2019 CoURSES
All courses are 15 credits each, except for 30 credit half-time internship/CPE courses
Find the course selection form here: https://laidlaw.formstack.com/forms/course_selection_form
Find instructions on how to fill out the online form (if you need them) here: Course Selection Instructions
SUMMER SEMESTER INTENSIVES
106.515 Hebrew Intro
108.515 Greek Intro
2 week language intensive from 26 November until 7 December, with follow up assignments during December and January.
Times of language classes will be assigned dependent on students preferences - morning and afternoon slots are available.
SEMESTER ONE 2019 COURSES
LEVEL 5 COURSES
107.515* Greek Intermediate (*intensive)
2 week language intensive. This course is a continuation of the grammar and vocabulary of Biblical Greek: Introduction 1, and its application in translation and exegesis.
109.515* Hebrew Intermediate (*intensive)
2 week language intensive. This course is a continuation of the grammar and vocabulary of Biblical Hebrew: Introduction 1, and its application in translation and exegesis.
115.515 Biblical Theology
This course is a survey of the ‘big story of Scripture’. We explore the unity, diversity and central themes of God’s written word, the Bible, in order to understand how all the ‘little stories’ fit into the ‘big story.’ This helps each of us to form connections between the Bible, theology and all of life, and to comprehend what our part is in the big story that God is writing
308.515 The Story of Christianity
Explore major themes and events of the last two thousand years of Christian history and our place in that story. Learn about our beginnings, persecution, theological developments including the Reformation, and how the Church has embraced its mission in different ways at different times.
470.530 Internship I (30 credits)
This course provides opportunities for students to explore their understanding of their personal ministry journey in relation to their sense of call, personal strengths and the management and leadership of ministry within their own context using reflective practices. This replaces two 15 credit papers.
505.515 Mission, Church and Community
Be immersed in the story of the Church and the world, responding to the questions: what is the gospel; what is the Church: and how does the Church interact with the world. This course examines the theological, historical and cultural contexts of ministry and explores some of the diverse expressions of ministries locally and globally.
Level 6 and 7 courses
All courses can be taken at either level
111.615 Biblical Interpretation
This course looks at the nature and canon of Scripture and how we can best meet the challenges of biblical interpretation. You will develop a variety of techniques that are used to provide analysis of a variety of biblical texts so that we can more fully understand their meaning. Be introduced to the different genres of both Old and New Testaments, and gain a sense of why understanding historical and literary contexts is so important.
125.615/715 Psalms
This course studies the growth of the Psalter, its present shape, theological significance and emergence and use as the Bible’s book of praise and prayer. Students may complete exegesis in English or Hebrew.
143.615/715 Gospel of John
This course is an introduction to modern study of the Fourth Gospel, including key critical issues and approaches, as well as important literary and theological themes in the Gospel. There will be exegesis of selected English texts, or translation and exegesis of selected texts in Greek.
202.615/715 Theology: Christ and Revelation
What is the answer? Jesus! But – how is Jesus the answer? This course examines what different theologians have to say about the person and work of Christ, and about revelation and Scripture, in order to discover how Christology connects with other doctrines like atonement, and how all theology is undergirded by God's self-revelation.
211.615/715 Theology: Ethics
What does it mean to make ethical decisions as a Christian? This course covers the biblical foundations and the theory of Christian ethics, all while applying Christian ethics and decision making to contemporary ethical issues.
463.515 Internship: Ministry in Context
This course offers an intensive exploration of the minister’s sense of call in relation to their current ministry and local context. Contextual theory meets practice through the experience of ministry, mentoring, specific models of reflective practice, and a formal exploration of the student’s current context supported by integrative tutorials.
Clinical Pastoral Education – 580.630 (30 credits) and 581.715 (15 credits). Must be taken together. Offered over a number of two day block courses each fortnight (on average).
An action-reflection approach to formation for the work of pastoral care. This course entails the actual provision of pastoral care within a pastoral setting together with the exploration of the ministry experience, the dynamics present, and the theological dimensions. The course also considers advanced reflection on the practice and principles of pastoral care, alongside the integration of personhood and presence with pastoral ministry.
SEMESTER TWO COURSES
Level 6 and 7 courses
All courses can be taken at either level
150.615/715 Jesus and the Synoptic Gospels
This course examines key themes in the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, in relation to Jesus’ mission and teaching, including the kingdom of God, parables, miracles and discipleship. Students will study the text of a selected gospel, its theology, and relevant critical interpretative issues in relation to their own understanding of Christian faith and life.
204.615/715 Theology: Salvation in History and Beyond
This course looks at: 1) Salvation in history: a biblical overview of the doctrines of sin, grace, justification, regeneration and conversion. 2) Salvation at the fulfillment of history: biblical and historical models of eschatology; contemporary issues in eschatology.
464.615 Internship: Leadership Dynamics
This course explores interpersonal dynamics in leadership. Leadership theory meets practice through the experience of ministry, mentoring, specific models of reflective practice, an examination of the students’ own leadership style and integrative tutorials with a specific focus on communication, group dynamics and leadership styles.
466.715 Internship: Philosophy of Ministry
This course seeks to draw together a student’s prior internship courses, and wider academic learning through the formulation of a personal philosophy of ministry. Ministry experience along with formal reflection will foster the clarification of ministry skills, knowledge and personhood while integrative tutorials seek to prepare students to transition into new ministry environments.
520.615/715 Reformation as Missional History for Today
This course involves a study of the English Reformation, investigating the rationale and nature of innovations and changes introduced at this seminal time. The course identifies the theological and ‘missional’ thinking that gave shape to the sense of purpose and calling of the English Church and where this might take us in addressing the challenges of our present mission.
612.615/715 Majority World Theology
This course offers an introductory look at ‘local ‘theologies. It considers how cultures bring differences of emphasis and insight into their reading of Scripture and ways in which evaluation is still required and possible as the Gospel is related to worldviews of particular contexts.
LEVEL 5 COURSES
120.515 Old Testament Introduction
This is a survey of the Old Testament including its Ancient Near Eastern context, its literary nature, its major themes, its importance for understanding the New Testament and its relevance for today. You’ll work your way through a number of OT books in more detail, while studying contextual and interpretative issues.
140.515 New Testament Introduction
An introduction to the historical background to the New Testament including a study of the main features of the life and ministry of Jesus; a summary of the beginnings and expansion of the church in Acts, a general background to the NT epistles; the main teaching of a selection of the epistles and an introduction to Revelation.
201.515 Theology: Introduction
This course is an introduction to systematic theology; learn about what Christians believe, and why these beliefs are important. Discuss issues of theological authority, method, content and how this all relates to individual, communal and global life.
401.515 Formation
John Calvin wrote that the true knowledge of God and a true knowledge of oneself depend on one another. This course aims to help students deepen both kinds of knowledge, through engagement with Scripture and a variety of Christian spiritual traditions, reflection on their own and others’ spiritual journeys, and the development of spiritual practices for life and calling.
471.530 Leadership Internship II (30 credits)
This course builds on Leadership Principles and Practice by seeking to develop skills for team leadership, and by fostering reflection on team dynamics and project management as they are practised within your ministry context.