Online Courses for the 2012 Winter Session

The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with some of the theological trends and voices characterizing Anglican theology in the twentieth century, as well as to consider how these voices and movements can be integrated into contemporary pastoral and ministerial practice. Theologians to be studied include: Gore, Underhill, Temple, Mascall, Pittenger, Macquarrie, Sykes, Heyward, Tutu, Williams, and others. Theological trends will include modernism, spirituality, liturgical renewal, Anglo-Catholicism, process thought, incarnation, feminism, political and liberation theology, etc. The course will conclude with a consideration of future trends in Anglican theology. Weekly readings, two short essays, class presentation.

This course is designed to enable participants to understand, develop and encourage faithful leadership in Christian schools. The vision of Christian schooling that leaders seek to sustain is not simply their own, but school leaders are a vital link in the translation of parents' priorities into the life of classrooms. Participants will examine leadership and management structures critically in light of: communal and personal educational focus and values; the need to nurture community; the need to sustain a dynamic vision for schooling. This online course employs an extensive Study Guide, a book, book chapters and journal articles, with an online discussion forum and Skype/telephone conferencing. Participation in the forum and a professionally-oriented research paper will provide the basis for evaluation.

Introduction to the art and science of preaching. Topics: exegesis and hermeneutics for the purpose of preaching, techniques of sermon preparation, structure and delivery. Written assignments, small groups, one sermon.

Introductory study of the Anglican communion as a worldwide form of Christianity; its history, key theological issues, worship, schools of thought, approaches to spirituality. 3 short papers. Interdisciplinary History and Theology.

An introduction to the four Gospels in their social, historical and theological settings. Using a "socio-literary" approach, we will study the Gospels within a two-dimensional framework, both centred on what the early Christians called the "gospel" or "Kerygma." One dimension has to do with social history — the origin and development of Christianity as a distinct social entity, from its foundations in the ministry of Jesus and the Easter experience, through its emergence as a Jewish renewal movement, and on to its development into a separate, largely Gentile, institutionalized religion. The second dimension has to do with literature — the process by which the Gospels came to be written, their literary form and texture, and their character as narrative versions of the "gospel." Weekly online lectures, assigned analysis/reflection papers, discussion board postings.

Exploration of the following themes in the light of Christian revelation: creation, community, body & soul, humanity as male and female, sin, grace, eschatology. Lectures, readings, presentations, final exam.

This introductory historiographical course surveys select “sacred” and “profane” works of church history by some of the most important ecclesiastical historians and philosophers active from the mid-first century AD until the mid-twentieth century. Participation in online discussion group, research paper, critical response/book report, online final exam.