New York Theological Seminary

Master’s Program Course Schedule 2009-2010

Fall Semester 2009 (9/8 - 12/17)

As of 07.22.09 all courses are held at Riverside Church unless otherwise noted.
(Enter at 91 Claremont Ave. betw. W. 120 & 121 St. Take elevators on the left side)

MONDAY COURSES: Sep. 14 – Dec. 14; (6-9 PM) unless otherwise noted

TMU5001: Practice of Prophetic Ministry; 4 Cr. (Yr. D, Required)
Profs: Humberto Alfaro, Keith Russell Rm. 430

This is a required course for students in their final year. It will focus on the integration of learning and belief as it relates to the practice of prophetic ministry. Attention will be given to developing a systematic treatment of classical Christian doctrines in the context of how the practice of prophetic ministry informs and is informed by doctrine. Specific attention will be given to the nature and scope of prophetic ministry. How each student has personally appropriated belief and practice will be presented and examined.

MMC100k: Intro. Pastoral Care & Counseling (in Korean); 4 Cr. (Elective)
Prof. Miriam Micha Koo 1:30 PM - 4:45 PM Rm. 423

This course is intended to provide the setting for general study in the areas of pastoral theology, the spirituality of ministry and pastoral counseling. It will offer pastoral ministers and religiously committed person’s educational experiences and reflective opportunities to more effectively serve in today’s multicultural society. The course will focus on the perspectives and skills of interpersonal pastoral care. Attention will be given to the application of learned theory and skills in the context of pastoral care and counseling as well.

MMU0001: Communication Skills & Practice of Ministry; 4 Cr. (Elective)
Prof. Esther Owens Rm. 318

This is a special course in English composition offered to any student and required of those who, in the faculty's judgment, need further development of their writing skills. The theological assumption is that writing, as a facet of communication, is a skill for ministry, and that work involved in this course is part of the development of an "informed ministry," necessary for the practice of Christian leadership in the urban context.

THU2311: Asian/Asian-American Theology & Spirituality; 4 Cr. (Elective)
Prof. Michelle Lim Jones Rm. 317

Living in the context of globalization and open global community, we are at the crossroads of “embracing and exclusion” of our differences in personal, political, historical and religious traditions. In American history and culture, Asian/Asian Americans still remain at the periphery and are still called “strangers” and “sojourners”.

This course seeks to broaden and deepen the understanding of Asian/Asian American Theology and its formation of Spirituality by exploring various Asian American theologies, cultures, and their expressions in various immigrant histories in the US. We will focus particularly on the theology of Harmony, and on the spirituality of Asian/Asian American such as frugality, humbleness and modesty. Special attention will be given to selected Eastern philosophers’ theories of harmony and modesty and their yearnings for transformation of society, the people, and Empire.

BBL3511: Greek New Testament Exegesis; 4 Cr. (Elective; Prerequisite: Intro. To Greek)
Prof. Jerry Reisig Rm. 423

This course focuses on analysis and exegesis of biblical documents with the grammar and syntax of Koine Greek. Particular attention is paid to the use of the Second Testament in Greek for teaching and proclamation.

TUESDAY COURSES: Sep. 15 – Dec. 15; (6-9 PM) unless otherwise noted

TTU1001: Intro. Theological Education; 2 Cr. (Yr. A, Required)
Profs. Eleanor Moody-Shepherd, Jerry Reisig, et al

Tues. & Wed: Sep. 8-9 (6-9 pm); PLUS Fall and Spring Retreats Rm. 430

This course presents an overview of the role and significance of seminary life and training in the formation of ministerial identity. Practical issues of workload, finance, time management, and curricular structure will be examined as an orientation to the New York Theological Seminary experience. Library orientation and orientation to computers for learning are required for completion of the course.

BTM1001: Critical Interpretation & Ministry; 4 Cr. (Yr. A, Required)
Prof. Humberto Alfaro Rm. 430

This is an intensive introduction to some of the basic concepts and practices associated with critical theological reflection that are incorporated throughout the NYTS curriculum... Students will complete a personal biblical hermeneutical inventory, begin to develop their own critical reflection upon theology and ministry, and engage in a critical reading of selected biblical texts. The course is usually taken during the first semester of Year A in the curriculum, prior to Foundations of Ministry, and is strongly recommended as a corollary to Introduction to the First Testament.

