MT689/789/889: Issues in
Mission Theology (8 units)
Charles Van Engen, Arthur F. Glasser Professor of Biblical
Theology of Mission
Spring 2006 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
This 8-unit tutorial/seminar will examine the
methodology and the content involved in doing Theology of Mission in the midst
of Twenty-First Century global/local missiology. This seminar, though related
to each doctoral student’s personal tutorial study, will provide a forum for
discussing the method and content of theology of mission. Building on “MT537:
Theologizing in Mission,” this seminar will examine more deeply the
methodological and content-related assumptions on which a theologian of mission
builds, evaluating the personal relevance, missional connectedness, contextual
appropriateness, and biblical/theological acceptability of such assumptions.
COURSE FORMAT:
The class will meet for one three hour session
per week for ten weeks to share insights, learn from one another and brainstorm
the issues facing missiologists in doing theology of mission in a
modern/postmodern world of global/local world evangelization. Doctoral students
will draw from their own area of investigation to select a specific
theology-of-mission issue on which to focus their tutorial study for the
seminar. Through reading one another’s writing, writing questions, and making a
presentation to the seminar, the student will be involved in a process of group
learning over a broad spectrum, coupled with individual investigation related
to each doctoral student’s tutorial study.
REQUIRED READING:
J. Verkuyl. Contemporary Missiology. G.R.:Eerdmans, 1978, pp 1-225 (available
in class).
David Bosch. Witness to the World.
London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1980 (available in class).
Orlando Costas. Christ Outside the Gate.
Maryknoll: Orbis, 1982; or OPTION.
David Bosch. Transforming Mission.
Maryknoll: Orbis, 1991. (Read Part I or
Part III or OPTION.)
C. Van Engen. Mission on the Way.
G.R.: Baker, 1996; or OPTION.
J. Andrew Kirk. What is Mission? London:
Darton, Longman & Todd, 1999 (available from Monrovia: MARC).
C. Van Engen, Dean S. Gilliland and Paul Pierson, eds. The Good News of the Kingdom. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1993; reprinted
1999 by Wipf and Stock Publishers, Eugene, Oregon; or C. Van Engen, Nancy Thomas and Robert Gallagher, eds, Footprints of God. Monrovia: MARC/World
Vision, 1999; or OPTION.
If students have read any one of the
above books, they will choose substitute texts from a bibliography provided in
class. Students attending the seminar as part of a doctoral tutorial will
read at least 600 pages either of
supplemental reading appropriate to the subject of their doctoral work or from selected books and chapters
drawn from a bibliography provided in class.
ASSIGNMENTS:
• Seven 500-word, typed, double-spaced
book reviews.
• Reading reports of 250 words on the books and chapters selected for the
additional 600 pages of reading, related to the student’s particular
investigation.
• A tutorial paper of 10,000 to 12,500 words (double-spaced, typed) dealing
with a specific theological topic that arises from the student’s context of
ministry and is related to the student’s particular tutorial investigation. The
format for this tutorial paper appears in the class syllabus.
• Each student will distribute to all the members of the seminar group a
written piece the person has previously authored related to their doctoral
studies (minimum 2500 words, maximum 3750 words) – and will make a presentation
to the seminar regarding the student’s study program and the piece that has
been distributed.
PREREQUISITES: MT537 Theologizing in
Mission—unless the professor gives permission otherwise. Th.M. students must
obtain instructor’s written permission to register.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Tutorial/Seminar to facilitate
SIS doctoral studies.
FINAL EXAM: None.