CH/PR 706 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

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1 CH/PR 706 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Hamilton HIS371B Gordon College, Wenham The Life and Preaching of A.J. Gordon: Uncommon Courage Everyday Faith Syllabus: Fall 2011 Please Note: The class will meet at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and will follow the seminary s semester schedule. See class meeting dates below. Dr. Scott M. Gibson, Professor 344 Academic Center Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Hamilton Campus Office Hours by Appointment ; sgibson@gcts.edu Tuesdays 1:15-4:15 p.m. AC (TBA) I. Course Description This course is designed to enable the student to understand the life and ministry of A.J. Gordon, nineteenth-century evangelical leader and shared founder of Gordon College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary as we celebrate the 175 th anniversary of his birth. Students will become familiar with Gordon s life, theology, publications and preaching as set in the ferment of late nineteenthcentury evangelicalism. II. Course Relationship to the Curriculum This course focuses both on history and homiletics. Lectures and discussion merge together a historical and theological understanding of the life, work and preaching of A.J. Gordon. Students bring to the class a background in historical studies and homiletics, which will aid them in interpreting Gordon s life, writings and preaching. III. Course Objective As a result of this course students should be able to gain an in depth perspective on A.J. Gordon, the shared founder of the college and seminary. In order to accomplish this, the student will: (A) Read a biography on A.J. Gordon. (B) Read the writings of A.J. Gordon and discuss them in weekly seminars. (C) Write reflection papers on each of the assigned Gordon books. (D) Give an in-class presentation that connects the theme of Uncommon Courage Everyday Faith as it relates to their interest, contemporary setting and/or focus. (E) Seminary students may choose in place of the presentation (or college students for extra credit) to write a research paper (25 page maximum) on an aspect of A.J. 1

2 Gordon s life or of Gordon s legacy as it relates to the college or seminary or present-day evangelicalism. IV. Course Textbooks Required: Books Scott M. Gibson, A.J. Gordon: American Premillennialist. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, A.J. Gordon, Congregational Worship. Boston: Young and Barlett, How Christ Came to Church. Grand Rapids: Kregel, In Christ. Boston: Gould and Lincoln, Revell, The Holy Spirit in Missions. New York, Chicago, Toronto:. The Ministry of Healing. Chicago & New York, Revell, The Ministry of the Spirit. Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, Articles [Provided by the Professor]. Ecce Venit. New York: Revell, A.J. Gordon, The Ministry of Women, Recommended:. Shall a Woman Prophesy?. Prophesying Women, Ernest B. Gordon, A.J. Gordon: A Biography with Letters and Illustrative Extracts Drawn from Unpublished or Uncollected Sermons and Addresses. New York, Chicago, Toronto: Revell: V. Course Requirements and Grading 1. Attendance at lectures and exercises. Students are expected to be on time for class. Late work will not be accepted. 2. Read Gibson, A.J. Gordon: American Premillennialist. Rather than reading the book in one sitting, be prepared to discuss the various segments of the book in 2

3 class as assigned in the readings for each class below. 3. Read Gordon books, Congregational Worship, How Christ Came to Church, In Christ, The Holy Spirit in Missions, Ministry of Healing, The Ministry of the Spirit, Ecce Venit and three articles on women in ministry. These books and article set will be discussed in class as noted in the calendar below. For the book report, please respond to the following questions: a. Do you think the book has a central idea? What do you think it is? b. Discuss the theological issues that emerge in the book and engage with the strengths and weaknesses of what Gordon is advocating. c. What have you learned from reading the book (articles) about Uncommon Courage Everyday Faith. (12 pt. font, typed, single-spaced, using 1 inch margins). Please put name and box # on the back of the last page, not on the front page/s. Each two-page report is due on the date books are discussed in class. 4. Students will make a ten-minute presentation that connects the theme of Uncommon Courage Everyday Faith as it relates to their interest, contemporary setting and/or focus. Seminary students are to write a research paper (25 page maximum) on an aspect of A.J. Gordon s life or of Gordon s legacy as it relates to the college or seminary or present-day evangelicalism. Please put name and box # on the back of the last page, not on the front page/s. The paper is due on Friday, 16 December VI. Course Administration A. Attendance Policy Attendance is required for the class. Absence will result in a grade reduction. If a difficulty arises, please see the professor. Please make every effort to be at class on time. B. Due Dates and Late Penalties See the calendar in the catalog. Late work will not be accepted. C. Assistance VII. Course Calendar Please come to see me with your questions. An office hours signup sheet is located outside my office. Tues., 13 September: Tues., 20 September: Introduction to each other and to the course A.J. Gordon: Pastor and Preacher How Christ Came to Church Read: Gibson, chapter 1. 3

