Course Syllabus

Instructor: Professor Michele Watkins-Branch, M.Div. ABD

Course Synopsis

 

IST2025-1-WI15 - United Methodist Doctrine

Instructor: Prof. Michele Watkins-Branch

E-mail: mwatkins-branch@iliff.edu Class meeting time: Online

Office: ILIFF Hall I-406 phone:773-501-5075

Course Description -

"Doctrine" is "what the church teaches about Christian faith." This is the course for building the knowledge and skills needed

1) to engage in United Methodist theological debates about what to teach, and

2) to help lay persons make sense of Methodist ways of talking about and living Christian faith

 

Learning in the Online Environment

How can you be successful in taking an online class? It can be more than a little challenging - after all, in a face-to-face class, you meet once or twice a week, and, in that time, the instructor can make sure you are on-track in terms of course progress and your understanding of the material. Online, though, is different in some key ways, and your success in the course hinges on understanding those differences.

Communication

You can't participate if you don't know what's going on! In your Canvas Profile (which you can access using the Profile link at the top right of every page), you can specify how you should be contacted. Make sure that your preferred email address is properly set on that page.

From that page, you also have the ability to change your notifications (that is an option on the left menu on that page). Please make sure that your notification settings are set so that you are kept reasonably informed of events related to the class. 

Finally, as each week progresses, you need to pay attention to class-related activities! Keep an eye on whatever notifications you have chosen to receive. If you choose to ignore them, you can quickly find yourself way behind (and, remember, after two weeks of non-involvement, you may be removed from the class).

Collaboration

Online classes are, by their very nature, highly collaborative in terms of learning. That means that the majority of your learning will take place as you engage other students regarding the material that everyone is reading (and, as you may have already noticed, different people are reading the same material from different perspectives). 

Collaborative learning is a common approach at Iliff, both in online and face-to-face classes. The discussions and other activities that you participate in here are similar to in-class discussions in the face-to-face session. It is a little harder to "hide" in the online classes than it is in the face-to-face, but, otherwise, the approach is the same. And yes, the readings are the same in the two classes - the load is no heavier in the online class, although the 3.5 hours of "face time" in the face-to-face class is replaced by reading, thinking about what other students have said and responding online.

Commitment

As with any class, your commitment to learning will greatly impact your success (both in terms of grades and in terms of actually mastering new information). In this class, we don't all meet online at the same time, so it is up to you to set up a schedule that allows you to engage other students about the material. 

There is a significant difference in terms of commitment in an online class, though, and it is this: Since the learning process is highly collaborative (and since different students will be reading material in different ways), your failure to participate will reduce the effectiveness of the class for other students as well. Taking an online class really does require commitment, and a special kind of discipline, in order for everyone to be successful.

 

Texts

Required:

1. The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2012,   The United Methodist Publishing House, 2013  (This is the source for all items identified with ¶ symbol. It is organized by ¶ rather than by page and is always cited by ¶.)  Some portions of the Discipline are available on-line, but not all of it. If you are a certified candidate, you need your own copy of 2012 because it is the Discipline that governs your ordination process, regardless of what changes are made later!

An online copy is available at this link:

https://www.cokesbury.com/forms/DynamicContent.aspx?id=87&pageid=920

2. John Wesley’s Sermons: An Anthology, ed. Albert Outler and Richard Heitzenrater, Abingdon Press, 1991.this is the "blue anthology" that you may have purchased already for UM History

OR The Wesley sermons are also available free on-line at http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-sermons-of-john-wesley-1872-edition/the-sermons-of-john-wesley-alphabetical-order/  You can locate them by title, but notice the date preached/published because Wesley used similar titles several times.

3. By Water and the Spirit free at Link: http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/by-water-and-the-spirit-full-text General Board of Discipleship worship section site.  This text was adopted by General Conference as the United Methodist understanding of baptism. Also found in the 2012 Book of Resolutions. Cokesbury carries a version of this document that includes a teaching commentary. Be careful if you use that version to be clear which column is the commentary and which column is the actual doctrinal text adopted by General Conference.
   
4. This Holy Mystery  free at Link : http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/this-holy-mystery-a-united-methodist-understanding-of-holy-communion1 This text was adopted by General Conference as the United Methodist understanding of the Lord’s Supper. Also found in the 2012 Book of Resolutions.  Cokesbury carries a version of this document that includes a teaching commentary. Be careful if you use that version to be clear which column is the commentary and which column is the actual doctrinal text adopted by General Conference.

