Connect real life with real theology.

Christianity is globally diverse. This course is designed to enable students to articulate their own convictions on major theological topics in respectful conversation with major streams (theological thinkers, texts, and movements) within the multi-faceted world-wide doctrinal and practical expressions of Christian churches.

This course brings together students from a cross section of masters level degrees and certificates to engage significant theological, ethical, and ministerial/pastoral questions. It expects students to deploy insight and learnings from their current and prior coursework as they consider those questions. With attention to the social and spiritual implications of interpretation, the course requires students to deploy a variety of analytical tools and pastoral skills, with the acknowledgement that simplistic responses are inadequate for complex issues.

This course equips students to engage the richness and the challenges of the Old Testament critically, imaginatively, and theologically. Students will increase their knowledge of the content and character of the collection, the historical and cultural contexts of its origins, and the diversity embedded in the texts and their interpretation. They will develop their abilities to interpret Old Testament texts in ways that engage critical methods of biblical studies and honor the dignity of diverse peoples and our planet.

This course offers a blend of teaching, discussion, and experiential exercises and includes a regular small-group experience in which group members engage spiritual practice and reflection together. Students will sample contemplative/centering prayer, meditation, pilgrimage, retreat, journaling, holy listening, creativity, the labyrinth, and other practices and will choose one spiritual practice to explore and experience throughout the semester. Course content includes a survey of the history and development of spiritual practices in religious tradition and highlights engaged practice as a primary means of shaping and living out one’s spirituality. Emphasis is placed on application of learnings to one’s life and ministry/counseling practice.

This course will introduce new students to the diversities present in the Seminary community and to institutional commitments toward forming a supportive community of learning and theological reflection. Students will be introduced to anti-racist frameworks, power, and privilege dynamics (to include the intersections of gender, sexuality, socio-economic class, abilities, etc.), and the role of language (inclusivity, pronouns, etc.) to include or exclude others. It will also introduce students to contemplative spiritual practices and theological writing.

This course will introduce students to the unique moral role that pastors and those working in service organizations play. It will underscore the need to serve with integrity and with respect for the persons they serve. It will introduce students to the types of choices and ethical dilemmas that they will face and equip them to decide and act wisely.

This class introduces students to processes of and approaches to New Testament interpretation with a view toward vocational application. It provides a broad familiarity with contents and central themes of New Testament, early Christian, and other contemporary texts.

This course is designed to give an overview of the theory and practice of public speaking, centering on Christian proclamation in the context of public worship, and public oratory. It covers a brief history of public rhetoric, and spends time on the theology and place of preaching in communities of faith, with attention to culturally diverse groups. It will also build upon verbal communication skills, providing support for students to improve and care for their voices as they develop vocal stamina. Students will learn a variety of styles of oratory from conception to delivery, in order to explore and develop their own public voice.

This course equips students for the educational dimensions of all forms of ministry. It explores a variety of theories of Christian education and their theological and philosophical foundations. Particular pedagogical skills are examined and practiced, with an emphasis on group theory and leadership. Communal and individual contextual factors influencing the ways that students learn are taken into account.

This course will survey historical and contemporary models of spiritual/pastoral care and will introduce students to the basic knowledge, skills, and personal attributes needed for the practice of care in a variety of contexts, including parish based ministry, chaplaincy, and other non-profit settings. Training and practice in listening skills, spiritual/pastoral assessment, theological reflection, crisis care, and responding to a variety of common spiritual/pastoral issues will be included.

An introductory course on theology defined as the self-critically reflective dimension of the Christian life, and that it is imperative for all Christians to engage in this activity. Theology happens when Christians try to determine what they should do, how they should feel, and what they should think about their world in order to live as genuine persons of faith, i.e. something that Christians do when they are perplexed about how to live their lives most faithfully. This course invites students to read the works of others who have undertaken this task, and guides students as they do the same. Topics will be studied in the context of their historical development as well as confronting contemporary questions, ideas, and beliefs.