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

• A basic understanding of issues in their traditional and contemporary expressions

• An ability to reflect theologically upon the course topics

• Skills towards developing one's own theology in critical dialogue with various views

• An acquaintance with a range of cultural and contextual matters that shape our understanding of theological issues

• An appreciation of ecumenical and cultural diversity.

The class will be conducted on the Internet using a 10-week lesson program aligned with Fuller's academic calendar. Each week students and the instructor will interact with the course material through journaling, threaded discussions.

Grenz, S.J. Theology for the Community of God. Eerdmans, 2000, pp. 1-25, 461-659. ISBN: 9780802847553. Pub. price: $40.00.

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. An Introduction to Ecclesiology. InterVarsity Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0830826889. Pub. price: $20.00.

Placher, W.C., ed. Essentials of Christian Theology. Westminster John Knox, 2003, pp. 1-10, 221-365. ISBN: 978-0664223953. Pub. price: $39.95.

Schwartz, H. Eschatology. Eerdmans, 2000. ISBN: 978-0802847331. Pub. price: $36.00

A text on a special topic: choose one:

Braaten, C.E. & Jenson, R.W. The Ecumenical Future. Eerdmans, 2004. ISBN: 978-0802826718. Pub. price: $24.00.

Fudge, E.W. & R.A. Peterson. Two Views of Hell. InterVarsity Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0830822553. Pub. price: $17.00.

Gelder, C. van. The Essence of the Church: A Community Created by the Spirit. Baker, 2000. ISBN: 978-0801090967. Pub. price: $20.00.

Gelder C. van, ed. Confident Witness. (Gospel and Culture Series.) Eerdmans, 1999. ISBN: 978-0802846556. Pub. price: $29.00.

Grenz, S.J. The Millennial Maze. InterVarsity Press, 1994. ISBN: 978-0830817573. Pub. price: $18.00.

Guder, D.L. & L. Barrett, eds. Missional Church. Eerdmans, 1998. ISBN: 978-0802843500. Pub. price: $28.00.

George, T. Pilgrims on the Sawdust Trail: Evangelical Ecumenism. Baker, 2004. ISBN: 0801027640. Pub. price: $19.99.

Hauerwas, S. & Willimon, W.H. Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony. Abingdon, 1989. ISBN: 978-0687361595. Pub. price: $17.00.

Husbands, M., et al., eds. The Community of the Word. InterVarsity Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0830827978. Pub. price: $23.00.

Gibbs, E. & Bolger, R.K. Emerging Churches. Baker 2006. ISBN: 978-0801027154. Pub. price: $19.99.

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. Toward a Pneumatological Theology. Ed. Amos Yong. UPA, 2002. ISBN: 978-0761823896. Pub. price: $65.50.

Moltmann, Jürgen. The Church in the Power of the Spirit. SCM Press, 1977. ISBN: 978-0800628215. Pub. price: $25.00.

__________. The Coming of God: Christian Eschatology. SCM Press, 1994. ISBN: 978-0800636661. Pub. price: $25.00.

Newbigin, L. The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society. Eerdmans, 1989. ISBN: 978-0802804266. Pub. price: $24.00.

Stackhouse, J.G. ed. Evangelical Ecclesiology: Reality or Illusion? Baker 2003. ISBN: 978-0801026539. Pub. price: $24.00.

Volf, M. After Our Likeness: The Church as the Image of God. Eerdmans, 1998. ISBN: 978-0802844408. Pub. price: $32.00.

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

Barr, W. Constructive Christian Theology in the Worldwide Church. Eerdmans, 1997. OP. ISBN: 978-0802841438. No price available from publisher.

Boff, L. Ecclesiogenesis: The Base Communities Reinvent the Church. Orbis, 1986. ISBN: 978-0883442142. Pub. price: $22.

Evans, J. We Have Been Believers: An African American Systematic Theology. Fortress, 1993. ISBN: 9780800626723. Pub.price: $20.00.

González, J. Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Abingdon, 1990. ISBN: 9780687230679. Pub.price: $20.00.

Parratt, J. Reinventing Christianity: African Theology Today. Eerdmans, 1995. ISBN: 978-0802841131. Pub. price: $21.00.

Parsons, S.F., ed. The Cambridge Companion to Feminist Theology. Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0521663809. Pub. price: $30.99.

Russell, L.M. Church in the Round: Feminist Interpretation of the Church. WJKP, 1993. ISBN: 978-0664250706. Pub. price: $29.95.

1. Weekly threaded discussions (25%) and journaling, (10%)

2. 1,200 pages of required reading and reading responses, 10 pages (25%)

3. A research paper of 10 pages (40%)