HTU1011: Church History 1; 4 Cr. (Yr. B, Required)
Prof. Dale Irvin Rm. 330

This course provides an introductory survey to the history of Christianity in its global context, beginning with the early church. Attention is paid to the relationship between Christianity and urban life in a variety of contexts, the wider social and political context in which churches have lived out their ministries, the role of women and others who have been socially marginalized through history, and the development of theological ideas in diverse cultural locations. While the major scope of the course covers earliest Christianity to the dawn of the modern world, a brief survey of the history of Christian churches over the past five centuries is provided at the end of the course.

MMC1001: Intro. Pastoral Care & Counseling (in English); 4 Cr. (Elective)
Prof. Edward Hunt Rm. 411

This course will focus on counseling skills and strategies with particular emphasis on the healing ministry in a parish setting. Some specific pastoral issues will include: loss, depression, psychological trauma, sexual abuse, and addictions.

MTH2451: United Methodist History & Doctrine; 4 Cr. (Elective)
Prof. E. Richard Knox Rm. 321

This course will examine the history of the Methodist movement from its early British beginnings under the guidance of John Wesley and his followers to its establishment in North America where its many expressions is seen primarily in the United Methodist Church of today. Special emphasis will be given to the denomination’s doctrinal development of the distinctively Wesleyan approach to theology.

THU3371: Global Pentecostalism; 4 Cr. (Elective)
Prof. Leslie Callahan Rm. 423

This course is a study of the historical and Theological development of the Pentecostal movement over the past century, in the U.S.A. and across the globe. Issues to be covered will include the complex background of the 20th century Pentecostal movement; developments in diverse cultural and geographical contexts throughout the century; the emergence of the neo-Pentecostal or Charismatic renewal in the 1950s and 1960s; and the global situation of these Renewal movements (Pentecostal and Charismatic) today. Throughout the course the various expressions and experiences of Pentecostal faith, spirituality, and theology will be examined and contrasted.

BBL3011: Hebrew Exegesis: Genesis 37-50; 4 Cr. (Elective)
Prof. Jin Hee Han Rm. 414 Prerequisite: Elementary Hebrew (or the instructor’s permission).

This is a continuation of elementary Biblical Hebrew (BBL2001). In the course of reading the Hebrew text of Genesis 37-50, we will review the grammar of Biblical Hebrew and further explore intricacies in Hebrew phonology and morphology. We will also study the performance strategy embedded in the Masoretic accents.

WEDNESDAY COURSES: Sep. 16 – Dec. 16; (6-9 PM) unless otherwise noted

SSU1001: Church & Community Analysis; 4 Cr. (Yr. B, Required)
Prof. Lee Hancock Rm. 330

The purpose of this course is to study congregations and religious institutions in their urban context. We will explore how institutions interact with urban structures and express and inhabit social processes. We will study the dynamic interaction between religious institutions/congregations and their environment, and the ways in which social dynamics shape, inform and impact their synergistic relationships. We will also learn “how to study” congregations. Through lectures, discussions, and ethnographic research, we will discover how congregations and religious institutions located in the New York metro area, minister to their neighborhoods and how changes in their neighborhoods affect these congregations.

TTU2441: Constructive Theology & Culture; 4 Cr. (Elective)
Prof. Michelle Lim-Jones Rm. 423

This is an introductory course on constructive theological thinking, application of methods, and reexamination of the classical doctrines in the light of its contemporary manifestations within the context of various communities of faith. The endeavor is to have the students equipped with a set of hermeneutical tools utilizing personal imagination and creativity to construct their own “working theology” reflective of their unique personal and communal ecclesial contexts and needs. The course will also attempt to shed light on the wider culture as Kathryn Tanner states that “the relationship between Christianity and culture has historically been dynamic and complex.” How has this prevailing “culture” then, in general and “sub-culture” from one’s own particular community interact and find its voice in multiple expressions as depicted in both classical and contemporary Christianity?

