Syllabi

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MM 602 Mentored Ministry: Mentored Ministry Experience in a Cross-Cultural Ministry Setting

Michael C. Voigts

Course Objectives • To help students feel comfortable in ministering to individuals who are significantly different from themselves, and to grasp a wider understanding of the nature of the Church in the world. • For each student to appreciate the role of personal spiritual development for ministry leaders, and to intentionally examine areas in her or his life with Christ that need to be expanded. • To gain skills in problem solving through the use of simplified case studies; using them as tools for finding key issues involved in case study situations.
OT 619 Exegesis of 1-2 Samuel

Craig Vondergeest

Anderson , A. A. 2 Samuel. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, 1989. Arnold, Bill and John Choi. A Guide to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. Cambridge: Cambridge University, 2003 Brueggemann, Walter. David’s Truth in Israel’s Imagination and Memory. 2nd ed. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2002
MB 610 Learning a Language and Culture

Dale F. Walker

Course Description: (From the ATS Catalog): “The developed generic methods of applied linguistics which equip the cross-cultural worker with methods of acquiring a field language with maximum efficiency.” This course is a follow-up to MB600 / 700: Anthropology for Christian Mission, and a bridge to MB 720: Cross-Cultural Communication of Christianity. We will be concerned with several aspects of cross-cultural living and learning, in order to facilitate communication in our various ministries. The course has several facets, each of which could be expanded into at least a full semester’s course. Being put together into one semester here, these facets will serve as introductions to areas of life-long interest, learning, and possible research. These facets are: An introduction to language and linguistics, as the scientific study of language; An introduction to field methods in cultural anthropology and linguistics; An introduction to learning strategies in language study.
CL 614 Leading Groups and Organizations

Russell W. West

Course Description. Transforming simple or complex groups (such as organizations) requires exceptional insight and skill. This course will examine the social psychological aspects of leadership from both the classic literature and from Christian parallels. Organic systems and the impact of belief structures on leadership and organizational behavior will frame the discussion.
CL 614 ML 714 Leading Groups and Organizations

Russell W. West

Course Description. Transforming simple or complex groups (such as organizations) requires exceptional insight and skill. This course will examine the social psychological aspects of leadership from both the classic literature and from Christian parallels. Organic systems and the impact of belief structures on leadership and organizational behavior will frame the discussion.
MB 800 Research Methods in Missiology

Russell W. West

Course Description This course introduces students to various approaches to research design, research methods and dissertation writing for doctoral students in missiology and intercultural studies. Methods are the link between questions and answers. The problem is finding the appropriate methods that discover data that shed light on the problem at hand. A well-designed research project should provide a door for the researcher to enter the stream of literature being produced about a particular topic. The goal of this course is to introduce students to a variety of research strategies and tools so that the student will be able to contribute to the disciplines within missiology.
BT 660 New Testament Theology

Ben Witherington

Ice, Laura and B. Witherington, The Shadow of the Almighty, (Grand Rapids:Eerdmans, 2000). Witherington, B. The Living Word of God, (Baylor Press, 2007), hb. Witherington, Ben The Many Faces of the Christ (N.Y. Crossroad, 1998). Witherington, Ben. Jesus, Paul, and the End of the World, (Downers Grove: InterVarsity P, 1992). Witherington, Ben Paul’s Narrative Thought World, (Louisville: Westminster/J.Knox, 1994), pb.
NT 520 New Testament Introduction

Ben Witherington

COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is intended to help you begin to weave yourself through the maze of NT studies. During the course we will be exploring several major subject areas: 1) the history of the period in which the NT was written; 2) the social and cultural milieu in which early Christians lived; 3) the practice of the scholarly study of the NT (source, form, redaction, genre, rhetorical criticism, et al.); 4) questions of introduction about the books of the NT (authorship, date, audience, structure, purpose); 5) the practice of exegesis and hermeneutics. In terms of the cognitive content of this course there are two major components: 1) the lectures; 2) the textbooks.
NT 640 Exegesis of General Epistles

Ben Witherington

CATALOG DESCRIPTION A close reading of the General Epistles with special attention given to literary, sociohistorical, and theological understandings of the Epistles. May include from any or all the General Epistles in a given semester. Pre-requisites IBDS 510 or 511; NT 520 and NT 500-501/2 or equivalent. (May be taken by students in M.A. programs not requiring Greek by special arrangement with the professor).
NT 805 The Early Church Fathers and the Formation of the Canon

