Winter 2015/Houston
CH575
Haddad
CH575: WOMEN IN CHURCH HISTORY AND THEOLOGY (4 Units: 160 hours). Mimi R. Haddad.
DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to the leadership, contributions and experiences of women from the early church period through the twentieth century. In each era, we will consider the theological and philosophical assumptions that supported, or more often, limited the fullest participation of women’s gifts and leadership in church and religious life.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who successfully complete this course will have demonstrated (1)familiarity with 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 (attained through lectures and readings); (2) an ability to analyze and articulate the historical significance and theological arguments of the Christian past (attained through close readings of selected primary sources and contemporary historical critics, along with written responses); (3) critical appreciation for the theologies, worldviews, and experiences of women and men throughout this history (attained through lectures and group discussions); and (4) an ability to reflect on the perennial nature of these doctrinal and ecclesiastical controversies over gender (attained through lectures, discussion, and writing assignments).
COURSE FORMAT: This class meets for three weekend sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.
REQUIRED READING: 1129 pages of assigned reading.
Clark, Elizabeth A. Women in the Early Church. Liturgical Press, 1984. ISBN: 978-0814653324, Pub. Price $24.95. [130 pp. assigned].
Oden, Amy. In Her Words:Women’s Writings in the History of Christian Thought. Abington Press, 1994. ISBN: 978-0687459728, Pub Price $32.99. [234 pp. assigned].
LaCelle-Peterson, Kristina. Liberating Tradition: Women’ Identity in Vocation and Christian Perspective. Baker Academic, 2008. ISBN: 978-8010-3179-3, Pub. Price $24.00 [158 pp. assigned].
Payne, Philip, B. Man and Woman, One in Christ: An Exegetical and Theological Study of Paul’s Letters. 2006. ISBN: 978-0800637774, Pub Price $21.00. [178 pp. assigned].
Van Leeuwen, Mary Stewart. Gender and Grace. InterVarsity Press, 1990. ISBN: 978-0830812974, Pub Price $23.00. [224 pp. assigned].
Course Reader posted on Moodle page. [205 pp.]
-- Priscilla Papers, Vol 20, Number 4, 2006 (61 pp.)
-- Correcting Caricatures, 2012 (Christians for Biblical Equality) (38 pp.)
--An Evangelical Tradition, 2013 (Christians for Biblical Equality) (30 pp.)
-- The Deception of Eve, and the Ontology of Women, 2010 (Christians for Biblical Equality) (38 pp.)
-- Male Authority in Context, 2012 (Christians for Biblical Equality) (38 pp.)
RECOMMENDED READING: Recommended reading will be listed on the full course syllabus
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
1129 pages of reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4]. [70 hours].
Small Group Discussion in Directed Learning Activities. (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4] [10 hours].
Two response papers (6-8 pp.), responding to assigned readings and questions posed in the syllabus. (20% each paper). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 2-3] [20 hours].
Final research paper of approximately 15 pp. (50%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4] [30 hours].
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective. This is a C5 class in the 120 unit MDiv, and also counts as a T4 course.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None