MMC2511: Pastoral Formation in Multicultural Context; 4 Cr. (Elective)
Prof. Rebecca Radillo Rm. 318

Pastoral formation is a crucial process for person entering the ministry. Pastoral formation is inclusive of one’s identity, spirituality, vocational discernment and self-knowledge. This process takes place in community where mentors, theological education and the social context are major contributors to the process of formation. The course will focus on the role of multiculturalism in pastoral formation and its profound personal, biblical and theological implications for pastoral leadership and for the development of all-embracing congregations.

TTU3121: The Black Social Gospel: Theology & Politics of Howard Thurman & MLK, Jr; 4 Cr. (elective)
Profs. Obery Hendricks & Peter Heltzel Rm. 430

The Social Gospel movement in early twentieth century America focused the faith and ethics of the Bible on issues of social, economic and political oppression and exploitation. However, the Social gospel movement had one glaring weakness: it never directly addressed racial oppression. A number of prominent Black scholars and activists of the time like Reverdy Ransom and Mordechai Johnson turned the passionate biblical insights of the Social Gospel to the plight of African Americans. Building on this tradition, Howard Thurman, the African American Christian mystic, preacher, civil rights activist and prophetic theological voice, brought the Social Gospel full circle to the concerns of America’s mistreated Black population with his 1949 publication of Jesus and the Disinherited. Martin Luther King, Jr., has cited Thurman’s influence on his own social vision and activism. Through close readings of Thurman and King’s primary texts in this course we will examine how Thurman’s theology and understanding of the requirements of Christian faith impacted Martin Luther King, Jr.’s civil rights activism and his vision of the Beloved Community.

THURSDAY COURSES: Sep. 10 – Dec. 17; (6-9 PM) unless otherwise noted

BBH1001: Bible 1: Intro. To the First Testament; 4 Cr. (Yr. A, Required)
Prof: Jin Hee Han & Biblical Team Rm. 430

This course presents an overview of the First Testament/Hebrew Bible commonly known as the Old Testament with a particular emphasis on the formation of the biblical literature and the background of the culture and history of ancient Israel. The course includes group sessions in which students will develop exegetical skills necessary to extract meanings out of the biblical text in a sober and responsible manner. Special attention will be paid to the literary structure of the biblical narrative and the social history of the biblical tradition. Implications for theological reflection and ministry will also be explored. This course is the first component of the Bible Sequence of the first year of the M.Div/M.P.S. programs, and is followed by Bible 2: Exegesis Practicum (January) and Bible 3: Introduction to the Second Testament (spring). These three courses are best taken in immediate sequence.

TTU1011: Intro. To Theology; 4 Cr. (Yr. B, Required)
Prof. Peter Heltzel Rm. 330

This foundational course offers an introduction to the nature, methods, and basic themes of Christian theology. Central doctrines are explored both in their classical formulations and contemporary reconstructions in the context of global Christianity. Special attention will be given to the emergence of different types of liberation theologies in the United States, including Black/African-American, feminist/womanist, Hispanic/Latino (a), and ecological theologies.

THU2721: Augustine; 4 Cr. (Elective)
Prof. William G. Rusch Rm. 319

An investigation of this African theologian in his original context and of his subsequent importance for Christians of all times. Special attention will be given to his influence and role as an authority, e.g. for Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Karl Barth and Karl Rahner.

MME2001: Foundations of Religious Education; 4 Cr. (Elective)
Prof. Kirkpatrick Cohall Rm. 423

This course involves an examination of theological, philosophical and educational models which inform the foundation of Christian Education. Emphasis will be placed on the aims, trends, and future of Christian education within the congregational context. Participants will explore teaching and learning strategies as foundational principles for social transformation.

SATURDAY COURSES: Dates & Times as noted

TTU1031: Intro. To Library Resources & Research; 2 Cr. (Elective)
Prof. Jerry Reisig Rm. TBA 9/19, 10/10, 10/31, 11/7; (11 am – 4 pm)

Research begins with the ability to determine a logical research strategy based upon enhanced critical skills. In this course, students will learn to determine the quality as well as the location of information, both in the library and through electronic resources, such as the Internet. In keeping with the NYTS commitment to a “seminary without walls,” students will discover and map research resources in their local communities that will be of use to them in their future ministries.