Ben Witherington

COURSE PROCEDURE This is an intensive class (four hours a day, for two weeks) and will include the following components: 1) 50 minutes of introductory lecture followed by 15 min. Q&A; 2) 30 minutes of translation of primary source texts, by the students; 3) 45 minutes of short reports on assignments from the required reading. Each student will sign up for at least one short report before July 1. The reports should include a summary of the thesis of the text and a summary of the author’s main arguments and supporting evidence. At the end the student should give some evaluation of the author’s thesis and argument and how useful it is for our study of early Christianity and the interpretation of Scripture and the formation of the canon. Although a written copy of the report should be given to each member of the class, the oral presentation (15-20 min) should take the form of a mini-lecture, just as if one were teaching the text to a class of students. 4) 1 hour and 30 min discussion of the text assigned as “Common Reading for Discussion” together with the primary sources assigned as “Common Reading for Lecture” by the class and the professors. Each student is responsible for presenting an introduction to the “Common Reading for Discussion” once during the two weeks. The introduction (15 min.) should provide a) summary of the thesis of the text, b) summary of the key arguments that the author uses to support his thesis, and c) 5 questions about the author’s argument to jump start our discussion of the text. The questions would be in the following form: “On pages 72-3, McMullen claims X, Y, and Z. However, the textual evidence for claim Y is doubtful because of A and B. If we reject claim Y, do we also have to reject claims X and Z?” Sign up for the presentation by July 1. 5) During the second week of the class, instead of short papers on the assigned readings, each student will be responsible for presenting a major paper (15 pages) on some topic germane to the persons and issued covered in this class, followed by discussion. Papers as presented are not expected to be the final product, but an advanced draft. Then in the week following the class, the student should revise the paper in light of our conversation about the paper in class. Email the final copy to me (wsmith@div.duke.edu) by July 25.
DO 690 John Wesley's Theology Today

Lawrence W. Wood

The required sermons of John Wesley for this class are listed in the assignment for each module. Students may use the Thomas Jackson edition, which can be downloaded from the Internet. Here is the primary website for these sermons: http://gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/Wesley/jwesley3.html (numeric index) http://gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons (title index) A. Skevington Wood, The Burning Heart L. Wood, The Meaning of Pentecost in Early Methodism, Rediscovering John Fletcher As Wesley’s Vindicator and Designated Successor
ST 501 Method and Praxis in Theology

Lawrence W. Wood

Welcome to this introductory course relating method to practice in theology. This course will involve an examination of different ways in which the Christian tradition has understood the sources, norms, and criteria for the development of church doctrine. Special attention is given to a critical analysis of contemporary theological methods and the influence of postmodern science. The connection between theological method and Christian doctrine, especially the doctrine of divine revelation, will serve as the foundation for developing an Evangelical\Wesleyan theology in the postmodern world. This class is designed for beginning students, and it serves as preparatory study for all course offerings in theology and doctrine. Wesley once said to his preacher that the study of logic was the single, most important study next to the Bible if they were going to understand the Bible properly and to preach it effectively. This class is similar to a course in logic because its purpose is to help students develop the categories necessary for understanding the theological implications of the Word of God. If the Bible is to be understood in a thoughtful and practical way, theological method is helpful because it is like a tool that enables the Scriptures to be user-friendly as we study and interpret them for our day. Praxis is an important component of this course. As a technical term, praxis means applying method to the concrete formulation of doctrine. What does it matter if one has a good method but does not develop an understanding of doctrine? We will examine a number of theologies, showing how various methods influenced the way theology is developed.
ST 620 Emotions, Feelings, and Passion

Lawrence W. Wood

WELCOME to this class on the role of emotions, feelings, and passion in shaping our personal theology of God and Christian beliefs. I can assure you on the basis of past student evaluations that this class will inspire you to a better self-understanding of your own faith development, as well as help you to understand that the affective resources of faith are as essential as the intellectual and logical. If this class has been perceived to be beneficial to students in the past, it is because our primary resource has been the writings of Frank Lake, Clinical Theology.
MB 755 Holisitc Mission and the Use of Business in Global Outreach

Tetsunao Yamamori

This course examines the biblical and historical bases of holistic mission and further explores the strategic and effective use of business in global outreach through case studies and the analysis of emerging models.
MB 770 The Indigenous Church

Steven Ybarrola

This is an advanced course for students with a solid foundation in missiological anthropology. The format will therefore reflect the advanced standing of the students by giving you a larger share of the responsibility for the course. There will be considerable discussion of material being read for which you must always come well prepared, some lecturing, some films, and a significant amount of time given to student presentations. The focus of the course is on the relationship between Christianity and culture. We will explore how this can engender indigenous churches, or result in syncretism or “split-level” Christianity in both Western and non-Western cultures around the world.
MS 614 Ethnicity, Race, and the Church

