Traditional and Block Courses

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Traditional classes meet twice weekly for one hour and fifteen minutes per session.

Block classes meet once a week for two hours and fifty minutes.

FALL 2013

Creation of Modern Quaker Diversity, QS 250, Steve Angell (Traditional)

This course examines the development of distinct strands of Evangelical, Mainline Pastoral, Hicksite, Independent, and Conservative/Wilburite Friends, as well as to ponder the influences upon Friends of such movements as Holiness, Pentecostalism, and religious liberalism and modernism. The chronological emphasis in this course is on the years 1825-1925. We give special attention to the dimensions of gender, race, theology, and sexual orientation in the development of modern Quakerism. 3 semester hours.

Church Administration, PM 117, Phil Baisley (Block)

This course is an introduction to the basic principles and practices of organization, administration, and leadership within the context of the local church. The course is approached from a perspective of spiritual formation, meaning that every aspect of church administration will be considered not only in terms of efficient business practice but in terms of how the business practices of a church are avenues in which pastors, board members, and other paid staff and volunteers can experience the working of the “Presence in the midst.” Such practices include, but are not limited to church board leadership, decision making, budgeting and finance, visioning and planning, change, conflict resolution, recruiting and working with volunteers, and legal issues facing churches including the safety and protection of minors. 3 semester hours.

Biblical Narrative, BS 371, Nancy Bowen (Block)

The goal of the class is for the student to become familiar with the approach to biblical interpretation known as “narrative” or “literary” criticism and to successfully use this approach to interpret biblical narrative. There is a focus on the methodology and theory of narrative criticism in general (including plot, characterization, language, and point of view) as well as unique features of biblical narrative. This method will then be used to interpret narrative portions of the Old Testament such as Jonah, Ruth, and Esther. 3 semester hours.

Writing Midrash, BS 337, Nancy Bowen (Block)

This is one of several courses that considers the intersection of biblical interpretation and M.Div. area emphases. Midrash is a form of interpretation that developed in Judaism. It expands upon the biblical story by imagining what might fill or trying to explain the gaps in biblical narrative. Midrash becomes a way to retell the story, either to reinforce an older interpretation or to pull the text’s meaning in a new direction. Students will be introduced to the methods of midrash by reading various midrashim ancient and modern. Students will then engage in writing their own midrash to interpret a biblical text. 3 semester hours.

Prerequisite: B 101/101-O

Human Sexuality, PC 333, Jim Higginbotham (Block)

This course examines human sexuality from a broad range of perspectives, including: theological, ethical, physiological, psychological, and sociological. It focuses on sexual issues in ministry, especially related to

sexual orientation and gender roles, and the variety of ways in which sexuality is a dimension of relationships..

3 semester hours.

Prerequisite: PC 101/101-O

Intro to Pastoral Care, PC 101, Jim Higginbotham (Traditional)

This course is an experiential and critical exploration of pastoral care. Caregiving in a faith community

or by its representatives is a practical theological activity, drawing on religious tradition, social sciences,

theology, and the gifts of the people involved. Therefore, this class focuses on the integration of person, faith,

belief, method, and practice. Skills of attending, listening, understanding, and caring are addressed in the context of social and personal dynamics. 3 semester hours.

Just Peace, P 210, Scott Holland (Block)

Course description coming soon.

Modernity, Postmodernity, and Belief, T 310, Scott Holland (Block)

This course will trace the intellectual and religious passage to modernity through representative writings, including Schleiermacher’s lectures to the modern cultured despisers of religion. Most attention, however, will be given to the “postmodern turn” in art, literary theory, philosophy and theology. For some, this turn, which is marked by the collapse of the master narratives of the modern project and the death of a metaphysical God, is seen as a threat to the future of belief. Yet a growing number of postmodern thinkers explored in this course announce the return of the poet, the mystic, and the prophet, and with them, the return of a God beyond the God we have named.

Prerequisite: T/TS 101/101-O

Patterns of Worship, M 220, Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm (Block)

This semester-long course will introduce students to the theological, historical, creative, and performative dimensions of diverse patterns of corporate worship in North America (i.e., blended, emergent, Anabaptist, other). Through the creative interplay of theology and imagination, students will design services for a variety of settings, including worship services in Bethany’s Nicarry Chapel.

Intro to New Testament, B 102, Dan Ulrich (Block)

This course offers a survey of the 27 writings that compose the New Testament canon. We will study each of these writings with attention to their literary form and content, their origins in the life of early Christian communities, and their meanings for readers today. 3 semester hours.

