Fall 2013/Fuller Online

TH560

Bridger

TH560: ANGLICAN THEOLOGY. Francis Bridger.

DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to enable Anglicans and non-Anglicans alike to reflect upon the nature and significance of Anglicanism/Episcopalianism from a theological perspective. It addresses three questions: (1) what is distinctive about Anglicanism? (2) does Anglicanism possess a distinctive theology? (3) does Anglicanism have a distinctive theological method? Through examination of selected theological themes and authors, the course will enable participants to engage with these questions in a critical, thoughtful and personally reflective way. Topics to be covered will include: Anglican identity; the Anglican theological heritage; Incarnation and Ecclesiology in Anglican thought; selected historic and contemporary theologians; the rise of the Anglican Communion and twenty-first century challenges.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The emphasis throughout the course will be upon making connections between theology and the life and ministry of the Church. Participants – whether Anglican or non-Anglican - will be encouraged and enabled to reflect upon their own theological and spiritual heritage through the lens of Anglican theology.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the end of this course participants will have: (1) considered the nature of Anglican theology and its importance in shaping and defining Anglicanism; (2) studied one historic Anglican theologian (Richard Hooker), one contemporary Western Anglican theologian (Rowan Williams), two contemporary women Anglican theologians from the Global South (Esther Mombo, Kwok Pui Lan ); (3) critically reflected on their own personal theological journey.

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar. Each participant will be required to take part in the online class, its discussion groups and to complete allotted tasks. Teaching and learning will be varied and learner-centered, and will include: reading from course books and other documents, use of material from relevant websites, interactive class and group discussions, video from YouTube and other online sources, periodic video inputs from the instructor.

REQUIRED READING:

Avis, Paul. The Identity of Anglicanism. T & T Clark, 2007. ISBN: 978-0567032041, Pub. Price $34.95 [201 pp.].

Bartlett, Alan. A Passionate Balance: The Anglican Tradition. Darton, Longman & Todd, 2007. ISBN: 978-0232525960, Pub. Price $18.00 [220 pp.].

Douglas, Ian T & Pui-Lan, Kwok. Beyond Colonial Anglicanism: The Anglican Communion in the Twenty-First Century. Church Publishing Incorporated, 2001. ISBN: 978-0898693577, Pub. Price $30.00 [119 pp. assigned].

Goddard, Andrew J, Rowan Williams. Lion Books, 2013. ISBN: 978-0745956022, Pub. Price $16.95 [314 pp.].

Hassett, Miranda K. Anglican Communion in Crisis. Princeton University Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0691125183, Pub. Price $55.00 [124 pp. assigned].

Kaye, Bruce. An Introduction to World Anglicanism. Cambridge University Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0521618663, Pub. Price $30.00 [78 pp. assigned]. **

Wells, Samuel. What Anglicans Believe. Canterbury Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-1848251144, Pub. Price $10.95 [134 pp.].

( ** denotes title available through Fuller libraries as ebook )

RECOMMENDED READING:

Chapman, Mark. Anglicanism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-0192806932, Pub. Price $11.95.**

Chapman, Mark. Anglican Theology. T & T Clark, 2012. ISBN: 978-0567008022, Pub. Price $29.95.

Myers, Benjamin. Christ the Stranger: The Theology of Rowan Williams. T & T Clark, 2012. ISBN: 978-0567599711, Pub. Price $24.95.

Russell, Matheson. On Rowan Williams: Critical Essays. Cascade Books, 2009. ISBN: 978-1556359736, Pub. Price $29.00.

Williams, Rowan. Anglican Identities. Darton, Longman and Todd, 2004. ISBN: 978-0232525274, Pub. Price $13.95.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. All required readings. [5-6 hours/week]

  2. Interact with, and respond to, online class discussions and tasks (25%). [3 hours/week]

  3. One extended posting (500 words) on the personal significance of studying Anglican theology (10%)

  4. One 1,500 word response paper on an assigned reading or readings (25%). [6 hours]

  5. One research paper (4,000 words) (40%). [16 hours]

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective. Required for the Anglican Studies Emphasis.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.


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.