This course orients students to the literature of the New Testament in its various literary, historical, and theological contexts and to New Testament interpretation in service of Christian practice.

This course introduces the missional orientation of the Bible and its significance for participation in the mission of God of today. Students will consider the narrative of Scripture broadly as well as specific biblical texts that inform a Christian account of God's mission. The course will also consider both the emergence of this approach as well as how it might continue to inform Christian practice in contemporary contexts.

Select one of the following courses to confront the urgent ethical challenges of this moment in light of your research interests, vocational goals, and scheduling/modality considerations:

ET513 Perspectives on Social Ethics*

An exploration of the relationship between biblical faith and contemporary social and political life, with special attention to current patterns of evangelical engagement with politics in the United States and around the world. The course will survey the diverse forms of contemporary evangelical political engagement as well as the varied content of evangelical views on selected public issues, including human rights, the environment, sexuality and family issues, poverty, church-state concerns, and war. 

ET528 Creation Care and Sabbath Economics*

In a time of unprecedented ecological crisis and economic inequality that threaten the sanctity of God’s creation and human life, all Christians are called to the faithful stewardship of creation care and witness to God’s justice. This course studies the theological and ethical grounds and directives of creation care and Sabbath economics that inform our personal and corporate responsibility as the followers of Jesus. The study includes 1) an analysis of the detrimental impact of global capitalism on the ecology and 2) an exploration of appropriate spiritual formation, communal practices, and public policy proposals of creation care and the Sabbath economics in local, national, and global contexts. 

ET520 Biblical and Practical Peacemaking*

The way of Jesus in the New Testament and his message of the breakthroughs of the reign of God centrally include the way of peacemaking. We will seek to deepen our understanding of that way and our ability to teach it and model it. We will compare major present-day ethical positions—nonviolence, just war, and just peacemaking—as they relate to overcoming terrorism, preventing nuclear war, peace in the Middle East, and practical peacemaking among church members, including role-playing conflict resolution within churches. And we will study how to begin inward/outward journey small groups in churches with a mission of following Jesus in peacemaking.

This course explores the nuances of leadership in the intercultural contexts. We will cover the theories behind intercultural leadership, identify components of culture, introduce the basic principles in intercultural communication, and develop understanding of intercultural synergies in organizational behavior within multicultural setting.

As with every field of study, missiology has its particular focus, literature, and methods. To engage in missiological integration requires appropriate skills to use the tools and resources available. This course introduces the student to these skills and the basic perspectives and tools. A special feature of the course is the use made of
the case study model to engage missiological investigation, reflection, and action. The School of Mission and Theology’ framework for missiological study-Word, Church, and World will be employed. Because effective missiology is developed interactively, opportunity will be given for collaboration in learning.