DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed to show how the church as the continued presence and ministry of Jesus emerges out of the sending of the Holy Spirit in the world, the apostolic witness, and the existence of a community of believers. The church is understood as the continued ministry of Jesus Christ through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. A theological paradigm for ministry will be developed, showing how Christ's ministry through his whole church empowers all members of the church, both men and women, for the full ministry of Christ.

In this course students will apply theological principles to concrete and practical ministry situations through case evaluation and critique. Students will learn how to do theological reflection in the context of ministry.

The course will meet on Monday and Wednesday mornings, 8:00 to 9:50 a.m. for lecture and discussion.

Students are to purchase an expanded lecture syllabus (85 pages) as a xerox packet and read along with the course lectures. A minimum of 1,000 pages of reading is required, including the assigned reading. Those choosing A track level grading, will be required to read 1,500 pages, including:

Anderson, Ray. The Soul of Ministry. Westminster John Knox, 1997

Green, Michael. I Believe in the Holy Spirit. Eerdmans, 1988.

Kraus, C. Norman. The Community of the Spirit. Herald Press, 1993.

Ogden, Greg. The New Reformation: Returning the Ministry to the People of God. Zondervan, 1990.

Van Engen, Charles. God's Missionary People. Baker, 1991.

There are no quizzes or set exams. Students will be given a set of take-home exam questions which will require essay type answers to case situations. 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 can elect a B grading track, with 1,000 pages of reading and two take home questions, or A grading track, with 1,500 pages of reading and four take home questions.

None.

Meets M.Div. core in Systematic Theology C (STC).

Take-home exam.