Previous Years' Course Catalogues

A study of the nature of postmodern homelessness in the light of a theological and phenomenological analysis of homecoming and homemaking. Biblical themes such as creation, exodus, covenant, land and kingdom will be interpreted in the context of present experiences of social homelessness, geo-political violence, international refugees, disconnectedness to the earth and an overwhelming sense of being nomads without roots in any place of community.

A study of the nature of postmodern homelessness in the light of a theological and phenomenological analysis of homecoming and homemaking. Biblical themes such as creation, exodus, covenant, land and kingdom will be interpreted in the context of present experiences of social homelessness, geo-political violence, international refugees, disconnectedness to the earth and an overwhelming sense of being nomads without roots in any place of community. Seminar. Evaluation: Class Participation 25%, reflection papers or one major essay 75%.

A study of the nature of postmodern homelessness in the light of a theological and phenomenological analysis of homecoming and homemaking. Biblical themes such as creation, exodus, covenant, land and kingdom will be interpreted in the context of present experiences of social homelessness, geo-political violence, international refugees, disconnectedness to the earth and an overwhelming sense of being nomads without roots in any place of community.

The New Testament is often read as offering a restricted vision for women's leadership in the church. This course exposes some of the misunderstandings that have led to that conclusion and considers exegetical arguments in favour of a New Testament vision for the full inclusion of women at all levels of church leadership. Part One of the course looks closely at the New Testament's narrative portraits of women in the early church, beginning with the gospels' depictions of forerunners (Anna, Elizabeth) and disciples of Jesus (Joanna, Salome, and Mary Magdalene) before moving to the Acts of the Apostles and its account of Paul's female coworkers (Lydia, Priscilla, and Phoebe). Part Two then turns to Paul's letters themselves, looking at some of the named women of Romans 16 before turning to well-known 'problem passages' such as 1 Corinthians 11, 1 Timothy 2, and Ephesians 5, considering how a close study of these texts in their social, historical, and theological context, with the benefit of recent scholarship, can shed much-needed light on Paul's understanding of women's roles in the churches.

The New Testament is often read as offering a restricted vision for women's leadership in the church. This course exposes some of the misunderstandings that have led to that conclusion and considers exegetical arguments in favour of a New Testament vision for the full inclusion of women at all levels of church leadership. Part One of the course looks closely at the New Testament's narrative portraits of women in the early church, beginning with the gospels' depictions of forerunners (Anna, Elizabeth) and disciples of Jesus (Joanna, Salome, and Mary Magdalene) before moving to the Acts of the Apostles and its account of Paul's female coworkers (Lydia, Priscilla, and Phoebe). Part Two then turns to Paul's letters themselves, looking at some of the named women of Romans 16 before turning to well-known 'problem passages' such as 1 Corinthians 11, 1 Timothy 2, and Ephesians 5, considering how a close study of these texts in their social, historical, and theological context, with the benefit of recent scholarship, can shed much-needed light on Paul's understanding of women's roles in the churches.

The New Testament is often read as offering a restricted vision for women’s leadership in the church. This course exposes some of the misunderstandings that have led to that conclusion and considers exegetical arguments in favour of a New Testament vision for the full inclusion of women at all levels of church leadership. Part One of the course looks closely at the New Testament's narrative portraits of women in the early church, beginning with the gospels' depictions of forerunners (Anna, Elizabeth) and disciples of Jesus (Joanna, Salome, and Mary Magdalene) before moving to the Acts of the Apostles and its account of Paul’s female coworkers (Lydia, Priscilla, and Phoebe). Part Two then turns to Paul’s letters themselves, looking at some of the named women of Romans 16 before turning to well-known ‘problem passages’ such as 1 Corinthians 11, 1 Timothy 2, and Ephesians 5, considering how a close study of these texts in their social, historical, and theological context, with the benefit of recent scholarship, can shed much-needed light on Paul’s understanding of women's roles in the churches.

The aim of this course is to provide an outline of the history and current scholarship of English church music. Topics covered will include the impact of the English Reformation on liturgical music; the intersection between sacred and secular; the word-tone relationship in English plainchant and hymnody; music in Methodism; and choral-service revival in the Anglican Church. The course will explore a wide range of English church music including anthems, hymns, liturgical chants, oratorios and metrical psalms, along with a selected reading of relevant primary and secondary sources. Methodology: lectures, discussions, music listening, and readings.

The aim of this course is to provide an outline of the history and current scholarship of English church music. Topics covered will include the impact of the English Reformation on liturgical music; the intersection between sacred and secular; the word-tone relationship in English plainchant and hymnody; music in Methodism; and choral-service revival in the Anglican Church. The course will explore a wide range of English church music including anthems, hymns, liturgical chants, oratorios and metrical psalms, along with a selected reading of relevant primary and secondary sources. Methodology: lectures, discussions, music listening, and readings.

This course seeks to help worship leaders and those interested in music ministry gain a rich understanding of the role of music in worship, and to provide practical strategies for both short-term and long-range worship planning as it relates to music. The course will provide an overview of the multiple aspects of planning music for worship. Topics will include developing congregational singing, making the "special" music of choirs or instrumental ensembles an integral part of the worship experience, understanding a congregation's worship "style," and sourcing and selecting music for liturgical seasons or other church occasions.

This course seeks to help worship leaders and those interested in music ministry gain a rich understanding of the role of music in worship, and to provide practical strategies for both short-term and long-range worship planning as it relates to music. The course will provide an overview of the multiple aspects of planning music for worship. Topics will include developing congregational singing, making the "special" music of choirs or instrumental ensembles an integral part of the worship experience, understanding a congregation's worship "style," and sourcing and selecting music for liturgical seasons or other church occasions.

This course aims to create an ecumenical and interdisciplinary discourse on the practice of church music which is an important factor in shaping Christian identity from a global perspective. We shall examine various issues pertaining to the role of music in contemporary Christian performance and explore the musical enterprises that represent the ethnic and national identities of World Christianities and of migration or diaspora Christianities. Topics covered will include the enculturation of Christian worship and music, music and popular religious culture, the globalization of church music, cultural hybridity and inclusivity in Christian music, and the encounter of indigenous musico-religious culture and traditional church music in the non-Western world; Method: lectures, seminars, music listening, readings. Evaluation: Class participation (20%): Review (Book) (20%); Review (Worship) (30%); Presentation (30%)

This course aims to create an ecumenical and interdisciplinary discourse on the practice of church music which is an important factor in shaping Christian identity from a global perspective. We shall examine various issues pertaining to the role of music in contemporary Christian performance and explore the musical enterprises that represent the ethnic and national identities of World Christianities and of migration or diaspora Christianities. Topics covered will include the enculturation of Christian worship and music, music and popular religious culture, the globalization of church music, cultural hybridity and inclusivity in Christian music, and the encounter of indigenous musico-religious culture and traditional church music in the non-Western world. Method: lectures, seminars, music listening, readings. Evaluation: Class participation (20%): Review (Book) (20%); Review (Worship) (30%); Presentation (30%)