Course Timetable for Wednesday: Winter of 2013

The New Homiletic refers to a revolution in homiletics that began in the 1950s. We will explore its emergence from the "old homiletic" and its emphases on a turn to the hearer, organic form, narrative plot, horizontal notions of authority, recovery of the Bible for the pulpit, inductive sermons, stories making their own points in their own ways, contextual understandings of truth, dynamic and tensive notions of language, and sermons as transformational experience. Key homileticians will be considered as we consider the relevance of the NH for today. 

The course will work through Romans consecutively, doing a close reading of the Biblical text and engaging with influential scholarly literature on Paul in general and Romans in particular.  Evaluation: tutorial presentations and written work. Prerequisite: WYB1501H or equivalent.

This course will explore the Greco- Roman religious culture of the Augustan Age and its encounter with the religion of Judea and the early Christian movement. Traditional piety as well as mystery religions will be examined. Special attention will be given to the religious restoration/ renewal of Caesar Augustus and the growth of the imperial cult. Topics will include the role of religion in society and the life of the polis as well as the Roman perception of the Christian communities. Passages from the New Testament will be analyzed in light of this study. The course will consist of lectures, readings in primary and secondary literature, 2 short papers, and one final essay. AD students will meet in seminar sessions and have additional readings. Lectures, readings for RGB3501; Lectures, readings, seminar for RGB6501. Readings; 2 short papers and one final extended essay ( RGB3501). Readings, seminar discussions, presentations, research paper (25- 30 pages) for RGB6501.

Seminar exploring patterns of involvement of religion in the public sphere. Traditional assumptions about church and state, impact of 19th-century "disestablishment" and 20th-century pluralism, Catholicism and the state in Quebec, women as religious reformers, the social gospel, Christian populism in the prairies, ecumenical and evangelical approaches to public engagement, implications of constitutional change are among the topics considered. Informed participation, mid-term written assignment, research paper.

Analysis of the Gospel of Matthew with a view to understanding the author's theology in the light of his reporting and interpretation for the Matthean community. Assigned readings, scholarly paper, exam.

The New Homiletic refers to a revolution in homiletics that began in the 1950s. We will explore its emergence from the "old homiletic" and its emphases on a turn to the hearer, organic form, narrative plot, horizontal notions of authority, recovery of the Bible for the pulpit, inductive sermons, stories making their own points in their own ways, contextual understandings of truth, dynamic and tensive notions of language, and sermons as transformational experience. Key homileticians will be considered as we consider the relevance of the NH for today. 

How does pragmatism's central tenet that the meaning and worth of ideas lies in their practical consequences comport with religious forms of life and the understandings of morality they fund? Does pragmatism's suspicion regarding traditional "supernaturalist" theologies leave any space to think alternatively about God and the human relationsip with God?  What role do pragmatists see for religion in a democratic society, if any?  In addressing these questions, this seminar will focus on the work of John Dewey, Richard Rorty, and Jefferey  Stout.

This course will serve to integrate all that has preceded in the MDiv program. A diagnostic examination of the whole required curriculum will identify an area needing attention in the last term of study, and in this area the student will work in a weekly one-on-one tutorial with a professor. In addition the whole class will meet in five colloquia which will address issues in ministry calling for the marshalling of biblical, theological, and pastoral insights. A tutorial and a colloquium paper will be required. The issues dealt with in the latter will focus on deploying within the pastorate the major areas of theological formation: Scripture, Theology, History, Worship, Mission. The construction of working bibliographies of/for the active ministry, with respect to these areas, will be a part of this process. Evaluation will be based on engaged participation, the competion of assignments, and the colloquium paper. Restricted to Wycliffe M.Div. students.

Building on introductory worship courses, this course will explore worship as a theological practice.  It will examine a series of topics related to the development of worship leadership skills, nurturing community through worship, and effective worship practices for the contemporary church.  the first part of the course will ask the question; How do we as worship leaders understand the realities facing worshipping communities in the twenty-first century?  The second part of the course asks: How do we as worship leaders practice evaluation and discernment in a diverse and dynamic twenty-first century context?

Exploration of figures and movements in Protestant Theology during the 20th century: Troeltsch, Neo-Orthodoxy (Barth, Brunner), Bonhoeffer, Bultmann, Tillich, the Niebuhrs, Political/Liberation (Moltmann, Metz, Gutierrez), Process (Cobb, Suchocki), Feminist/Womanist (Russell, McFague, Williams), Black (Cone), Asian (Pieris, Song), Postmodern and Postliberal Theologies. Lectures, discussions, student presentations, and research paper.

