This page is part of the seminary catalog
Discerning the Contexts of Ministry (CM)
Course descriptions and scheduling are subject to change by administrative decision. See course offerings booklet for current offerings. Some courses will be offered on a two- or three-year rotation.
500 Church in Mission (also offered online) (3 SH)
In this course the ministries of Jesus and the early church serve as models for learning to participate in God’s mission today. Studying mission in the New Testament builds on Old Testament foundations. Successive historical paradigms of Christian mission inform vision for mission in the Twenty-first Century. The missionary nature of the church calls for a critical review of cultural and theological barriers to mission today. The course includes visits to centers of world religions in Washington. It also includes experimenting with evangelism as initial spiritual guidance in which each student develops personal relationships with persons beyond the church.
520 Religious Imagination in Contemporary Culture (3 SH)
This course tracks the light of religious inspiration in diverse sectors of society, especially examining the arts (film, music, literature). Participants will join instructors and guests in explorations alert for the surprising epiphanies of truth and beauty in popular culture. Preference is devoted to the subtle, the unlikely, the unexpected glimpses of faith in expressions that expand the scope of the religious imagination in fresh appropriations of biblical insights.
530 Media in the Congregation (1 SH)
This course explores the use of media in the congregation for education and outreach, considers marketing theory, and studies principles of effective communication and persuasion. Students also learn to understand and critique media, including radio, video and print. Additional credit can be earned for a hands-on lab project in production.
540 Psychology of Religious Experience (3 SH)
Many seminary courses examine theological perspectives of various realities. This course takes a unique vantage point on spiritual and religious realities by examining them from a psychological perspective. Topics considered include spiritual and religious experience in childhood and adulthood, death, conversion, mysticism, and prayer as well as social and political dimensions of faith experience. A central dimension of the course is the sharing of faith vignettes by members of the class. Opportunity is also given to explore the cultural dimensions of religious experience.
570 Cross-Cultural Integration Seminar (1 SH)
This seminar is designed for mature students who have had a significant amount of cross-cultural ministry experience prior to enrollment in the seminary. It provides a setting where they can think reflectively and critically on the strength and struggles of those past experiences for the purpose of achieving important insights and personal growth. The seminar meets the cross-cultural requirement in the M.Div. program.
610 Cross-Cultural Church Experience (3 SH)
This seminar involves at least three weeks of immersion in a cultural setting distinctly different from one’s past experience. This includes interaction with religious, social, cultural, political, economic and commercial groups and their leaders. The basic goals of the seminar include becoming a learner at the feet of the people of this community, acknowledging that they alone know what their world is like. Approaches to learning in this seminar emphasize the methodology of “participant observation ” with careful attention to personal reactions and responses to one’s experiences through journaling and group reflection. Special attention is given to how the Christian gospel is communicated and expressed in that setting and how it engages the realities of that world. The particular characteristics and requirements of a given seminar vary depending on the particular setting and who is leading the seminar. The seminar does not assume other-than-English language capability, but learning the basics of another language is sometimes a part of what we learn through participant observation. Descriptions of specific cross-cultural seminars offered are circulated each year.
620 Mission in Cultural Context (3 SH)
Learning to survive, thrive and make a contribution in a cross-cultural context and exploring how the Christian gospel is faithfully communicated and expressed in varying cultural contexts are the twin objectives of this course. The biblical concept of incarnation is taken as a biblical model for understanding the nature, scope and limits of contextualizing the Christian faith in various cultural settings, applying the perspectives and tools of cultural anthropology. Students learn to apply the research discipline of participant observation to learning about another cultural community, giving special attention to how the gospel is communicated and expressed there.
640 Turn Around Strategies: Church (3 SH)
Churches must change, in order to be vital and continue to grow. They often fear or resist change, but change is inevitable. This course examines dynamics of church renewal, with strategies for change that seek to be true to the Gospel and to the congregational context. Effective leaders will discern forward-facing choices, cherish resources of the heritage and respond to current real needs. The course pays special attention to rural and small churches. Student research will be guided to examine cases of effective church revitalization.
