DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to introduce students to the nature of theological study, developing a structure of divine revelation as fundamental to understanding how African Americans have developed a systematic theology in America. This course will trace the development of African American theology along with its African origins. This course will also bring Womanist thought and theology to the center of the discussion and understanding of African American/Black Theology.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Application of theoretical course content to ministry situations will take place through the take-home exam questions. Basic human questions about the reality of God, the authority of Scripture, human sexuality, and the spiritual/psychical dynamics of African Americans will be addressed in this course.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Students will create an appropriate assessment, analysis, and critique of a systematic African American/Womanist/Black theology.

2. Students will understand the theological issues present in the African American community from their time of coming from Africa, up through slavery, Jim Crow, Civil Rights, and the present post-soul/hip hop nation.

3. Students will appreciate the importance of interpreting culture and how that affects one's theology and can and should inform priorities for ministry.

Coleman, Will. Tribal Talk: Black Theology, Hermeneutics, and African/American Ways of Telling the Story. The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1999. 210 pages. ISBN-10: 0271019441. Amazon price: $29.95.

Cone, James. Risks of Faith: The Emergence of a Black Theology of Liberation, 1968-1998. Beacon Press. 1999. 200 pages. ISBN-10: 0807009512. Amazon price: $15.30.

Cone, James. The Cross and the Lynching Tree. Orbis Press, 2011. 165 pages. ISBS-978-1-60833-001-0. Amazon Price. $17.56.

Carter, J. Cameron. Race: A Theological Account. Oxford University Press, 2008. 504 pages (read 253 pp.). ISBN-13: 978-0195152791. Amazon price: $28.00.

Copeland, M. Shawn. Enfleshing Freedom: Body, Race and Being. Fortress Press, 2010. 130 pages. ISBN-978-0-8006-6274-5. Amazon Price. $17.04.

Douglas, Kelly Brown. What's Faith Got to Do with It? Black Bodies/Christian Souls. Orbis Books, 2005. 252 pages (read 100 pp.). ISBN-10: 1570756090. Amazon price: $15.60.

Ware, Frederick L. Methodologies of Black Theology. Pilgrim Press, 2002. 175 pages (read 125 pp.). ISBN-10: 1556357362. Amazon price: $22.00.

1. Students will be given three take-home exams throughout the term (each 10% of the course grade = 30%). Answers will be evaluated on the basis of depth of theological insight, appropriateness to the practice and goals of Christian ministry, and evidence of critical reflection upon the assigned readings and course content. Students will have to evidence that they can develop and critique the canon that is referred to as a systematic African American/Womanist/Black theology.

2. An end-of-term project or paper reflecting the student's integration of black theology in a practical theology paper / project that seeks to inform their future ministry. The end-of-term project will be ten to fifteen pages (30%).

3. Weekly Activities (40%). This course is organized into ten activity weeks. Each activity week involves the following:

  I. Online activities and discussion via Moodle

 II. Weekly Activities: The weekly activities and discussion topics are designed to actively involve participants in a collaborative learning format, where participation builds and develops your learning in the course. Please remember the importance of sharing your observations, reflections, and topical contributions.

III. Weekly Course Content posting will include seminar notes; reading assignments; activity descriptions, group assignments and posting dates; along with course reference material for that week (video, discussion starters, movie clips, songs, web-resources). The weekly Web material will be posted on Moodle the weekend preceding the Monday start of a course week.

Please plan to log in to the course at least three or four times each week and to be online posting / in discussion groups / chat rooms / synchronous and asynchronous discussions approximately three hours per week. Time will be monitored and recorded via Moodle.