Course Syllabus

Instructor: Prof. Michele Watkins-Branch

Course Synopsis

 The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the goals, tasks, and basic content of Christian theology as gift and task of the whole church in a rapidly changing world. We examine key theological doctrines and convictions that are widely agreed to be essential to the Christian faith and explore implications for the identity and mission of the church today.

Overview and Objectives

Knowing:

• Comprehend the scope and complexity of the theological task within contemporary Christianity as a global movement.
• Exhibit a basic grasp of the key doctrines and convictions of the Christian faith and their significance for Christian living.
• Understand the variety of ways of doing theology (theological methods) today and their relation to specific theological commitments.

Doing:

• Acquire basic skills for critically analyzing, comparing, and integrating theological concepts in their relation to various contexts of contemporary Christian life.
• Gain a basic competence in constructing theological arguments in response to practical challenges.

Being:

• Become sufficiently self-aware to acknowledge one’s own “operative theology”—those values, beliefs, convictions, and attitudes that implicitly and subconsciously shape our approach to the work of theology
• Cultivate habits of theological discernment rooted in openness, respect, hospitality, and curiosity.
• Embrace the work of theology as a multilayered, multifaceted, ever-evolving conversation between a cloud of Christian witnesses, past and present.

Required Texts:

Evans, James H., Jr. We Have Been Believers. An African-American Systematic Theology. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2012. ISBN-13: 978-0800698782. $19.72

Inbody, Tyron. The Faith of the Christian Church: An Introduction to Theology. Eerdmans, 2005. ISBN: 978-0802841513. List price (Amazon): $26.00

Jones, Serene, ed. Constructive Theology: A Contemporary Approach to Classic Themes: A Project of The Workgroup On Constructive Christian Theology. Fortress, 2005.                         ISBN: 978-0800636838. List price (Amazon): $39.56

Lightsey, Pamela. Our Lives Matter: A Womanist Queer Theology. Wipf & Stock, 2015.            ISBN: 978-1498206648. List price (Amazon): $16.00

Phan, Peter C. and Jung Yung Lee (eds.) Journeys at the Margins: Toward an Autobiographical Theology in Asian-American Perspective. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1999. ISBN 0-814624642. List price (Amazon): $13.13

Wood, Charles M. and Ellen Blue. Attentive to God: Thinking Theologically in Ministry. Abingdon, 2008. ISBN: 068765162X. List price (Amazon): $16.00

 

Book Chapters on Canvas

Cobb, John and David Griffin, Process Theology. Louisville, KY: Westminster Press, 1976.

Cone, James. A Black Theology of Liberation. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1990.

Gustavo Gutiérrez, A Theology of Liberation: History, Politics, and Salvation. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1988.

Hucks, Tracey E. Yoruba Traditions and African American Religious Nationalism. University of New Mexico Press, 2012.

Moltmann, Jürgen, The Spirit of Life: A Universal Affirmation, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2001.

Perkinson, James W. White Theology: Outing Supremacy in Modernity. New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2004.

 

Further recommendations:

Gonzalez, Justo. Essential Theological Terms. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2005

2005. ISBN-13: 978-0664228101. List price (Amazon): $14.31

Patte, Daniel (gen. ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity, Cambridge:              

Cambridge University Press, 2010. ISBN-13: 978-0521527859. List price

(Amazon): $44.99 

Communication: Address all your questions related to course content, assignments, technology, using the Canvas site, and other technical questions to Prof. Watkins-Branch at mwatkins-branch@iliff.edu.  Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:00 pm - 2:00 p.m.

 

Course Requirements:

1) Exercise in theological autobiography (10% of final grade)

Inspired by the readings in the Phan and Lee book, write a 5-7 page attempt to reflect theologically on your life or aspects of your life by answering the following questions: (1) What do you think your “standpoint” (think of class, race, culture, nationality, religious background, gender, denomination, age, “disability,” etc.) allows you to see? (2) What do you suspect are some of the blind spots you have as a result of your particular standpoint? (3) In what (new or old) directions would you like to be heading theologically? (4) What are your persistent theological questions and why? (5) How does “faith seek understanding” out of your own particularity? Upload to Canvas by April 1, 2016 11:59 p.m. (MDT)

 2) Oral presentation (20% of final grade)

Students will sign up on the first day of class for 2 oral presentations (1 historical/pre 20th century and 1 contemporary/post 20th century texts. The purpose of this exercise is to acquaint the student with a primary source in the tradition, and for the student to share that knowledge with the class. In no more than 15 minutes, the student will provide a short bibliographical and historical introduction to the author and context (5 min.), a summary of the gist of the text (5 min.), and major questions that arise from sections worth highlighting (5 min.). The 15 minutes will be timed strictly (practicing the presentation beforehand is therefore essential). See below for further grading criteria. Use primary sources for the reading and reliable secondary sources for the background. Bring the primary source to class to pass around. For many of the student colleagues, this will be a first introduction to the text and author, and that should be taken into account. The presenter will provide a written summary of the presentation for the instructors (with correct referencing of the sources, using footnotes). Each presentation  should be 3-5 double-spaced pages. It is easy to find electronic versions of most of the texts for a preliminary perusal, but the student should also look for a hard copy in the library, preferably with a critical apparatus.