700 The Social Context of Theology (3 SH)
This course examines cultural frameworks that shape and define our capacity to articulate truths about God and the world. We use tools from social sciences to understand how a pluralistic society and multicultural world affect our discipleship today. We examine contemporary media and emerging paradigms of non-Western theological reflection. Diversity in postmodern perspective invites us to new creativity as we reflect and respond with God's Spirit. With keen interest we attend to best current practices in Christian encounters with other (non-Christian) religious expressions.
720 Issues in Peacemaking (3 SH)
This course addresses current topics in peacemaking, both at local and global levels. The course uses a seminar format as participants share research and analysis on their practical and vocational involvements. Topics may include case studies of transformation in congregational conflicts, biblical theology of restorative justice and the history of Christian peacemaking.
730 Churches and Social Transformation (3 SH)
This course focuses a vision for congregations of the faithful at work with God in the world on the urgent moral and social crises of our times. While churches are widely seen as frequent defenders of establishment injustices, their potential for effective, focused moral witness against the major ills of human society is often overlooked . Their proven track record of work to reduce human misery, to minister to the poorest and persons most at risk is an important history to be retrieved and critically evaluated. Responses to slavery, colonialism, warfare, poverty, oppression, and gross injustice provide examples and inspiration to continue that witness today.
740 Women and Men in Bible and Church (3 SH)
This course is a study of biblical and historical perspectives on the roles and relationships of women and men within the community of faith. The focus of the course is a study of the biblical (Old Testament/New Testament) and historical (early church onwards) evidence which addresses the roles of women vis-a-vis men within the life of the Jewish and Christian faith communities. The study culminates in consideration of the implications of these biblical materials for the life, work and worship of the contemporary church. This course is open to persons with or without previous courses in Hebrew or Greek.
Denominational Studies
A course or courses on the history, theology and/or polity of the student’s denomination may be either required or encouraged. For Master of Divinity students who are members of the Mennonite or United Methodist churches, required courses are listed below. Master of Divinity students who are members of the Church of the Brethren or Brethren in Christ Church are required to take a course or courses offered by the denomination. Students from other denominations are encouraged to do a directed study on the history, theology and/or polity of their faith tradition. Master of Arts in Church Leadership students with pastoral interest are encouraged to take a denominational studies course.
CM 660 Mennonite Faith and Polity (also offered online) (2 SH)
This course examines two aspects of contemporary Mennonite reality. First, what the Mennonite Church has said and, especially, what it is currently saying about what it believes concerning the Christian faith; and second, how it structures itself in the light of those beliefs to carry out its ministry in the world. Focus will be on the expression of faith, its features and trends, in the last half century in the General Conference Mennonite church and the Mennonite Church, now integrated as Mennonite Church USA. Polity at the denominational, area conference and congregational levels will be studied with special interest in the emerging structures of the integration process. Particular attention will be given to polity and ethical guidelines for ministerial leadership.
United Methodist Studies
The following three courses are offered in cooperation with the United Methodist Church and are taught by United Methodist personnel. At least one course is offered each academic year. These courses are required of all United Methodist students and meet the respective requirements for admission into “full membership” in the Annual Conference.
CM 670 United Methodist History (2 SH)
A study of the history of the United Methodist Church from the beginning of the Wesleyan movement until the present.
CM 680 United Methodist Doctrine (2 SH)
Through selected resources from The Book of Discipline, from John Wesley’s sermons and journals, from contemporary scholarship in Wesleyan theology and theological method, and from discussion of the contemporary life of the church, students will examine the core of United Methodist belief, and review the doctrinal expectations of candidates for ordination in The United Methodist Church.
CM 690 United Methodist Polity (2SH)
Through selected official resources of The United Methodist Church, from contemporary scholarship in Wesleyan theology and United Methodist polity, from readings in ecclesiology, and from discussion of the ongoing practical life of the church, students will examine the ways in which United Methodists have organized themselves for mission in the world.