 

5. F. Douglas Powe, Just Us or Justice? Moving Toward a Pan-Methodist Theology, Abingdon Press, 2009.  

 

Evaluation

This course may be taken for a letter grade or pass/fail. (Be sure your Annual Conference will accept a pass/fail grade before choosing this option.)

Final grades are based on the following:

Choose, Read, and Outline two of Wesley’s sermons per week listed in Outler/Heitzenrater John Wesley’s Sermons: An Anthology, Sermon outlines are due on Saturday of each week (except for Week 10 in which the outlines for that week are due March 11th). 100 pts. (5 pts per sermon outline/2 per week = 10 pts. per week)

 

Each sermon outline should include the following: 1) sermon title, 2) date preached, 3) a concise one or two sentence summary of the sermon, and 4) outline of the main and sub points in your own words.

 

Each sermon outline should include a 3 to 5 sentence reflection on how the sermon addresses one of the main United Methodist doctrinal themes (i.e. 1) sin, evil, and the need for grace, 2) experience of salvation, 3) the sacraments of baptism or communion, 4) the role of Jesus Christ, 5) the role of the Holy Spirit, 6) the reign of God and ministry with the poor

 

Each sermon outline should be no more than one page (single spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman).

 

     By March 11^th, each student is required to have submitted 20 sermon

   outlines covering all six of the doctrinal themes.

 

2) Draft of Ordination doctrinal Questions #1-6 (30 pts. 5 points per question) Due Jan 29.

3) Critical Book Review of F. Douglas Powe, Just Us or Justice? Moving Toward a Pan-Methodist Theology, Abingdon Press, 2009.  Due Feb 4^th. 35pts.

 

The review should be three pages double spaces with a clear statement of the thesis of the text, an evaluation of whether the text actually makes the point(s) suggested in the title and the thesis, an identification of the author’s sources, an assessment of the argument relative to the sources used, a statement of strengths and weakness of the argument, and a note on practical implications of the text for everyday Christian life. The last page should contain a reflection on how this book helps you understand the relationship between justice and the reign of God as a United Methodist.

 

4) Draft of Ordination doctrinal Questions #7-13 (35 pts. 5 points per question) Due Feb. 12th

 

You will receive your graded questions back with suggested revisions by Feb. 26^th.

 

5) Final Draft of Ordination doctrinal Questions paper ALL questions Due March 11^th: 65pts (5 pts per question) Points are given based on how well each question has been revised based on the suggestions and feedback from the professor.. In order for the reader to recognize where revisions have been made, use either track changes or make changes in bold typeface.

 Students are responsible for timely submission, regardless of technical issues. 

 

Grading Criteria:    I am looking for four things in weekly class discussions and your papers:

1. an accurate understanding of the course texts, which means: a description of the content that could be defended by referring directly to the primary text (Wesley himself or Discipline or secondary author). You get 1 point per question for doing this.
2. description of the implications of the doctrinal position: a) for other theological/doctrinal themes and b) for faith-in-practice.
3. description of the strengths/benefits and the weaknesses/liabilities of the doctrinal position in reference to a) its coherence in itself and b) its implications (as in #2 just above). 
4. awareness of the range of different ways in which Wesley’s thought about specific doctrines is interpreted by theologians and pastors.

That leaves 2 points for each answer in the 13 questions that will be awarded for excellence - that is, beyond clarity and distinctiveness of the Methodist understanding (needed for the 1st point), excellence involves nuance in the answer, indicating interconnections with Methodist practices or with other points of doctrine.

 

 

 

Course Expectations

Collegial Discourse:  You are becoming a colleague in a denominational culture that is very divided right now. It is essential for every leader (including you!) to cultivate skills for talking about matters that raise strong feelings in ways that allow one to keep listening and speaking with respect and with accuracy. Each of us will practice those skills in every interaction we have in this course. The online environment makes this commitment to skilled engagement even more important because misunderstandings are easier.

Incompletes:  Incompletes are allowed in this course, see the Master's Student Handbook for Policies and Procedures.

Pass/Fail:  Masters students wishing to take the class pass/fail should discuss this with the instructor by the 17th of January (second Friday of the term). (Be sure your Annual Conference will accept a pass/fail grade in this course before choosing this option!)

