Theological Studies

This course invites Master of Divinity students into an intentional process of spiritual discipline and introspection, personal faith development, and vocational discernment. Students explore the rich tradition of spiritual exercises, including prayer, Bible study, and meditation, in order to develop a program which best suits his or her individual needs, calling, and personality. Students will explore various ministry models, share their generational and vocational perspectives, and critically engage in dialogue about re-inventing and reforming models of ministry and leadership.. Weekly sessions will be comprised of lectures, guest presentations, discussion, audiovisual presentations, and workgroup presentations.

This course introduces incoming Divinity School students to research and writing skills on a graduate-level. The course distinguishes between personal voice writing, sermonic writing, and academic writing. The course gives primacy to academic writing with specific attention to hermeneutics and theological/religious-related research; proper use and citation of sources; plagiarism and inclusive writing guidelines; grammar and syntax; and, the Turabian style manual for graduate courses in religion.

Senior Colloquy provides M.Div. students the opportunity to reflect upon the role of culture/scholarship and the efficacy of the Black Church in addressing issues facing the black community in the current socio-political season. Attention is given also to self-care (e.g. work/life balance) and self-promotion (e.g. resume-writing and job interviewing).

This course is an introduction to the discipline and method of philosophy and the relationship of philosophy to the study of religion. Through a reading of classical and contemporary sources, the course examines definitions of religion and issues such as God's existence, attributes, and relationship to and action in the physical world, the nature and significance of religious experience and its potential as a medium for truth and knowledge, the problem of evil, humans as persons having minds and souls, life after death, the relation of religion to morality, and the relationship of religion to science.�

This Course seeks to pursue several main objectives: To acquaint students with the discipline of theology through select readings of classical and contemporary texts; and to examine some issues and foundations of Christian thought, in addition to the rational structure and methods of interpretation that characterize the field of theology.

This Course will pursue further the basic objectives outlined in SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY I, which will normally serve as a prerequisite. The various theological perspectives on the doctrines of the Christian faith will be treated critically and systematically. Major doctrines (or themes) will include God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Theological Anthropology, Sin and Salvation, Church, Sacraments, Mission, Ministry, Eschatology, Religious Belief and the Natural Sciences. Students will also be required to write a Credo Paper, based on their presumed mastery of the theological sources and methodology.�

This course is a study of contemporary black theology in the United States. The course examines the history, methodology, and systematic construction of black theology. Critical assessments of black theology and alternative models for the theological interpretation of African American religion will be examined.

This course treats Martin Luther King, Jr., as a theologian, evaluating his understanding of Christian doctrines and contribution to systematic theology and theological ethics.

This seminar, primarily intended for students pursuing the Doctor of Ministry degree, is designed to cultivate and foster an in-depth analysis of modern theological expressions of some traditional Christian doctrines with expressions of some traditional Christian doctrines, with special attention to the contextual framework out of which such expressions emerge.