Spring School: Weeks 3&4

David Gill
Ethics writer, consultant and educator. BA (University of Southern California, Berkeley), MA (San Francisco State University), PhD (University of Southern California).

David devoted fourteen years (1976-90) to founding New College Berkeley and from 1992-2001 he served as Carl I. Lindberg Professor of Applied Ethics at North Park University in Chicago, Illinois.

“David is an excellent teacher—a good thinker, well read, very personable, relates well to others.”

Building Character & Community: Christian Virtue Ethics

Building Character and Community is a course in Christian virtue ethics—the tradition in moral theology and philosophy that asks what are the traits of a good personal character? And of a good community or organization? Biblical Christian discipleship is not just about following a new set of rules but about being born anew, sanctified and conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, and being part of a new community. Our study will be grounded in Jesus’ Beatitudes and Paul’s faith, hope and love. Student research will focus, according to interest, on applications to personal growth, interpersonal relationships, church renewal or marketplace/organizational culture.

APPL/INDS 596: May 26-June 6, 8:30-11:00 am
2 or 3 graduate credit hours

Paul Heintzman
Assistant Professor, Leisure Studies Program, University of Ottawa. BSc (University of Ottawa), MCS (Regent College), PhD (University of Waterloo).

Paul is co-editor of the book Christianity and Leisure: Issues in a Pluralistic Society and author of numerous journal papers on the relationships between leisure and spirituality as well as on other topics in the leisure studies field.

“The instructor was very conscious of students’ interests, cares, etc. He explained concepts well & adjusted his teaching to students’ requests.”

A Leisurely Spirituality: Christian Perspectives on Leisure

The diversity of ways that leisure has been defined has been described as a conceptual labyrinth. While there has been much theological reflection on work, theological reflection on leisure is less prevalent. Furthermore, Christians often find that their lives are characterized by work, responsibility, busyness and stress with little experience of leisure. Within this context, how is the Christian to understand leisure and incorporate leisure into his/ her life? This course will attempt to answer these questions. We will begin with an introduction to the historical and contemporary ways that leisure has been defined. Particular attention will be paid to Christian understandings throughout history. Second, biblical themes, principles and concepts will be explored, especially the notions of Sabbath and rest, to develop a biblical understanding of leisure. Next, the historical Christian understandings and biblical sources relevant to leisure will be applied to the contemporary world in which we live. Finally, the relationship between work and leisure will be explored and the role of leisure in spirituality discussed.

INDS 645: May 26-June 6, 1:15-3:45 pm
2 or 3 graduate credit hours

Susan S. Phillips
Executive Director and Professor of Sociology and Christianity, New College, Berkeley. BA (Willamette University), PhD (University of California, Berkeley).

Susan is part of San Francisco Theological Seminary’s teaching faculty for the Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction and supervises spiritual directors.

“She embodied what it means to care. This has been the best and most restoring class I’ve taken thus far…very challenging and encouraging.”

Contemplative Listening

Scripture resounds with God’s call to hear—Shema. The discipline and gift of listening is foundational to the Christian life of loving God and neighbour. Listening creates a sanctuary within which we may receive God’s Word and welcome the neighbour, and by listening we are shaped as Christ’s disciples. How do we orient ourselves toward God’s voice and toward another person in a culture that so loudly drives, seduces, engages and distracts us? How do we quiet external and internal noise in order to hear? Contemplative spiritual disciplines and practical listening skills aid our listening to God and the hearts of others. This course will offer the theory and practice of contemplative listening, which lies at the core of the ministry of spiritual direction and relationships of spiritual friendship.

SPIR 554: May 26-June 6, 1:15-3:45 pm
2 or 3 graduate credit hours
Maximum Enrollment: 25 students.
Refer to Fine Print / Limited Enrollment

Chris Seitz
Professor of Biblical Interpretation, Wycliffe College, University of Toronto. AB (North Carolina), MTS (Virginia Seminary), STM, PhD (Yale).

Chris was a Professor of Old Testament at the University of St. Andrews from 1997-2007. He has written fifteen books including his most recent, Prophecy and Hermeneutics: Toward a New Introduction to the Prophets.

