Instructor(s)

I.    COURSE DESCRIPTION

The history of the doctrine of the church from the first century. It examines the nature, forms, polities, marks, and functions of the church, including an examination of the church as an evangelical fellowship and the promise of an Evangelical ecclesiology, with a view toward a practical vision for doing church work in today's world. The evangelical revival transformed the church in the twentieth century, and now, more than ever, several questions are being confronted: "What is the nature and importance of the church in God’s overall plan of redemption? What precisely is the church? What should the church be doing as we enter the new millennium with all of its problems and promise?" With these programmatic questions in mind, the nature of the church as an evangelical fellowship is explored. A 21^st century evangelical ecclesiology is developed. The meaning and importance of baptism and the Lord’s Supper is also explicated. The riches of biblical, historical, and contemporary theology are kept in mind with a view toward a practical vision for doing church in today’s world. The emerging challenges to the doctrine of the church are discussed, including contemporary issues regarding marriage and ordination. Ecumenical Issues.

II. COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the course the student will:

1. Situate the origin of the church withing the early Christian community’s experience of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

2. Demonstrate knowledge of the history and development of Christian doctrines and tradition during specific time periods.

3. Demonstrate knowledge the sacraments and liturgies of the church.

4. Apply models of ecclesiology to contemporary issues and concerns in the church today.

III. COURSE CONTENT

Topics 

1. Church in Acts and Pauline literature

2. The development of the doctrine of the church though the centuries 

3. Images and Forms of the Church 

4. Church Polities 

5. Marks of the Church 

6. Functions of the Church 

7. The Sacraments

8. Comparative liturgies

9. The gifts and ministries of the Spirit in the church

10. The church in the midst of Muslims and African traditionalists

11. The Church, polygamy and LBGTQ.

12. The Contemporary Church (Mainline Non-Pentecostal Churches)

13. The Contemporary Church (Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches)

14. African Christian Spirituality: African Christian worldview, the fear of malevolent spirits and curses, the search for security and, witch-demonology, exorcism/deliverance, worship, dance, giving, prayer retreats in sacred spaces,

15. The African understanding of church as a space for socialization, protection and blessing: Jesus as Warrior-God and Healer as expressed in African songs and prayers, apotropaic use of oil, the blood of Jesus, the Bible, etc.  

16. Ecumenical Issues

IV. METHODS OF DELIVERY

Through lectures, seminars, class interaction, group discussion, reading and assignments

V.    READING MATERIALS

1. Bender, K. J. and Long, D. S. (2020). T & T Clark Handbook on Ecclesiology. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

2. Bray, Gerald (2016). The Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

3. Dulles, A. (1987). Models of the Church. New York, NY.: Doubleday.

4. Harper, Brad and Paul Louis Metzger. (2009). Exploring Ecclesiology. Grand Rapids, MI:

Brazos Press. 

5. Raith C. and Nelson, R. D. (2017). Ecumenism: A Guide for the Perplex. Edinburgh: T & T Clark.

6. Shorter, A. (1978). African Christian Spirituality. G. Chapman.

7. Tillard, J. M. R. (2001). Flesh of the Church, Flesh of Christ: At the Source of the Ecclesiology of Communion. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press.  

8. Vicent P. Branick, (1989). The House Church in the Writings of Paul. Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier.