MT537/637/737/837: Theologizing in Mission (4 units)

Charles Van Engen, Arthur F. Glasser Professor of Biblical Theology of Mission
Spring 2006 Pasadena

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course seeks to introduce students to the skills of doing theology in search of Biblical truth, in relation to a broad range of complex issues involved in missiology. Students will learn to observe, analyze, integrate, and apply traditional theological questions in new and creative ways that reexamine, test, inform, and shape their missiology. In addition to the broad overview, each student will learn to examine the basic theological presuppositions most significant to that student's academic focus in SIS. Such an exercise in theologizing will deal with specific theological themes, examine theological assumptions and their relationship to particular cognate disciplines, relate the task of doing theology today with the Church's theologizing down through the centuries, and converse with today's differing confessional and contextual streams of theology of mission.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Develop an ability to analyze and critique mission praxis from biblical and theological perspectives
• Develop an ability to analyze and apply the insights of integrative mission theology to specific ministry issues in the student's mission praxis.

COURSE FORMAT:

The course will meet for two hours twice weekly for 10 weeks. It will be conducted in a predominantly seminar style. Class lectures will deal with broad methodological concerns in doing theology in mission, coupled with discussion of specific cases-in-point. The primary arena of learning will happen in the student's own reading, reflecting, theologizing, and articulating of theological issues related to the students' confessional and cultural contexts, arenas of missiological concentration, and choices of theological themes.

REQUIRED READING: If a student has read any one of the required texts, it is strongly recommended to read a different text from the bibliography in the syllabus.

Karl Barth. Credo. New York: Scribners, 1962. (provided in class).
Hendrikus Berkhof. Introduction to the Study of Dogmatics. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1985.
Charles Van Engen, Gilliland, and Pierson, edits. The Good News of the Kingdom. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1993. OR a selection in missiological reflection taken from the bibliography in the syllabus.
Charles Van Engen. Mission-on-the-Way: Issues in Mission in Theology. G.R.: Baker, 1996.
Charles Van Engen, Nancy Thomas and Rob Gallagher, edits. Footprints of God. Monrovia: MARC, 1999.
Lesslie Newbigin. Foolishness to the Greeks: The Gospel and Western Culture. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1986. OR Lesslie Newbigin. The Gospel in a Pluralist Society. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1989. OR Lesslie Newbigin. Truth to Tell: The Gospel as Public Truth. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1991. OR Andrew Kirk. What is Mission? London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 1999.
G.H. Muzorewa. An African Theology of Mission. N.Y.: Edwin Mellen, 1990. OR Ken Gnanakan. Kingdom Concerns Bangalore: Theological Bk Trust, 1989. OR Rene Padilla. Mission Between the Times: Essays on the Kingdom. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1985. OR [This volume may be substituted with a like work from Asia, Africa, Middle East, Oceania, or the Caribbean. See, for example, Vinay Samuel and Chris Sugden. Sharing Jesus in the Two Thirds World. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1983. OR Donald L. Stults. Developing an Asian Evangelical Theology. Manila, OMF Lit., 1989. OR Kwame Bediako. Theology and Identity. Oxford: Regnum, 1992. OR John de Gruchy and C. Villa-Vicencio, edits. Doing Theology in Context: South African Perspectives. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1994.; OR Ray Anderson. Ministry on the Fireline. Downers Grove: IVP, 1992.]

NOTE: A student may choose to substitute 6 and 7 above, by reading David Bosch. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1991.

ASSIGNMENTS:

• Four 250-word reading reports on 1, 2, 3, and 5.
• Three book reviews on 4, 6, and 7.
• A 3750 to 5000-word paper, double-spaced and typed, theologizing about one very specific and well-focused theological theme in relation to the student's own theological and cultural context, study concentration, and missiological situation. By the third week of the quarter, doctoral-level students are to write up a 250-word description of the way this course will contribute to their over-all doctoral program, and what additional learning they have designed into the course to support their larger study program.

PREREQUISITES: MT520/620 or permission of instructor.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet research methods requirement in MA-ICS (ISRR), ThM, and SIS doctoral programs. Doctoral students should complete this course before they register for the spring quarter tutorial seminar (MT789/889: Issues in Mission Theology).

FINAL EXAM: None.

Last Date Edited: February 2, 2006