Interpreting the Book of the Twelve: Fresh Reading of the Minor Prophets

This course will give an overview of work into the Book of the Twelve. It will seek to understand how interest in the unity and coherence of the canonical form of the Twelve would affect the genre of prophetic Introduction as well as a comprehensive view of prophecy (modern Introductions treat the individual prophets according to an historical sequence, and splice into that 3 Isaiahs, Jeremiah and Ezekiel). We will seek to understand the tension between the integrity of individual books and the larger theological structure governing the whole. The “historical” prophet is a factor in canonical reading, but so too we must evaluate the effect of relationships deeply underscored within the editorial processes themselves. The Twelve is one witness; the Twelve are distinctive witnesses. That appears to be a truth preserved in the canonical process of the Twelve’s editorial history, and the theological implication of this “goodly fellowship of the prophets” must also be evaluated as an intentional act within Israel’s reception of the prophets.

BIBL 640: May 26-June 6, 1:15-3:45 pm
2 or 3 graduate credit hours

James M. Houston
Board of Governors’ Professor, Spiritual Theology, Regent College. MA (Edinburgh), MA, BSc, DPhil (Oxford).

Dr. Houston is one of the “founding fathers” of Regent College. From 1970-78 he was principal of the College. His major areas of interest include the Christian mind, the Trinity, prayer and the traditions of Christian spirituality. His books include The Transforming Power of Prayer, In Pursuit of Happiness: Finding Genuine Fulfillment in Life and The Mentored Life.

Loss and Recovery of Transcendence in our Contemporary Culture

The political prominence of a “Christian Religious culture” in North America makes us all the more exposed to the secularization of contemporary Christianity. This course will broadly survey contributory causes for the loss of transcendence today, in contrast to its devotional expressions in the history of the Church. Such traditional issues as “the fear of the Lord,” God and history, education by exemplars, prayer-meditation-contemplation, contrition and confession, Heaven-Purgatory- Hell, biblical authority, Sabbath rest, mission and sacrifice, and now spiritual discernment and direction, have formed a sequence in the life of devotion, which will be studied historically and applied contemporaneously.

SPIR 527: May 26-June 6, 8:30-11:00 am
2 or 3 graduate credit hours

Oliver Crisp
Lecturer in Theology, University of Bristol, UK. BD, MTh (University of Aberdeen), PhD (University of London).

Oliver was previously a research fellow at the University of Notre Dame and has taught at the University of St. Andrews. His books include Divinity and Humanity: The Incarnation Reconsidered and Jonathan Edwards and the Metaphysics of Sin.

“I have taken numerous courses here for 7 years during the summer. This was the finest, clearest, most illuminating lecturer I have heard.”

Systematic Theology B: Creation, Christology, Soteriology and Anthropology

This course explores four fundamental themes of Christian theology: God’s creation, the Lord Jesus Christ, salvation and the nature of human personhood. The course will examine the historical Christian teachings on these subjects, how the church came to these conclusions, how these doctrines interact with each other and why these things matter.

THEO 606: May 26-June 6, 8:30-11:00 am
2 or 3 graduate credit hours

Harold Netland
Professor, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. BA (Biola), MA, PhD (Claremont Graduate University).

Harold specializes in religious pluralism, epistemology of religion, and apologetics. He is the author of Dissonant Voices: Religious Pluralism and the Question of Truth.

Globalization, World Religions and Christian Mission

Our world is undergoing massive changes, many of which are associated with globalization. This course will examine the concept of globalization, especially as it affects culture and religion. Two quite different religious trends are associated with globalization—the rise in religious extremism / religious violence and the tendency toward religious pluralism. The course will explore the nature of these trends and their implications for Christian mission. Participants in the course should gain increased understanding of some of the religious dynamics evident today and be challenged to consider what it means to be disciples of Jesus Christ in our globalizing world.

APPL 538: June 2-13, 1:15-3:45 pm
2 or 3 graduate credit hours

Download the course information sheet in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format (142 kb)

Iain Provan
Marshall Sheppard Professor of Biblical Studies (OT), Regent College. MA (Glasgow), BA (London Bible College), PhD (Cambridge).

Iain has written numerous articles and several commentaries, including ones on Lamentations, 1 and 2 Kings, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs and A Biblical History of Israel (co-authored with Phil Long and Tremper Longman).

1 and 2 Kings

This course aims to examine the assumptions, history and variety of critical methods and perspectives brought to bear on the biblical texts in the modern period; to ask intelligent questions about the coherence and value of these methods; and to clarify how their employment is important to a biblical hermeneutic which is both intellectually sustainable and consistent with the faith of the Church in respect of its Scriptures.

BIBL 618: June 2-13, 8:30-11:00 am
2 or 3 graduate credit hours
Recommended: BIBL 501, 503 and LANG 510/11.
Maximum Enrollment: 50 students for credit; auditing students are also welcome.
Refer to Fine Print / Limited Enrollment