Long overshadowed by the disciplines of Biblical, historical, and liturgical studies, in the late 1980s and early 1990s doctrinal, constructive, and systematic theology in the Anglican tradition experienced an impressive renaissance that continues to this day. While many theologians around the Communion contributed to this development, most of the seminal figures were from the United Kingdom. Rather than a comprehensive survey, this seminar offers a close look at significant texts by David Brown, Sarah Coakley, John Milbank and Rowan Williams (among others) that represent various aspects of contemporary Anglican theology. This course also has the attribute of THEO.
This is a continuation of the first semester Foundations course. Students practice the methods of exegesis while studying the Prophets and Writings.
New Testament Foundations II is an introduction to the Pauline literature, Hebrews, and the Book of Revelation.
A continuation of Beginning Hebrew I.
Course continues the instructional pattern of Intermediate Biblical Hebrew I, though the focus shifts from the analysis of prose to poetry. This upper-level undertaking calls attention to the "archaic features" in, for example, Jacob's blessing (Gen. 49), and the songs of Moses (Exod. 15) and Deborah (Judges 5).
This course is a continuation of Beginning New Testament Greek I. Students continue the study of the language by translating from the New Testament in each class session. Passages chosen for each week are from pericopes for the coming weeks so that students are challenged to look more deeply into the language and meanings of the New Testament.
Apocalyptic literature centers on a thorough examination of Hebrew and Christian literatures focused on eschatological and apocalyptic themes. Beginning with significant portions of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah, and Daniel, the course traces the development of the literature through the Apocrypha, the Gospels, the Epistles and the Apocalypse of John. Attention is devoted to apocalyptic as a contemporary cultural phenomenon. Texts include works by Collins, Witherington, Schmidt, and Rossing.
A Biblical Studies topic developed by the student and a School of Theology faculty member to meet an educational goal not met through existing courses.
The overall purpose of this course is to offer a detailed exegetical analysis of the Fourth Gospel within the larger Jewish and Graeco-Roman contexts and in relation to the synoptic gospels. Each student will read the text of the gospel from Kurt Aland (ed.) Synopsis of the Four Gospels and will impersonate a commentator (ancient or modern) throughout the course. We will also assign to each participant a critical role that employs the diverse methodology of literary, rhetorical, and historical criticism. In addition to these cultural and critical historical tasks, we will read from the St. John’s Bible, the Heritage edition and engage with the art of calligraphy and iconography displayed in this beautiful artifact. To accomplish these goals, the class will run as a workshop, relying on the individual contribution of each participant,
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to questions about what it means to be a moral person in our contemporary world. In particular, we will examine what it means to be a Christian moral person—that is, what Christian faith and tradition contribute to our understanding of a moral universe. We will begin with an examination of moral formation in community. We will then discuss ethical principles as they have emerged throughout the Christian tradition. Through readings on "modernity" and "post-modernity," we will explore how such resources can be used to assist in discerning Christian moral life today.
The environmental challenges facing the world today are urgent and complex. A variety of approaches have been enacted or proposed to address these problems, ranging from practical efforts to organize for justice to conceptual attempts to shift how we view our world. All of these approaches have particular strengths and weaknesses, and all raise important questions. The purpose of this introductory seminar is to survey ethical to environmental problems and to examine the central moral questions such problems raise. We will cover traditional, "mainstream" environmental ethical responses as well as more recent alternatives to and criticisms of those responses. Discussion will include concrete case studies as well as theoretical foundations, and the final essay will seek to place the theories in the context of concrete environmental problems.
A Christian Ethics and Moral Theology topic developed by the student and a School of Theology faculty member to meet an educational goal not met through existing courses.
This course focuses on the Reformation period as well as on developments to the present. It concentrates on the Caroline Divines, the Evangelical Revival, the Tractarians, Christian Socialism, and the expansion of Anglicanism.
This course is an introduction to the development of the character, polity, and spirituality of the Church of England in the years from the end of Elizabeth I to the “settlement” of Queen Anne, the so-called “long” seventeenth-century. It is the experiences of the seventeenth century which give England its Protestant patriotism, and so the course aims to outline the causes of the Civil War(s) of the British Isles and the consequences for the polity and spirituality of the church and people. This course will examine the work of some of the most influential writers and theologians in the Anglican tradition, including George Herbert, John Donne, and Jeremy Taylor.
M.A. students in the Church History concentration register for CHHT 598 while pursuing their research project.
Fundamentals of Preaching introduces students to the basic theory and practice of homiletics in the Anglican Tradition. The course assists the student in the discovery of her or his preaching voice, and provides the student with significant occasions for exploration of varied expressions of excellent preaching, while also affording multiple opportunities to recite, speak, and preach before fellow students and the professor. Particular attention is given to homiletical exegesis, homiletical form, preaching style, and sermon delivery, with concentration primarily on preaching for the principal Sunday service.
Fundamentals of Preaching introduces students to the basic theory and practice of homiletics in the Anglican Tradition. The course assists the student in the discovery of her or his preaching voice, and provides the student with significant occasions for exploration of varied expressions of excellent preaching, while also affording multiple opportunities to recite, speak, and preach before fellow students and the professor. Particular attention is given to homiletical exegesis, homiletical form, preaching style, and sermon delivery, with concentration primarily on preaching for the principal Sunday service.
Fundamentals of Preaching introduces students to the basic theory and practice of homiletics in the Anglican Tradition. The course assists the student in the discovery of her or his preaching voice, and provides the student with significant occasions for exploration of varied expressions of excellent preaching, while also affording multiple opportunities to recite, speak, and preach before fellow students and the professor. Particular attention is given to homiletical exegesis, homiletical form, preaching style, and sermon delivery, with concentration primarily on preaching for the principal Sunday service.
This course examines the ways interpretation of an extended portion of scripture informs preaching, while also exploring the unique ways that preparing to preach shapes interpretation. The course will analyze and exegete texts in English and in original languages where there is aptitude. It will also engage in regular homiletic practice and reflection. This course may be repeated for credit when the topic differs.
Every liturgy between Palm Sunday and the Easter Vigil has provision for extensive musical enactment, and the observances of Holy Week have inspired some of the most moving musical compositions in the Church’s canon. This course explores the history of liturgical music for Holy Week, considering capstone settings by a variety of composers from the Middle Ages to the present day, and also allows students to examine the potential for musical enactment of these liturgies in their own parish and ministry settings.