical class for one week. Online learning will be enhanced by assigned readings documented by a reading journal, response forums, audio-video lectures, selected short films, and weekly question and answer sessions over Skype or similar applications.
Note: Students who are taking this class for residency are required to attend a complimentary lunch on Monday through Friday, as well as a two-hour session every evening.
REQUIRED READING:
Anderson, Allan. An Introduction to Pentecostalism: Global Charismatic Christianity. Cambridge University Press, 2004. ISBN: 978-0521532808, Pub. Price $30.99 [316 pp.]
Feldmeth, Nathan P. Pocket Dictionary of Church History. IVP Academic, 2008. ISBN: 978-0830827039, Pub. Price $8.00 [151 pp.]
Jenkins, Philip. The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity. 3rd ed. Oxford University Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0199767465, Pub. Price $15.95 [368 pp.]
Koschorke, Klaus, Frieder Ludwig, and Mariano Delgado, eds. A History of Christianity in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, 1450-1990: A Documentary Sourcebook. Eerdmans, 2007. ISBN: 978-0802828897, Pub. Price $40.00 [426 pp.]
Noll, Mark. The New Shape of World Christianity: How American Experience Reflects Global Faith. IVP Academic, 2009. ISBN: 978-0830828470, Pub. Price $16.25 [212 pp.]
Students are to select one of the following texts in line with their unique interests—
Latin America:
Cook, Guillermo, ed. New Face of the Church in Latin America: Between Tradition and Change. Orbis Books, 1994. ISBN: 978-0883449370. [289 pp.]
Dussel, Enrique, ed. The Church in Latin America 1492-1992. Orbis, 1992. ISBN: 9780883448205 [512 pp.]
Goodpasture, H. McKennie. Cross and Sword: An Eyewitness History of Christianity in Latin America. Orbis, 1989. ISBN: 9780883445914 [314 pp.]
Gonzalez, Ondina and Justo Gonzalez. Christianity in Latin America: A History. Cambridge University Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0521681926, Pub. Price $27.99 [344 pp.]
Gutierrez, Benjamin and Dennis Smith, eds. In the Power of the Spirit: The Pentecostal Challenge to Historic Churches in Latin America. Presbyterian Church USA, 1996. ISBN: 9781879535138 [246 pp.]
Martin, David. Tongues of Fire: The Explosion of Protestantism in Latin America. Wiley-Blackwell, 1993. ISBN: 9780631189145, Pub. Price $49.95 [368 pp.]
OR Africa:
Gifford, Paul. African Christianity: Its Public Role. Indiana University Press, 1998. ISBN: 978-0253212047, Pub. Price $26.00 [384 pp.]
Hanciles, Jehu. Beyond Christendom: Globalization, African Migration and the Transformation of the West. Orbis, 2008. ISBN: 978-1570757907, Pub. Price $35.00 [430 pp.]
Hastings, Adrian. The Church in Africa, 1450-1950. Oxford, 1995. ISBN: 9780198263999, Pub. Price $150.00 [720 pp.]
Isichei, Elizabeth. A History of Christianity in Africa: From Antiquity to the Present. Eerdmans, 1995. ISBN: 9780802808431, Pub. Price $36.00 [420 pp.]
Pobee, John and Gabriel Ositelu. African Initiatives in Christianity: The Growth, Gifts and Diversities of Indigenous African Churches – A Challenge to the Ecumenical Movement. WCC Publications, 1998. ISBN: 978-2825412770, Pub. Price $8.50 [73 pp.]
Sanneh, Lamin. West African Christianity: The Religious Impact. Orbis, 1983. ISBN: 978-0883447031, Pub. Price $28.00 [286 pp.]
OR Asia/Australia:
Aikman, David. Jesus in Beijing: How Christianity is Transforming China and Changing the Global Balance of Power. Regnery, 2006. ISBN: 9781596980259, Pub. Price $16.95 [418 pp.]
Bays, Daniel, ed. Christianity in China: From the Eighteenth Century to the Present. Stanford, 1999. ISBN: 9780804736510, Pub. Price $36.95 [508 pp.]
Clark, Donald. Living Dangerously in Korea: The Western Experience, 1900-1950. Pacific Century Pr, 2003. ISBN: 9781891936111, Pub. Price $29.95 [455 pp.]
Covell, Ralph. The Liberating Gospel in China: The Christian Faith Among China’s Minority Peoples. Baker, 1995. ISBN: 9780801025952 [318 pp.]
Fernando, Leonard and G. Gispert-Sauch. Christianity in India: Two Thousand Years of Faith. Penguin, 2005. ISBN: 9780670057696, Pub. Price $39.00 [336 pp.]
Hunter, Alan and Kim-Kwong Chan. Protestantism in Contemporary China. Cambridge, 2007. ISBN: 9780521046916, Pub. Price $66.00 [316 pp.]
Kang, Wi Jo. Christ and Caesar in Modern Korea: A History of Christianity and Politics. SUNY, 2007. ISBN: 9780791432488, Pub. Price $29.95 [214 pp.]
Lambert, Tony. The Resurrection of the Chinese Church. Harold Shaw, 1994. ISBN: 9780877887287 [353 pp.]
Moffett, Samuel. A History of Christianity in Asia: Beginnings to 1500. Orbis, 1998. ISBN: 9781570751622, Pub. Price $40.00 [560 pp.]
Moffett, Samuel A History of Christianity in Asia, Vol. II: 1500-1900. Orbis, 2005. ISBN: 9781570757013, Pub. Price $40.00 [742 pp.]
Piggin, Stuart. Evangelical Christianity in Australia: Spirit, Word and World. Oxford, 1996. ISBN: 9780195535389 [304 pp.]
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
PREREQUISITES: None
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Church History “C” (CHC); seminary core requirement (SCR) for MATM, MACL, MAICS, and MAFS degrees (Winter 2010).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes