Course Catalogue 2025-2026

The Syriac, Armenian, and Coptic traditions of Oriental Orthodoxy witnessed diverse challenges that contributed to theological developments responsible for the shape of these Oriental Orthodox Churches today. The writings of Philoxenus of Mabbug and Severus of Antioch in response to the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon shaped the Miaphysite Christology of Oriental Orthodoxy. This course will explore the marks of Miaphysite Christology as inherited and interpreted by the figures above. Additionally, this course will explore Orthodox spirituality through the writings of Philoxenus and Jacob of Serug from the Syriac Church, and Gregory of Narek from the Armenian Church. The dawn of Islam marked a new development in Oriental Orthodox theology as various theologians were compelled to author polemical and apologetic treatises articulating the logic of Trinitarian and Christological theology in ways comprehensible to their foreign conquerors who do not share their convictions about these subjects. As such, this course explores elements of dogmatic theology, apologetics, spirituality, and asceticism through Oriental Orthodox patristic thought in the Medieval era. 

This class introduces the student to close reading of the New Testament in Greek. The student will read, in Greek, significant selections from Paul and the Gospels. The course will emphasize close reading and the development of exegetical skills. We will focus on theological exegesis, through an exploration of a theme that is central to both Paul and the Gospels: cruciformity. The course will also develop the student’s facility with the Greek language: we will (i) give attention to syntax and grammar, (ii) introduce more advanced elements of the Greek language as they appear in the biblical texts, and (iii) draw attention to the ways in which a thorough understanding of biblical Greek opens up the meaning of the biblical text and enriches scholarly study and pastoral ministry alike. The class is the first part of a two-part Intermediate Greek exegesis and grammar program and will prepare the student for further New Testament exegesis at an advanced level.

This class introduces the student to close reading of the New Testament in Greek. The student will read, in Greek, significant selections from Paul and the Gospels. The course will emphasize close reading and the development of exegetical skills. We will focus on theological exegesis, through an exploration of a theme that is central to both Paul and the Gospels: cruciformity. The course will also develop the student’s facility with the Greek language: we will (i) give attention to syntax and grammar, (ii) introduce more advanced elements of the Greek language as they appear in the biblical texts, and (iii) draw attention to the ways in which a thorough understanding of biblical Greek opens up the meaning of the biblical text and enriches scholarly study and pastoral ministry alike. The class is the first part of a two-part Intermediate Greek exegesis and grammar program and will prepare the student for further New Testament exegesis at an advanced level.

his course will address the issues and challenges surrounding the current pastoral care ministry in churches and explore the genuine role and function of pastoral care within the church. The course will delve into the biblical, theological, and historical foundations of pastoral care to reclaim the authentic pastoral identity that is not overly fixated on psychological theories, psychotherapeutic skills, and techniques, Students will also learn about the cure of souls in their denominational tradition to gain wisdom and inspiration from religious predecessors. The course aims to explore who provides care, whom the care is for, and how the care is given. The course will comprehensively analyze the development of pastoral care practices within the church, ranging from the Early Church to the Reformation, Modern, and Post-modern eras, in order to investigate how the church provides care, as well as to evaluate the evolution of methods and approaches employed over time. By the end of the course, students will be able to analyze and evaluate the essential characteristics of pastoral care practices from classical models to contemporary approaches. Therefore, the ultimate goal of this course is to cultivate the authentic role and function of pastoral care ministry in the church by promoting a balanced approach that integrates classical, modern, and contemporary methods while maintaining its pastoral identity, so that the church can offer sufficient care to those in need.

Surveys the origin and development of the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century in its magisterial and radical dimensions, and in its theological, social, educational, cultural, and political expressions. Provides a narrative overview of key developments; examines Reformation historiography; probes the impact of reform ideas on lived spiritual experience; outlines the dynamic between print, literacy and reform ideas; explores changes in education, the arts and culture; addresses changes in the relationship between church and state wrought by new theological perspectives; and considers the legacy of the Reformation.

Surveys the origin and development of the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century in its magisterial and radical dimensions, and in its theological, social, educational, cultural, and political expressions. Provides a narrative overview of key developments; examines Reformation historiography; probes the impact of reform ideas on lived spiritual experience; outlines the dynamic between print, literacy and reform ideas; explores changes in education, the arts and culture; addresses changes in the relationship between church and state wrought by new theological perspectives; and considers the legacy of the Reformation.

After looking at the roots of confessionalism in the creedal statements of late antiquity, this course focuses on the historical, cultural, and theological context of the Reformed confessions of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The confessional documents that are the focus of primary attention are the Thirty-Nine Articles, the Irish Articles, the Three Forms of Unity, the Westminster Standards, and the First and Second London Baptist Confessions. The reception history of these confessions is also considered as well as their significance for confessional communities today. Students will have the opportunity to study more recent confessional texts, such as the Barmen Declaration, in a major course requirement.

After looking at the roots of confessionalism in the creedal statements of late antiquity, this course focuses on the historical, cultural, and theological context of the Reformed confessions of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The confessional documents that are the focus of primary attention are the Thirty-Nine Articles, the Irish Articles, the Three Forms of Unity, the Westminster Standards, and the First and Second London Baptist Confessions. The reception history of these confessions is also considered as well as their significance for confessional communities today. Students will have the opportunity to study more recent confessional texts, such as the Barmen Declaration, in a major course requirement.

Developmental psychology is the scientific study of how and why human beings change over the course of their lives. Originally focused on the physical, motor, cognitive, intellectual, emotional, personality, social, and moral changes in infants and children, developmental psychology now includes adolescence, adult development, and aging, throughout all stages of the entire lifespan. Several developmental stage theories have been developed, emerging from a diverse set of assumptions and models of human behavior, that divide child development into distinct stages. These stages are characterized by quantitative and qualitative differences in behaviour. There are a number of different views about the way in which psychological and physical development might proceed throughout the life span. This course will present a survey of the most important theoretical models including models that emphasize spiritual development. With respect to spiritual developmental each developmental theory will be examined from the point of view of spiritual development and their attention to spirituality throughout the life span. Formal theories of human growth and development within the Buddhist, Muslim and Christian perspectives will be introduced. Methodological issues will also be discussed.

This course introduces helping professionals to approaches and techniques of Islamic psycho-spiritual therapy to address Muslim Mental Health in a North American context. Islamic psycho-spiritual therapy is practiced in a variety of settings (private practice, institutional, congregational, and public agencies). The subject matter is located at the intersection of Islamic theology and the social and human sciences, addressing developmental theory, grief theory and gender studies. This course emphasizes multidimensional assessment and different applications of psycho-spiritual, therapeutic, supportive, educational, and resource management strategies for individuals.
Contextual factors such as migration, gender, Islamophobia, and mental health issues, along with professional ethics and professional identity, particularly in relation to the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC), will also be examined in depth in this course.

Pastoral Counselling for the non-professional counsellor engaged in ministry. The goals of the course include acquiring basic counselling skills, developing awareness of counter-transference and exploring how to refer to other professionals.

Pastoral Counselling for the non-professional counsellor engaged in ministry. The goals of the course include acquiring basic counselling skills, developing awareness of counter-transference and exploring how to refer to other professionals.