Fall 2016 / Pasadena
CH532
Thompson
CH853: CALVIN & CALVINISM SEMINAR: JOHN CALVIN AS PASTOR AND THEOLOGIAN (6 Units: 360 hours). John L. Thompson.
DESCRIPTION: This doctoral seminar builds on an elective MA course that will consider a selection of topics where the task of theology and the tasks of ministry coincide, tracing Calvin’s theology and pastoral practice through what might be called the marks (and quasi-marks) of the church: word, sacrament, discipline, and care for the poor. Calvin left a rich legacy for Christian thought on a myriad of topics — a legacy that survives not just in his Institutes, but also in works of liturgy, catechism, sermons, commentaries, and both civil and ecclesiastical legislation. This seminar joins CH532 to explore selections of such works in order to come to terms not just with Calvin’s theological legacy, but also with the connections between his theology and practice. In addition, this graduate section of the seminar will engage in critical analysis of contemporary literature on Calvin and the Reformation, some collaborative study of neo-Latin, and reflection on the practice of teaching in the seminary context.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Outcomes for CH532 also apply to CH853, so that students who pass this course will demonstrate: (1) a basic historical and theological knowledge of the Protestant Reformation as it was manifested in the pastoral and theological work of John Calvin and his contemporaries; (2) a basic competence in interpreting this history and theology and an ability to evaluate Calvin’s work in its historical development, as well as in critical dialogue with secondary literature in this field; and (3) a critical and sympathetic appreciation for the task of ministry in the Christian church as manifested during this era. Students in CH853, working at the ThM and PhD level, will further demonstrate (4) a basic knowledge of how to decipher Latin, and (5) the ability to conceive and execute a research agenda, and (6) some rudimentary skills in constructing lectures and leading discussions.
COURSE FORMAT: The 500-level class meets once per week for three hour 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. The 800-level coursework entails an additional 2 hours per week, with about one hour spent discussing critical treatments of Calvin and/or issues of pedagogy, and another hour in Latin tutorial.
REQUIRED READING: 1200 pages required
Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2 vols. Westminster John Knox, 1960. ISBN: 978-0664239114, Pub. Price $80.00 paper. Available on CD-ROM for as low as $8.00. [~400 pp. assigned]
Gordon, Bruce. Calvin. Yale, 2009. ISBN: 978-0300170849, Pub. Price $27.50 paper.
Naphy, William G. Calvin and the Consolidation of the Genevan Reformation. Westminster John Knox, 2003. ISBN: 978-0664226626, $40.00 paper.
Manetsch, Scott. Calvin’s Company of Pastors. Oxford, 2015. ISBN: 978-0190224479, $35.00 paper. Available for less on Kindle. [~230 pages assigned]
McKee, Elsie Anne. Ed. John Calvin: Writings on Pastoral Piety. Classics of Western Spirituality; Paulist, 2002. ISBN: 978-0809140466, $26.95 paper. [~230 pages assigned]
Spierling, Karen E. Infant Baptism in Reformation Geneva: The Shaping of a Community, 1536-1564. Westminster John Knox, 2009. ISBN: 978-0664233419, $40.00 paper.
One additional monograph text of the student’s choice, approved by instructor.
Various articles and chapters available on eReserves.
RECOMMENDED READING:
De Greef, Wulfert. The Writings of John Calvin. Expanded edition, Westminster John Knox, 2008. ISBN 978-0664232306, Pub. Price $40.00 hardbound.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
Assigned readings (1200 pp.) and responses (35% of final grade). [Related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3.] [80 hours reading, 10 hours DLA writing].
Critical book review (submitted in writing and presented in class) (20% of final grade). [Related to learning outcomes #1, 2.] [10 hours].
Original research paper (~15-20 pp., ~6000 words) (45% of final grade). [Related to learning outcome #2.] [30 hours].
Weekly Latin tutorials (10% of final grade). [Related to learning outcome #4.] [20 hours].
Pedagogical Project (10% of final grade). [Related to learning outcome #6.] [20 hours].
PREREQUISITES: None. For master’s students, HT502 or equivalent is recommended but not required. For CATS students, Latin is desirable but not required.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.