4 Tues., 27 September: Tues., 4 October: In Christ Read: Gibson, chapters 2 & 3. The Ministry of Healing READING WEEK October Tues., 18 October: Tues. 25 October: Tues., 1 November: Ecce Venit The Ministry of the Spirit Read: Gibson, chapter 9. The Holy Spirit in Missions Read: Gibson, chapter 4 & 7. READING WEEK 7-11 November Tues., 15 November: Tues., 22 November: Tues., 29 November: Tues., 6 December: Congregational Worship Read: Gibson, chapter 8. Preaching Women (handouts from professor) Read: Gibson, chapter 5, 6, 10 and conclusion. Presentations Presentations/Wrap-up VIII. Grading The percentage categories on the back sheet of the syllabus equal 100. The class presentation will be assessed on the clarity of presentation, integration of the ideas from the reading and classroom discussion, creativity, and remaining within the time limit. As for all written assignments, I am looking for good use of grammar, interaction with the material/ideas, spelling, etc. The Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Student Handbook spells out the rigorous call for excellence in all grading assignments, which will be followed in the course. The Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Student Handbook states: Grade A is given for meeting with conspicuous excellence the demands which can fairly be made in relation to the requirements of the course. These demands would normally include unusual accuracy in fact, completeness in detail, perfection in form of work, independence of method, grasp of the subject as a whole and constructive imagination. 4

5 Grade B is given for exceeding the minimum satisfactory attainment and for meeting certain aspects of the course with excellence. Grade C is given for attaining satisfactory familiarity with the course and for demonstrating at least some ability to use this knowledge in a satisfactory manner. Grade D is a passing mark but indicates unsatisfactory control over the material. Grade F declares that the course has been failed. 5

6 Name Box Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Hamilton Gordon College, Wenham The Life and Preaching of A.J. Gordon: Uncommon Courage Everyday Faith Syllabus: Fall 2011 Dr. Scott M. Gibson How many class sessions did you attend? (check if) all, or (give number). Have you read Gibson s A.J. Gordon? (yes/no) (10%) Reports: Gordon s How Christ Came to Church (8%) Gordon s In Christ (8%) Gordon s The Ministry of Healing (8%) Gordon s Ecce Venit (8%) Gordon s The Ministry of the Spirit (8%) Gordon s The Holy Spirit in Missions (8%) Gordon s Congregational Worship (8%) Gordon articles on preaching women (8%) Participation (11%) Presentation/Paper (15%) (Late work will not be accepted.) Course Grade 6

7 Selected Bibliography Askew, Thomas A. and Jean M. A Faithful Past, An Expectant Future. Wenham, MA: Gordon College, Brackney, William H. and Paul S. Fiddes eds. with John H.Y. Briggs. Pilgrim Pathways: Essays in Baptist History in Honour of B.R. White. Macon: Mercer University Press, Carpenter, Joel A. and Wilbert R. Shenk, eds. Earthen Vessels: American Evangelicals and Foreign Missions, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Cole, Stewart G. The History of Fundamentalism. New York: Harper & Row, Dayton, Donald W. Discovering an Evangelical Heritage. New York: Harper & Row, Douglas, Ann. The Feminization of American Culture. New York: Anchor, Ferguson, Ann., ed. Shaping a Heritage. Wenham, MA: Gordon College, Gordon, Ernest B., Adoniram Judson Gordon: A Biography with Letters and Illustrative Extracts Drawn from Unpublished or Uncollected Sermons and Addresses. New York, Chicago, Toronto: Revell, Hardesty, Nancy. Women Called to Witness. Nashville: Abingdon, Hassey, Janette. No Time For Silence. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Kerr, William Nigel. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary: The First 25 Years. South Hamilton, MA: Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Kraus, C. Norman. Dispensationalism in America. Richmond: John Knox, Marsden, George M. Fundamentalism and American Culture: The Shaping of Twentieth-Century Evangelicalism, New York: Oxford University Press, Noll, Mark A., David W. Bebbington, and George A. Rawlyk, eds. Evangelicalism: Comparative Studies of Popular Protestantism in North America, the British Isles, and Beyond, New York: Oxford University Press, Rosell, Garth M., ed. The Vision Continues: Essays Marking the Centennial of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. South Hamilton, MA: Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Ruether, Rosemary and Eleanor McLaughlin, eds. Women of Spirit: Female Leadership in the Jewish and Christian Tradition. New York: Simon and Shuster,

8 Ruether, Rosemary and Rosemary Keller Skinner, eds. Women & Religion in America. vol. 1. San Francisco: Harper & Row, Russell, C. Allyn. Voices of American Fundamentalism: Seven Biographical Studies. Philadelphia: Westminster, Sweet, Leonard I., ed. The Evangelical Tradition in America. Macon: Mercer University Press, The Minister s Wife. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, Weber, Timothy P. Living in the Shadow of the Second Coming: American Premillennialism Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Wood, Nathan R. A School of Christ. Boston: Gordon College of Theology and Missions,