Northern Seminary Doctor of Ministry Program DM 7045 BIBLICAL/THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON MINISTRY AND CULTURE January 18 th -20 th, 2017

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1 Northern Seminary Doctor of Ministry Program DM 7045 BIBLICAL/THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON MINISTRY AND CULTURE January 18 th -20 th, 2017 Time: 9am-4pm Wednesday-Thursday 9am-noon on Friday Professor Geoffrey Holsclaw COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES Each of us engages in life and ministry according to one s own working or lived theology. DM 7045 seeks to enhance our ability to integrate sound theological understanding into the practice of ministry by integrating biblical foundations, ecclesial traditions, and cultural contexts. To this end, this course moves from theological method based in scripture, church/tradition, and culture to actual theological reflection on ministry experiences, ministry situations, and ministry experiences. By your participation in this course you should: 1. Become aware of how theological convictions lie as the foundation of one s life and ministry. 2. Become adept at pinpointing the theological convictions operative in oneself and others. 3. Begin to develop a theological framework (biblical, ecclesial, cultural) for engaging the ministry problem or situation that will become the topic of your D. Min. thesis. COURSE OUTLINE The first part of the week will consist in discussion around the issues of scripture, church, and culture, generated by the readings. We will explore matters related to theological method and the practice of ministry. The second part of the week will focus on the presentation and discussion of student case studies. COURSE TEXTBOOKS Anderson, Ray S. Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering Ministry with Theological Praxis. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, ISBN: ; $18.73; pp Cone, James. God of the Oppressed. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, ISBN: ; $13.99; pp Goizueta, Roberto S. Caminemos Con Jesús: Toward a Hispanic/Latino Theology of Accompaniment (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2003). pp. ix-76,

2 Grenz, Stanley J. and John R. Franke. Beyond Foundationalism: Shaping Theology in a Postmodern Context. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, ISBN: ; $40; pp Hays, Richard. The Moral Vision of the New Testament: A Contemporary Introduction to New Testament Ethics. HarperOne, ISBN: ; $26.99; pp Johnson, Elizabeth A. She Who Is: The Mystery of God In Feminist Theological Discourse. New York: Crossroad, pp , (HANDOUT) Schreiter, Robert J. Constructing Local Theologies. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, ISBN: ; $26; pp. xi-121. Williams, D. H. Evangelicals and Tradition: The Formative Influence of the Early Church. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, ISBN: ; $22; pp Wright, N. T. Scripture and the Authority of God: How to Read the Bible Today. New York: Harper Collins, ISBN: ; $14.99; pp. preface-195. The required readings have the following purposes: 1. To acquaint students with some currents in modern theology and theological method. 2. To provide a common fund of theological sources as a basis for class discussion about theological method. 3. There is no requirement that students use these particular readings as sources for their case study reflection. The student should draw on them only as they are useful and relevant for the student s particular case study. A note on the readings: As will be clear in the course requirements, these books will be read through the purpose of writing critical comparisons. With this in mind it is strongly suggested to read the books in this proposed order: Grenz/Franke, Wright, Hays and Williams first as the more straightforward accounts of theological method, followed by the others in any order as instances of the practice of creating a local theology. But it will be evident if you just read enough to write comparison papers, so be sure to read everything! COURSE REQUIREMENTS Prior to Seminar: (20% of grade) Due by first day of class. Papers are all double spaced. 1. Read Required Textbooks (about 1500 pages). See required pages for each book as not all of each book will be read. 2. Write three critical comparison essays (5-6 pages). By critically compare I mean evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of an authors. Because these papers are short there is no need to cite book/page number while summarizing authors. Just summarize main points quickly and move on to comparison. I am not having you engage with

3 Wright or Williams, but they will be integral to our class so be sure to read them closely also. o First Essay- Bible: Summarize and critically compare Hays methodogical proposal on how to read the New Testament (3 images) and relate it to the contemporary ethics of Cone s understanding of Black Theology and its sources (especially Cone s reading of the Old and New Testament). o Second Essay-Tradition/Experience: Summarize and critically compare the role of community experience in Goizueta and Cone, and relate to the discussion of culture by Grenz/Franke. What are the similarities and differences? o Third Essay-Context: Summarize and critically compare Schreiter s elements of a local theology to Grenz/Franke s proposal. How can each enrich the other? Or, is something missing from one that the other fills in? Finish by asking whether Cone would approve of Grenz/Franke s theological methodology? Why, why not? Each critical comparison is due the first day of class, 5-6 pages, double-spaced. 3. Case Study Summary (at most 3 pages). Prepare a concise summary of your proposed ministry case study or ministry study developed in Becoming Doctors of the Church (DM 7015). This should include the specific issue, its ministry setting, and its larger context. Due on the first day of class (at most 3 pages, double-spaced). During Seminar: (10% of grade) Engage in critical dialogue and theological reflection with classmates. Bring insights gleaned from your ministry context and from reading of the required texts into the class discussion. After the Seminar: (70% of grade) Students will develop a theological reflection on ministry essay as a significant component to the learning in this course. It is expected that in this assignment each student will deal with the ministry situation presented in the case study, and give evidence of further reading and reflection on the issue presented. Essays should express awareness of and interaction with the class discussions of those case studies. Draft Summary: A précis of the theological reflection paper is to be submitted to the professor (by ) no later than Feb. 24 th, 2017 and should be no longer than 4-6 pages. The précis should be regarded as a preliminary summary of the student s thinking on methodology and how it meets on the ground in the ministry case study. It should also include a working bibliography and contain the three elements mentioned above. Completed précis must be submitted by Feb. 24 th, 2017.

4 Seminar Paper: The theological reflection paper should contain three parts: 1. In the first part, students should provide a clear statement of the theological methods to be used in the essay, with clarification on the sources (biblical, ecclesial, cultural) and their interrelationship (about 4-6 pages). 2. The second part should consist of a brief description of the case study. This description should be sufficient to orient the reader to the issues regarding both methodology in the first part and the theological construction in the third part of the essay (1-2 pages). 3. The third part should indicate the development of the theological reflection and construction in relations to the ministry situation, showing the interaction with biblical, ecclesial, and cultural resources, and giving evidence of analysis and interaction with other authors (10-15 pages). The complete essay should be pages, double spaced, with bibliography; its style must conform to the parameters indicated in Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 8 th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2012). Completed essay must be submitted by March 24 st, SEMINAR OULINE Wednesday, Jan. 18 Welcome and Introduction Scripture as theological resource Thursday, Jan. 19 Church and Tradition as theological resource Culture as theological resource Friday, Jan 20 (half day, finished by 12pm) Integrating Scripture, Church, and Culture Discussion: Integrating theological method and ministry case studies Wrap up

5 SEMINAR EVALUATION Pre-Seminar Work (Reading Reflection): 20% Seminar Participation: 10% Post-Seminar Work (Final Paper): 70% Late work will be deducted a full letter grade for each week late. For each week late, then, an A paper will receive a grade of B. GRADING SCALE A = A- = B+ = B = B- = C+ = 79-7 C = C- = D+ = D = D- = F = 59 and below COURSE EVALUATION Students must complete an online course evaluation using the seminary Moodle system at in order to receive a final grade in the course. The evaluation will be open for one week starting the last day of the class. If you need assistance connecting to Moodle or accessing the evaluation, please send an to ithelpdesk@seminary.edu.