Steven Ybarrola

Course Description: This course is a cross-cultural, comparative study of the causes of both ethnic/racial conflict and cooperation. Various theories of ethnic conflict/cooperation will be examined using case studies from different parts of the world. A key focus of the course will be on how the complex issues related to ethnicity and race should be considered in the context of missions and evangelism.
CL 553 X1 United Methodist Polity and Discipline

S. Brian Yeich

The purpose of this class is to provide a thorough study of the polity and discipline of The United Methodist Church. This class, along with DO 690, CH 600, and DO 670, helps participants meet the requirements for United Methodist ordained ministry.
CL 553 X1 United Methodist Polity and Discipline

S. Brian Yeich

The purpose of this class is to provide a thorough study of the polity and discipline of The United Methodist Church. This class, along with DO 690, CH 600, and DO 670, helps participants meet the requirements for United Methodist ordained ministry.
MM 601 Mentored Ministry

S. Brian Yeich

• Confessions of a Pastor by Craig Groeshel (Sisters, Oregon: Multnomah), 2006. • Mentored Ministry Handbook: MM 601/602: (available as a pdf in Moodle (the virtual classroom)) • Mentored Ministry Forms: (MM601 Forms.pdf & MM601 E-Forms located in Moodle)
MM 601 Mentored Ministry

S. Brian Yeich

Welcome to MM601 - Mentored Ministry: Inside the Walls! I look forward to this journey with you as you engage this ministry experience. I hope that this opportunity will prove to be more than a class and that you will see God working through you in ways you never expected. I pray that God will bless you as you take this and many other steps toward your future ministry. I want to be available to help you in any way I can. The best way to reach me is via email. So if you have a need, email me right away. You are also welcome to call. My office number is (859) 858-2050 extension 2610. Mentored Ministry is comprised of two main components: 1. Field experience 2. Theological reflection in a reflection seminar. Relative to the Field Experience component, each of you will have a field placement in a local church or ministry setting in which you will practice “hands-on” ministry. You will minister for at least eight hours a week for the duration of the semester under the supervision and mentoring of a qualified minister. In addition to the eight hours of ministry involvement there should be a one-hour one-on-one meeting with your mentor. Relative to the Reflection Seminar component, each member of the class, being led by a Reflection Group Facilitator, will reflect together theologically on your ministry experiences using your own self-referent case studies.
MM 601 Mentored Ministry

S. Brian Yeich

• Confessions of a Pastor by Craig Groeshel (Sisters, Oregon: Multnomah), 2006. • Mentored Ministry Handbook: MM 601/602: (available as a pdf in Moodle (the virtual classroom)) • Mentored Ministry Forms: (MM601 Forms.pdf & MM601 E-Forms located in Moodle)
MM 602 Mentored Ministry

S. Brian Yeich

Churches That Make a Difference by Sider, Olson, and Unruh (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002). Mentored Ministry Handbook: MM 601/602: (available as a pdf in Moodle) Mentored Ministry Forms: (MM602 Forms.pdf & MM602 E-Forms located in Moodle)
CD 552 Discipleship and Missions: Preparing People to Serve Locally and Globally

Julie Broderson

Required Texts 1. Short-term Missions Workbook: from Mission Tourists to Global Citizens, (2003). Tim Dearborn. IVP 2. The Essential Guide to the Short Term Mission Trip, ( 1998). David C. Forward. Moody. 3. GO and Make Disciples! An Introduction to Christian Missions. (1999). Roger S. Greenway. P & R Publishing Co.
CD 552 Discipleship and Missions: Preparing People to Serve Locally and Globally

Julie Broderson

Required Texts 1. Short-term Missions Workbook: from Mission Tourists to Global Citizens, (2003). Tim Dearborn. IVP 2. The Essential Guide to the Short Term Mission Trip, ( 1998). David C. Forward. Moody. 3. GO and Make Disciples! An Introduction to Christian Missions. (1999). Roger S. Greenway. P & R Publishing Co.
CH 500 Turning Points in Church History

Thomas N. Buchan

Required Textbooks J. Gonzalez, Church History: An Essential Guide (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996). ISBN-10: 0687016118 / ISBN-13: 978-0687016112 J. Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity: Volume 1: Volume One: The Early Church to the Reformation (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1984). ISBN-10: 0060633158 / ISBN-13: 978-0060633158 J. Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity: Volume 2: Volume Two: The Reformation to the Present Day (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1985). ISBN-10: 0060633166 / ISBN-13: 978-0060633165 M. Noll, Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2000). ISBN-10: 080106211X / ISBN-13: 978-0801062117