New Testament Greek I, B 115, Dan Ulrich (Traditional)

This course begins an introduction to the basic elements of New Testament Greek with an emphasis on vocabulary, the noun system, and indicative verbs. Students begin translating brief passages from the Greek New Testament. 3 semester hours.

Spring 2014*

Quaker History and Literature, QS 107, Steve Angell

This course aims to provide a student with a comprehensive and useful overview of Quaker history by acquainting them with diverse forms of Quaker literature. How can it be that our experience and understanding of Quakerism is shaped, or should be shaped, through an encounter with a range of Quaker primary source literature, both in terms of genre and in terms of historical period? This course also aims to introduce the student to a superb resource unavailable to previous generations of Quaker scholars, that of ESR’s on-line Digital Quaker Collection. 3 semester hours.

Theology and Preaching, PM 320, Phil Baisley

What is the role of theology in preaching? Is it possible to “do” theology in the pulpit without turning the worship experience into a dull, formal lecture? This course will engage students in reflection on theological issues from a homiletical perspective. It will also give students opportunities to preach sermons that are biblically based, theologically focused, and creatively developed. 3 semester hours.
Prerequisite: TS 101/101-O and PM 101/101-O

Introduction to the Old Testament, BS 101, Nancy Bowen

This course introduces students to the diversity of literary and theological traditions in the Old Testament. Attention will be given to the formation and role of these traditions in the context of the life and history of the people of Israel and to their function in contemporary life and faith. 3 semester hours.

Revelation and Spirit,TS 263, David Johns

Course description coming soon.

Fiscal and Resource Stewardship, LS 184, Adjunct

This course provides an introduction and exploration of what good stewardship means for congregations and religious not-for-profits. Topics will include congregational and denominational governance, budgeting, insurance, investments, human resources, physical plant and fundraising. 3 semester hours.

Spiritual Formation and the Mystical Tradition, SP 234, Carol Spencer

This course explores Christian mystical texts firsthand from the earliest centuries of Christianity into

the modern period. Students read short selections from one mystical writer a day over the course of the semester, and explore in more depth one mystical writer of their choice. Through careful reading, reflection, and discussion of primary writings of the widely diverse women and men who represent the Christian mystical tradition, students become acquainted with this experiential form of religion. The course is designed to aid, encourage and assist the spiritual formation of the student by deepening the experience of the active presence of the divine in their life. 3 semester hours.

Christian Ethics, TS 336, Lonnie Valentine

An examination of the Christian moral life and the theological convictions that animate it, including its understanding of the good, of conscience, the nature of humanity, and the faith community’s public witness. These proposals are considered in conversation with selected issues requiring careful and responsible Christian engagement, for example, war and peace, the environment, and genetic engineering. 3 semester hours.

Prerequisite: T/TS 101/101-O

Intro to Theological Reflection, T 101, Malinda Berry

This course is an introduction to theology as language that reflects on the activity and presence of God in our lives. Using a variety of theological texts, the course will examine both classic expressions of the Christian faith as well as ones that treat contemporary questions and problems. 3 semester hours.

Theopoetics, T 315, Scott Holland

Course description coming soon.

Intro to Preaching, M 120, Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm

This course introduces students to a basic understanding of the value and methods of preaching in ministry. Attention will be given to the application of biblical exegesis in the preparation of sermons, and students will be instructed and given opportunity to apply homiletical theory and skills necessary in preparing, presenting, and constructively criticizing different types of sermons. 3 semester hours.

Prophetic Voices in Preaching, M 326, Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm

This course is designed to develop the students’ understanding and practice of prophetic preaching within the broader context of their overall ministry. Recognizing that prophetic preaching is a part of (and not apart from) pastoral preaching, students will study formative voices of the prophetic witness in Scripture, among recent preachers of various traditions, and as prophetic preaching relates to peace, simplicity and life in community practiced among Brethren and Friends.

Prerequisite: M 120 or M 125 or PM 101

New Testament Greek II, B 116, Dan Ulrich

As the sequel to New Testament Greek I, this course continues to introduce the basic elements of the language, including vocabulary and the grammar of participles and other nonindicative verb forms. By the end of this course, students are able to translate passages from the Greek New Testament with the aid of the lexicon. 3 semester hours.

*Please note that specific course time scheduling does not take place more than a year ahead,
so it is not yet certain which traditional courses may be scheduled as block courses
for the academic years ahead. For planning purposes, all yet-to-be-determined
traditional or block courses are listed here on this page.

Course listings are subject to change. Please be sure to check the Registrar's current course schedule
on the Seminary Academic Services website for possible additional courses or corrections.