Academic Integrity and Community Covenant:  All students are expected to abide by Iliff’s statement on Academic Integrity, as published in the Masters Student Handbook.  All participants in this class are expected to be familiar with Iliff’s Community Covenant.

Accommodations:  Iliff engages in a collaborative effort with students with disabilities to reasonably accommodate student needs.   Students are encouraged to contact their assigned adviser to initiate the process of requesting accommodations.  The advising center can be contacted at advising@iliff.edu or by phone at 303-765-1146. 

Writing Lab:  Grammar and organization are important for all written assignments.  Additional help is available from the Iliff Writing Lab, which is available for students of any level who need help beginning an assignment, organizing thoughts, or reviewing a final draft. 

Inclusive Language:  It is expected that all course participants will use inclusive language in speaking and writing, and will use terms that do not create barriers to classroom community. 

 

In the final submission on March 11th, you are required to submit all 13 questions. You are invited to revise your answers in light of comments you received on them. Please show these revisions either with track changes or by putting revisions in bold print.

The final paper has 13 sections, each one a doctrinal question. Please label each one. To get passing credit, your answer to each question has three parts, see below. The 13 Doctrinal Questions are:

• Describe Wesley’s understanding of what occurs at each step in the way of salvation (via salutis). Include conviction, repentance, justification, regeneration/new birth, assurance, sanctification/holiness of heart and life.
• Describe the understanding of God Wesley derives from biblical, theological, and historical sources.
• What is Wesley’s understanding of evil as it exists in the world?
• What is Wesley’s understanding of humanity, and the human need for divine grace?
• How did Wesley interpret the statement Jesus Christ is Lord?
• What is Wesley’s conception of the activity of the Holy Spirit in personal faith, in the community of believers, and in responsible living in the world?
• What is Wesley’s understanding of the kingdom of God?
• What is Wesley’s understanding of the Resurrection; of eternal life?
• The United Methodist Church holds that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason. Explain this theological position.
• Describe the nature and mission of the Church. What are its primary tasks according to the 2012 Discipline?
• Describe how you think the 2012 Discipline understands diakonia and the servant ministry of those who lead?
• Describe the 2012 Discipline’s understanding of an inclusive church and ministry.
• Explain the role and significance of the sacraments according to our doctrinal documents This Holy Mystery and By Water and the Spirit.

 

Your answer to each question should be about two pages long (no less than 1.5, no more than two)– double spaced. Total page limit is 20- 25 pages.

Each of your 13 answers will have three distinct parts: (1 point for each part, up to 2 potential additional points for the question as a whole awarded for exceptional clarity, distinctions made, insightful observation of strengths or weaknesses, clarity in your own position)

Part A) one or two paragraphs which answer the question as John Wesley or the 2012 Discipline would have answered it (the question specifies which one of those two).  See the numbers in the week by week course description – all 13 questions will be covered in our common work. If you agree with a particular secondary author’s interpretation of Wesley, you may indicate that agreement, but you still need to articulate the content of the actual interpretation in your own words.

Part B) A paragraph with your 3 sentence “commentary” on that answer in A. Indicate one strength of Wesley’s/Discipline’s answer AND one weakness of Wesley’s/Discipline’s answer.  Get clear and be succinct – 3 sentences total! 

Part C) A paragraph that indicates the direction of your own preferred answer to the question.

You are deliberately being asked to be BOTH NUANCED AND SUCCINCT.  Brevity alone is not good enough; your answer must strive for distinctions that are important to the doctrine. When you have a doctrine clear in your mind, it IS possible to do this.   In addition to the sermons, you may assume that Wesley agreed completely with the Articles of Religion and the General Rules and therefore use them as primary sources. Please note your sources so that if we disagree in our interpretation of Wesley I can look at your source (and potentially revise my own judgment of the point). To note something you may put the sermon title and section (eg. II.5) or Disciplinary paragraph in parentheses in the text, this will save you space.  The sermons and the Discipline are your primary sources for this paper. You are being asked to join the company of secondary interpreters of Wesley – which means referring to Wesley rather than quoting what others have said about him.

Further clarity about awarding of points:

Each question will be awarded up to 5 points the first time it is handed in.

In the final submission on March 11th, you get the most points in the course by submitting strong answers the first time and then improving them in the final paper.)

The 13 Questions are listed here - quick reference

 

 

Overview and Objectives

Evaluation

Policies And Services