Most people, when the subject of mediaeval liturgy is mentioned, think of the old service books which have the words spoken (sacramentaries, lectionaries, missals, breviaries) and descriptions of the action (ordos). There is another class of book entirely, the liturgical commentaries, which goes through the public services, explaining the elements they contain. They were also interested in the ministers of the liturgy, their orders and dress, in the structure of church and altar, in the calendar (temporal and sanctoral), and of course in the vexed question of how a priest computed the date of Easter (no diocesan journals in those days). Teaching methods: shared reading of 5 commentaries with explanations by the instructor.

A survey of Medieval and Reformation Theologies, from 843 to 1648. The Carolingian Revival and Monastic Schools; Anselm and Cur Deus Homo; Peter Lombard and the Cathedral Schools; Abailard and the Universities; the rediscovery of Aristotle; the Friars: Albert the Great, Thomas Aquinas, Duns Scotus, William of Occam; Gregory Palamas; the Reformation: Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, Thomas Cranmer; the Synod of Dort; Richard Hooker; Second Scholasticism.

The purpose of this course is to help students realize the contextual nature of theology through lectures on contextual theology as well as seminars on Asian theologians and their theologies.  With this format, this course aims to help non-Asian students to get some knowledge of Asian cultures and Asian indigenous religions, and Asian students to develop a theology based on their Asian heritage and experiences.  Consequently, this course aspires to help theological students, both Asian and non-Asian, to overcome Western parochialism and contribute to a development of Christian theology for the coming multicultural and pluralistic century that we have been already embarked on.

Exploration of figures and movements in Protestant Theology during the 20th century: Troeltsch, Neo-Orthodoxy (Barth, Brunner), Bonhoeffer, Bultmann, Tillich, the Niebuhrs, Political/Liberation (Moltmann, Metz, Gutierrez), Process (Cobb, Suchocki), Feminist/Womanist (Russell, McFague, Williams), Black (Cone), Asian (Pieris, Song), Postmodern and Postliberal Theologies. Lectures, discussions, student presentations, and research paper.

This course will develop knowledge and practice in select skills for intercultural life and work/ministry/leadership in heterogeneous publics.  We will draw on three resources: selected Canadian 'multicultural' narratives and policies; theological and ethical attention to social difference, complex identity formation and scriptural interpretation; and the case of the United Church of Canada project, “becoming an intercultural church.”  Seminar format with instructional input, small groups, modest cross-cultural immersion project. Evaluation: a book review (30%); a class presentation (30%), and a final integrative project (40%). Prerequisites: Basic Bible, Theology, Pastoral.

Studies in the theory of history and methods of historical study and writing, related mainly to Christianity. Required of all AD students in the History Dept. Discussions in class (10%) and on-line (30%) of select historical works representing diverse approaches and interests; two short class presentations; two mid-length papers (30% each).

Introduction to the theology of Karl Rahner. Attention to his place within Roman Catholic thought of his time. Special emphasis on his philosophical presuppositions and his understanding of revelation, human nature, grace, Christ, the Church, dogma, and ecumenical dialogue. Lectures, discussions, class presentations, short paper, final exam.

After completion of Supervised Field Placement, students meet as peers to learn and practice a method of theological reflection on their pastoral practice. Focused on theological, cultural, and personal dimensions of students' ministry practice and their developing pastoral identity. Reading, pastoral situation analysis presentation, short weekly papers, synthesis essay and interview.

This course explores the distinctive contents, methods, and  interests of traditional theological disciplines (biblical studies, church history, pastoral and systematic theology and ethics) as well as their interrelationships: What does each subdiscipline count as evidence?; How does it construct knowledge?; What cognate disciplines might extend its insights?; How does it engage the challenges, fears, and hope for the "globalized" world of the 21st century? Students will explore the task of theological research and writing through all its steps. Attention will be given to the use of scholarly research software and bibliographic tools, identification of appropriate methodology, and the value of interdisciplinarity. Lectures and seminars.  Required of all MA students.

This course seeks both to introduce the different theological subspecialties, even as it orients the whole enterprise. It uses as its organizing concept that of mission. This also brings into play questions of our own cultural moment and the practical task of the church. Lectures, tutorials. Evaluation: class participation, two short reflection papers, one major paper.

This course is an introduction to the history, theology and pastoral practice of Christian liturgy. Topics include: the role of ritual and symbol in human life, the historical development of Christian worship in both East and West, the relationship of liturgy to society and culture, liturgical theology, and critical approaches to liturgical practice. Lectures, readings, discussions, online postings, class presentation, research paper.