IC3610 - Exercises in Biblical Theology - Syllabus
Instructors – Pat Taylor Ellison Diane
Jacobson
Office: BH 112, ext.489 Office: BH
126C, ext.268
pellison@luthersem.edu djacobso@luthersem.edu
Course Description:
A study of the Bible as a
living Word that informs the imaginative framework through which we encounter
the world and engage in Christian ministry. Through lectures, case studies, and field
projects, students and instructors engage in doing biblical theology in the
context of the practice of ministry, including such specifics as the care of
souls, moral deliberation and action, community formation and conflict,
evangelism, and mission.
Course Goals: To be set by the class
Required
Textbooks:
Mahan, Jeffrey et al. Shared wisdom: A Guide to Case Study Reflection in Ministry.
O’Connell Killen, Patricia,
and de Beer, John. The Art of
Theological Reflection.
Recommended
Books:
Bass, Dorothy, ed. Practicing
Our Faith:
Gomes, Peter L. The Good
Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart.
Jones, W. Paul. Theological Worlds.
Swartley, Willard. Slavery, Sabbath, War, and Women.
Course
Structure:
The course will consist of three introductory
classes dealing with methods of biblical and theological reflection and
introduction to case studies, a class reflecting on the first written
assignment, a class using a mock debate on slavery to enrich consideration of
the use of scripture in moral deliberation, and several concluding sessions,
content to be determined by the class.
The remaining classes will center around
structured case studies led by groups from the class.
Additionally there will be both small group and
field work components that will require time out of the classroom.
The class will be divided into small groups of 3-4
students each. Each small group will be
responsible for one class presentation of a case study and one structured
response to a presentation. The
expectation is that the students, making use of exegetical, theological, and
pastoral skills, will explore how scripture informs, intersects with, inspires,
and undergirds the work of the church.
In other words, students will work together to “exercise” biblical
theology in ways that break down the divide between theory and praxis.
The fieldwork and paper components are listed under
course requirements.
Class
Requirements:
1. Consistent
attendance and full participation in class.
(More
than two unexcused absences constitute failure for the course.)
2. Full participation in the small group process
including class presentation and dialogic response.
3. Writing an initial case study, due September 13.
4. Active engagement with the assigned reading and
case studies.
5.
Paper #1 Christian Vocation in the Workplace, due Nov.1 – see attached
6. Paper #2 Theological Reflections of a Missional
Pastor
A final 5-10 page reflection
paper, due December 6, centering around your own
theological approach. Consider your own
theological world or approach. Apply
this approach to some aspect of or event related to your public role as a
missional pastor. In your reflections be
certain to make reference to scriptural thinking. After reflecting on your own theological
approach, choose one other possible approach and consider how that approach
might differ from your own, particularly in relation to the described aspect or
event.
Further Class
Assignments:
Take and score personal
theological worlds inventory and write case study by Sept.13
Read
O’Connell Killen//de Beer, The Art of
Theological Reflection by Sept. 20
Read
Mahan et al., Shared wisdom by Sept
27
Read parts of Swartley, Slavery, Sabbath, War, and Women
and Gomes, The Good Book by Nov.29
Recommended also:
Read Jones, Theological Worlds
Read Bass, Practicing Our Faith
Class Schedule
(preliminary):
Thursday,
September 6 Introduction to the course – Jacobson
Principles of Exercising Biblical Theology
- Ellison and Jacobson
Introduction to writing and presenting Case
Studies – Ellison
Thursday,
September 13
Introducing Theological World: Ellison and Jacobson
Thursday,
September 20
Organizing Cases and Reflecting on Theological Worlds – class
Thursday,
September 27 Growing Healthier Congregations (Church Innovations)
Thursday,
October 4 Case Study #1
Thursday,
October 11 Congregational Responses to Sept.11
Thursday,
October 18 Case Study #2
Thursday,
October 25 Reading Scripture Together
Thursday,
November 1 Vocation
of the Laity – Guest speaker: Jack Fortin - Paper #1 Due
Thursday,
November 8 Case
Study #3
Thursday,
November 15 Making
Plans for Beginning Ministry
Thursday,
November 29
Case Study #4
Thursday, December 6 Mock Debate on Slavery from Swartley and
Gomes
and reflection on how we use
scripture in debate
Concluding
Reflections - Paper #2 Due
Paper
#1 Christian Vocation in the Workplace
I.
Early in the semester, interview a layperson from
your congregation with whose work you are somewhat unfamiliar. Make every effort to interview this person at
his or her workplace. Ask the following
questions (feel free to use your own wording and exercise freedom and imagination
in the asking):
· What serious
challenges is your organization facing, excluding issues of personnel?
· Can you
describe one such situation in some detail?
· What do you
consider to be the underlying difficulties?
· What faith
issues are involved for either you or your organization in this situation?
· As a person of
faith, as a Christian, how do you go about thinking or acting in this
situation?
· What do you
think God is doing here, in this place?
· How does or
might your community of faith walk with you in this
situation in particular and more generally in your work?
II.
Write a two to four page reflection paper illuminating,
but not providing answers to the above situation. Ask yourself the following questions:
·
What did you hear from the person you interviewed?
·
What did you experience visiting the workplace?
(What
is done at this place? What products or
services are provided? Who are the
people in this world? Who are the people
who serve the parishioner? Who are the
people the parishioner serves? What
decisions have to be made here? Who
makes them? What are the frustrations
and gratifications?)
·
From your perspective, what are the underlying faith
issues?
·
How would you go about thinking theologically about
these issues?
·
Does scripture help you to address or think through
these issues? How?
Further
Questions –
(Many of these questions are taken or adapted from
an LCA program called
Connections: Faith and World by Norma Everist and Nelvin
Vos, 1986.)
·
What was your parishioner’s operative theology in
your conversation?
·
What is most important in your parishioner’s work
life?
·
Does Sunday enter your parishioner’s Monday through
Friday world?
·
Is God active at your parishioner’s workplace? How?
o
What is the Creator doing there? (What is being
created new and what is being maintained?)
o
What is the Redeemer doing there? (What would be
different if the Lord had not been crucified and resurrected?)
o
What is the Spirit doing there? (How was the Spirit
working in the visit?)
·
In what way is God working through your parishioner
at the workplace?
·
In what ways was the parishioner’s workplace like
and unlike your own?
·
Do I now see my own world differently?
·
What are the cares of this parishioner’s world?
·
What are the glories of this parishioner’s world?
III.
Share the paper with the layperson you interviewed
and add a final paragraph or so about the person’s reaction.
IV.
On November 1, share this reflection paper with the
class and hand it in.