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. On the basis of biblical and historical developments, a contemporary Evangelical theology will be construed in dialogue with ecumenical and contextual/intercultural perspectives.

An essential part of preparation for Christian ministry is to learn to think theologically through issues of faith and ministry. The student is encouraged to develop his/her own theology and cultivate ecumenical, cultural, and interreligious sensitivity toward other traditions.

The class meets once a week for a three-hour session of lectures, discussion and student presentations.

Grenz, S. J. Theology for the Community of God. Eerdmans, 2000 (relevant sections).

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. An Introduction to Ecclesiology. InterVarsity Press, 2002.

__________. Toward a Pneumatological Theology, ed. Amos Yong. UPA, 2002 (relevant sections).

Schwartz, H. Eschatology. Eerdmans, 2000.

A text on a special topic: choose one:*

Fudge, E. W. & R. A. Peterson. Two Views of Hell. InterVarsity Press, 2000.

Gelder C. van, ed. Confident Witness. (Gospel and Culture Series.) Eerdmans, 1999.

Gelder, C. van, The Essence of the Church. A Community Created by the Spirit. Baker, 2000.

Grenz, S. J. The Millennial Maze. InterVarsity Press, 1994.

Guder, D. L. and L. Barrett, eds. Missional Church. Eerdmans, 1998.

McGrath, A. A Brief History of Heaven. Blackwell, 2003.

George, T. Pilgrims on the Sawdust Trail: Evangelical Ecumenism. Baker, 2004.

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

Barr, W. R. Constructive Christian Theology in the Worldwide Church. Eerdmans, 1997.

Boff, L. Ecclesiogenesis: The Base Communities Reinvent the Church. Orbis,1986.

Elwood, D. J., ed. Asian Christian Theology: Emerging Themes. Westminster Press, 1980.

Evans, J. We Have Been Believers: An African American Systematic Theology. Fortress, 1992.

González, J. Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Abingdon, 1990.

Parratt, J. Reinventing Christianity: African Theology Today. Eerdmans, 1995.

Parsons, S. F., ed. The Cambridge Companion to Feminist Theology. Cambridge University Press, 2002.

* The student may also suggest his/her own choice to be accepted by the professor.

Moltmann, Jürgen. The Church in the Power of the Spirit. SCM Press, 1977.

__________. The Coming of God: Christian Eschatology. SCM Press, 1994.

Pannenberg, W. Systematic Theology. Vol. 3. Eerdmans, 1993.

Volf, M. After Our Likeness: The Church as the Image of God. Eerdmans, 1998.

(1) 1,000 pages of required reading. (2) Reading responses: about 15 pages. (3) A research paper, 10 pages. (4) Final exam: topics will be given in the beginning of the course.