Previous Years' Course Catalogues

This course will examine the fundamental tension in which Christians have always lived and served: through precept, metaphor, and example the Church has been told to be "salt and light" in the world and yet be "unspotted" by it; we are to be ''in" yet not "of" the world; on one hand we are to be "citizens of heaven" and yet the apostle Paul boldly used his Roman citizenship to advantage. The course will juxtapose the Biblical vision of the Church with western society as currently constituted. Dominant cultural values will be studied along with the diverse ways in which they are embodied and shaped in particular micro-cultures. Finally, the course will apply Biblical principles of mission to the task of engagement with the wider society in all its many forms and explore possible trajectories of praxis to guide Christian leaders in encounter with the "world."

This course will examine the fundamental tension in which Christians have always lived and served: through precept, metaphor, and example the Church has been told to be "salt and light" in the world and yet be "unspotted" by it; we are to be ''in" yet not "of" the world; on one hand we are to be "citizens of heaven" and yet the apostle Paul boldly used his Roman citizenship to advantage. The course will juxtapose the Biblical vision of the Church with western society as currently constituted. Dominant cultural values will be studied along with the diverse ways in which they are embodied and shaped in particular micro-cultures. Finally, the course will apply Biblical principles of mission to the task of engagement with the wider society in all its many forms and explore possible trajectories of praxis to guide Christian leaders in encounter with the "world."

This course examines the interpretation of the parables in the gospels and other early Christian writers. It outlines major trends in the modern analyses of the parables, with special attention to social and economic concerns, in order to assess how they might work as a distinctive form of communication. We will also consider how attention to communicative dynamics and first century contexts can help us to imagine the relevance of parables to our own time.

This course examines the interpretation of the parables in the gospels and other early Christian writers. It outlines major trends in the modern analyses of the parables, with special attention to social and economic concerns, in order to assess how they might work as a distinctive form of communication. We will also consider how attention to communicative dynamics and first century contexts can help us to imagine the relevance of parables to our own time.

This course will explore and develop a coherent understanding of teaching in the church which incorporates preaching and teaching and the way they are integrated with the worship, ministry and mission of the church. This will involve an understanding of the relationship between knowledge and practice and the relationship between character formation, ministry and mission. We will engage with the place and role of continuing education (catechesis) primarily for adults in the context of the life, witness and work of the local church community.

This course will explore and develop a coherent understanding of teaching in the church which incorporates preaching and teaching and the way they are integrated with the worship, ministry and mission of the church. This will involve an understanding of the relationship between knowledge and practice and the relationship between character formation, ministry and mission. We will engage with the place and role of continuing education (catechesis) primarily for adults in the context of the life, witness and work of the local church community.

This course will explore and develop a coherent understanding of teaching in the church which incorporates preaching and teaching and the way they are integrated with the worship, ministry and mission of the church. This will involve an understanding of the relationship between knowledge and practice and the relationship between character formation, ministry and mission. We will engage with the place and role of continuing education (catechesis) primarily for adults in the context of the life, witness and work of the local church community.

This course will explore and develop a coherent understanding of teaching in the church which incorporates preaching and teaching and the way they are integrated with the worship, ministry and mission of the church. This will involve an understanding of the relationship between knowledge and practice and the relationship between character formation, ministry and mission. We will engage with the place and role of continuing education (catechesis) primarily for adults in the context of the life, witness and work of the local church community.

This course will focus on identifying, developing and strengthening key leadership skills needed in the Church in North America today. Topics to be explored within a theological framework will include: introducing and managing change, leading in the midst of uncertainty, discerning health and dysfunction in faith communities, developing trustworthy leaders, cultivating a climate of risk~taking, and inculcating practices that enable perseverance.

This course will focus on identifying, developing and strengthening key leadership skills needed in the Church in North America today. Topics to be explored within a theological framework will include: introducing and managing change, leading in the midst of uncertainty, discerning health and dysfunction in faith communities, developing trustworthy leaders, cultivating a climate of risk-taking, and inculcating practices that enable perseverance.

This course will focus on identifying, developing and strengthening key leadership skills needed in the Church in North America today. Topics to be explored within a theological framework will include: introducing and managing change, leading in the midst of uncertainty, discerning health and dysfunction in faith communities, developing trustworthy leaders, cultivating a climate of risk-taking, and inculcating practices that enable perseverance.

This course will focus on identifying, developing and strengthening key leadership skills needed in the Church in North America today. Topics to be explored within a theological framework will include: introducing and managing change, leading in the midst of uncertainty, discerning health and dysfunction in faith communities, developing trustworthy leaders, cultivating a climate of risk-taking, and inculcating practices that enable perseverance.