SMN1001: Supervised Ministry 1; 2 Cr. (Yr. C, Required)
Profs: Paul Bradley, et al. Rm. 430 Sat: 9/26, 10/24, 11/14, 12/12 (10 am - 1 pm)

The first year of a two-year sequence, Supervised Ministry is intended to deepen students' learning in ministry in both the ministry setting and the seminary context. Students will choose a ministry setting in which they can work with a qualified on-site advisor. This first year will be done normally in Year C of the curriculum. Students will be placed in ministry/advisement groups directed by a Faculty Advisor.

SMN2001: Supervised Ministry 2; 2 Cr. (Yr. C, Required)
Profs: Paul Bradley, et al. Rm. 430 Sat: 9/26, 10/24, 11/14, 12/12 (10 am - 1 pm)

SMN3001: Supervised Ministry 3; 2 Cr. (Yr. D, Required)
Profs: Paul Bradley, et al. Rm. 430 Sat: 9/26, 10/24, 11/14, 12/12 (10 am - 1 pm)

The second year sequence follows the same pattern as the first. Students will work in a ministry setting with a qualified on-site advisor, develop learning contracts, and be part of a ministry/advisement group directed by a Faculty Advisor. The second year normally is done in Year D of the curriculum. The second year will focus on an action project designed, implemented, and evaluated by ministry/advisement groups.

SMN4001: Supervised Ministry 4; 2 Cr. (Yr. D, Required)
Profs: Paul Bradley, et al. Rm. 430 Sat: 9/26, 10/24, 11/14, 12/12 (10 am - 1 pm)

TMU2251: Theology & Urban Youth Ministry; 4 Cr. (Required for Uth Turn Interns; otherwise-Elective)
Prof. C. Vernon Mason Rm. 319 Sat: 9/27; 10/4, 11, 25; 11/1, 15, 22; 12/13 (10 am – 1 pm)

This course will explore various aspects and methodologies of engaging in Urban Youth Ministry with at risk and inner city youth in a non-traditional setting. Particular attention will be given to the theological underpinnings of ministering to urban youth whose backgrounds and life styles cover a variety of socio-economic and religious traditions.

SMN1011: Supervised Ministry 1 & 2 (Uth Turn ONLY); 4 Cr. (Required for Uth Turn Interns)
Profs: Paul Bradley, et al. Rm. 430 Sat: 9/26, 10/24, 11/14, 12/12 (10 am - 1 pm)

ON-LINE COURSES

BBH2351: Ecclesiastes; 4 Cr. (Elective)
Prof. Jin Hee Han Sep. 14 – Dec. 14

This is an exegetical study of the book of Ecclesiastes that challenges existing paradigms of meaning. The class will examine the strategies of wisdom reflected in the Preacher’s probing posture. In addition, we seek to find a reconfigured frame of reference that can rise out of the despair of life as witnessed by the ancient sage. Exploring effective ways to teach the book of Ecclesiastes is an important part of this intellectual adventure.

To enroll in this course: you need unlimited access to the internet and emails. The instructor will do his best to assist with technical difficulties; however, please understand that such assistance is not part of the course. Mobile internet devices will be useful as an additional means of informal communication, but only the assignments sent via the course site at online.nyts.edu will receive credit. In the event you wish to send the instructor an email, you must fill in the subject line and sign your message with your first and last name. An email that has no subject line may not be read before it is deleted. Also, the filenames of attachments must contain the course number, the student’s name, and the name of the file.

THU3241: “Who Do You Say I Am?” Exploring Christology; 4 Cr. (Elective)
Prof. Elaine Padilla Sep. 14 – Dec. 14

Christians like to say that “Jesus is the answer.” But Jesus himself was more prone to asking questions than he was to providing answers. The question that he put to Peter at Caesarea Philippi, “Who do you say that I am?” in particular has been one that has engaged the followers of Jesus over the past two millennia as they have struggled to answer it in new and diverse contexts. Answering the question has in fact been one of the prime ways that followers of Jesus have been drawn together into communities of faith. “Who do you say that I am?” The question will be the heart of our theological quest through this course.