 3) Case Study analysis paper (25% of final grade)

Write 7 to 10 pages, double-spaced theological interpretation of a real life situation from one of the case studies from Blue and Wood listed below:

• VIII: “Help Thou his Unbelief”
• XII: “A Funny Way of Showing It”
• XIII: “The Trinity at Trinity Church”
• XIV: “God’s Will or God’s Won’t”
• XVII: “Intercultural Retreat”
• XXIII: “Thin Ice”

The purpose of this case study analysis paper is for students to practice the construction of a theological argument that creatively interprets Christian doctrine in a meaningful way for ministerial practice.

 

1. Reread Part I of Wood and Blue (pp. 1-24), since you will use the methodology they propose in constructing your theological response to the life situation in the case study you have selected.
2. Use the three interpretive questions (p. 22) to guide your analysis and to help you build your argument. Note: The questions should make up the three sections of your paper.

• “What is going on in this situation?”
• “How is God involved in what is going on?”
• “What is a fitting response to what is going on?”

1. Draw on the other course texts (Inbody and others), the additional reading assigned throughout the course, the lectures, and the discussion in constructing your response, allowing these resources to help you connect key Christian convictions to the situation at hand.

• The question “What is going on in this situation?” prompts you to identify the key theological issues that are in play in the incident. While there is usually one prominent issue (such as how our language works when used of God), you’ll discover that this issue connects up and finds meaning only in relation to a set of other theological issues. For example, what our language means when used of God, how to use it appropriately, and what concepts or images are better than others in speaking of God cannot be divorced from the question of how we understand the “being” of God—that is, what kind of reality we’re talking about in using the term God. An important part of your paper is to identify all the theological issues at play in the situation and how they connect and mutually inform one another.
• The question “How is God involved in what is going on?” draws on doctrine and Christian theology (the “topics” we studied throughout the course) to interpret the issue(s) theologically. How does our doctrinal and theological heritage help us understand how to interpret the situation in light of who God is and God’s purposes for the world in Jesus Christ? For example, what is at stake in calling God “Father” in baptizing in the name of the Trinity? What lies behind the objection among some Christians in using “Mother” or another term, such as “Creator,” instead? What does insistence on “Father” language say about how we understand the nature, power, and authority of God?  
• The question “What is a fitting response to what is going on?” asks us to apply our theological assessment and interpretation to the situation in a “fitting” way. That is, in this part of the paper, you show how the insights you gained from reflection on the earlier questions help you to “resolve” this particular situation in a way that is both theologically sound and pastorally sensitive. —that is, in a way that both makes sense of the situation and allows everyone involved to grow in their understanding and practice of the Christian faith. How does one address the issues in the situation in a way that honors the integrity of Christian conviction (Scripture, doctrine, tradition) and deepens the meaning of these convictions for Christian living today (faithful discipleship)? Remember: You’re asking these questions of this particular situation; so in your response, attend closely to the concrete details of the case study. Upload to Canvas by April 27, 2016 11:59 p.m. (MDT)

4) Final paper (35% of final grade)

This final comprehensive and integrative paper should be 12-15 pages, double-spaced, font Times New Roman size 12 points) that will function as a take-home exam. The paper answers the question: “What is Christian theology, who does it, what does it include and to what end do we do it?” Make sure the paper covers all the loci (doctrines) covered in the quarter. It should make lucid reference to all of our readings, as well as to the primary source the student presented orally earlier in the quarter. Use Turabian style (title page, table of contents, subtitles, footnotes, etc). For the comprehensive grading criteria see the grid below. Proofread your paper more than once before handing it in. If it requires outside proofreading, take that into account in your time management. Upload to Canvas by May 27, 2016 11:59 p.m. MDT (35% of grade).

 

5) Class Participation (10% of total grade)

Theology is a conversation—with texts, traditions, God, oneself, and fellow inquirers on the way. Thus, while each of us has the task of learning and practicing the craft of theological reflection, we never do so alone. We engage the work of theology most faithfully in the company of a “cloud of witnesses,” past and present. For this reason, an important dimension of this course involves fostering a theological conversation among us as we seek to understand the meaning and significance of the Christian witness for our day over the next several weeks.

Participation in the theological conversation in this course is about timeliness, quality, and relevance. Your participation (10% of the grade) will be determined based on these criteria, focused especially on the following assignments:

• Reading of all assigned materials, including any additional reading assigned throughout the course.
• Participation in class and/or the Canvas Discussion Forum each week (at least one discussion question or comment that engages the assigned course readings and lecture for each week).

 

Class Policies:

1. Respect. (a) Respect one another’s perspectives, viewpoints, and differences. Speak the truth, but do so in love; so, critique viewpoints and perspectives, not (b) Respect the classroom as an environment for learning.

Therefore, participate fully, thoughtfully, respectfully, and in a timely fashion in all activities as assigned.

2. Integrity. Do not cheat. Own your own ideas and honor the ideas of others. Plagiarism is an extremely serious breach of integrity and is addressed forthrightly by Iliff School of Theology. Review the I.S.T.’s policy on plagiarism carefully. It describes the various kinds of plagiarism and how to correct them. You are expected to familiarize yourself with this document. If you have any questions, please contact the instructor.

 

Disabilities Policies and Procedures:

Iliff School of Theology is committed to providing equal access to its programs of graduate professional education for all qualified students with learning, physical, medical, or psychological disabilities. We aim to provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with a disability (based on clinical documentation) to ensure their access to and participation in school programs. For details, see the Student Handbook on my.iliff.edu, or directly at the following link: https://my.iliff.edu/ICS/icsfs/2015-2016_Masters_Student_Handbook_Word_Jan_Update.pdf?target=df573c38-7fe5-4258-a206-c5448cce5ea0

Policies And Services