Seminary Announces Post-bachelor's Certificate Programs

January 7, 2010

Community of Christ Seminary announces new post-bachelor’s certificate programs that provide opportunity for those who want to participate in advanced seminary studies without completing a master’s degree. Courses can be applied toward a master’s should the student desire to do so later. Contact Judy Luffman for further details at Luffman@graceland.edu.

Apply online at www.graceland.edu/seminary/apply/.

Seminary Certificate Programs:

• All certificates are 15 semester hours & require a bachelor’s degree

• All courses are 3 semester hours

• Course Format Key:
  (Online) indicates the course is 100% online and meets for 8 weeks
  (3-1-3) indicates the course meets week’s 1-3 online, week 4 in Independence, & weeks 5-7 online for a total of 7 weeks.

Christian Thought and Church Leadership – Begins March 22, 2010
Target Audience: Congregational leaders, self-sustaining mission center officers, and life-long learners who desire deeper understanding of the Christian tradition in relation to the care of others and their own role in ministry.

RELG5090 Survey of History of Christian Thought March 22 – May 14, 2010 (online)
Traces the theological and doctrinal development of the Christian church from the biblical period to the present. Attention will be given to the historical context in which this development occurred.

RELG6200 Pastoral Care May 17 – July 2, 2010 (3-1-3)
An introduction to the theoretical and practical aspects of pastoral care that are required for an effective liberative ministry of nurture, healing, and spiritual growth in the church. Attention will be given to the fundamental theological foundations and of the aims, methods, and resources for pastoral care. A limited practical exposure to the art of counseling will be offered.

RELG6111 Specialized Ministry: Church Leadership May 17 – July 2, 2010 (3-1-3)
Consideration of the fundamentals of church leadership in the 21st Century, exploring topics such as administrative skills, collaborative leadership, core values and ethics, spiritual formation, congregational systems, and denominational polity.

RELG5010 Ministerial Issues August 30 – October 22, 2010 (online)
An introduction to church polity and the role of the minister with focus on issues central to the identity, functioning, leadership style, administrative skills, spiritual growth and maturity, and ministerial ethics of the minister. Attention is given to the issue of holistic self-care.

RELG5011 Christian Theology Either Jan. 3 – Feb 18, 2011 (3-1-3) OR Feb. 22 – April 22, 2011 (online)
An initial exploration of the discipline and methods of theology. The foundational topics of Christian theology are covered including the nature and necessity of the theological task and contemporary understandings of the doctrine of God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, humanity, the church, and Christian hope.

Denominational Identity – Begins May 17, 2010
Target Audience: Congregational leaders, self-sustaining mission center officers, and life-long learners within Community of Christ who wish to deepen their understanding of denominational identity in relation to the broader Christian tradition in order to provide more effective leadership within their circle of influence.

RELG 5301 Community of Christ History May 17 – July 2, 2010 (3-1-3)
Explores the background and development of the Community of Christ from its early 19th century beginnings to the present. Primary, secondary, and material cultural sources will be studied with the purpose of helping students to develop an analytical approach to church history. In this course, there will be three specific foci: the founding of Latter Day Saintism and the diasporic search for a sacred homeland, the evolution of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and the Community of Christ in the new millennium. Considerable attention will be given to the early church story emerging in the historical context of competing religions in a democratic North American setting, as well as the theological corrections, moderate in nature, by members of the Reorganized Church that led to a major paradigm shift from “church as remnant” to “church in mission.” The course will conclude with a discussion of the kaleidoscopic mix of cultures in today’s Community of Christ.

RELG6111 Specialized Ministry: Church Leadership May 17 – July 2, 2010 (3-1-3)
Consideration of the fundamentals of church leadership in the 21st Century, exploring topics such as administrative skills, collaborative leadership, core values and ethics, spiritual formation, congregational systems, and denominational polity.

RELG5011 Christian Theology Feb. 28 – April 22, 2011 (online)
This course is an initial exploration of the discipline and methods of theology. The foundational topics of Christian theology are covered including the nature and necessity of the theological task and contemporary understandings of the doctrine of God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, humanity, the church, and Christian hope.

RELG5320 Community of Christ Theology May 16 – July 1, 2011 (3-1-3)
Explores the main themes, key issues, and seminal thinkers in RLDS/Community of Christ theology. We will approach the topic from two angles: historically and systematically. Our historical exploration will trace how Restoration theology has continually developed in response to the intellectual, social, and cultural challenges of each age. Our systematic exploration will attempt to understand what has been believed, taught, and confessed by the Community of Christ at different points in its history. We will focus considerable attention on (1) the issue of denominational “distinctiveness,” (2) the relationship of the RLDS church/Community of Christ to its early Latter Day saint roots and to the wider Christian tradition, (3) how the church’s encounter with modernity and postmodernity continues to reshape and redefine its theology, and (4) future directions of Community of Christ theology.

RELG5310 Community of Christ Scripture May 16 – July 1, 2011 (3-1-3)
Explorations into the three indigenous scriptural works published and used by the Community of Christ-The Book of Mormon, the Joseph Smith “Translation” of the Bible, and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. These explorations involve (1) the attempt to establish original texts by analyses of documentary source materials, (2) studies into historical and cultural contexts of specific content, (3) consideration of metaphorical and theological dimensions of these three scriptural works, and (4) the relevance and relationship of these scriptural works to the identity and mission of the Community of Christ in today’s world.

Theology in Context – Begins Feb. 28, 2011
Target Audience: Congregational leaders, self-sustaining mission center officers, and life-long learners who wish to explore the interface of world religions, Christian theology, Community of Christ theology, and contemporary culture with an awareness of ethics.

RELG5011 Christian Theology Feb. 28 – April 22, 2011 (online)
An initial exploration of the discipline and methods of theology. The foundational topics of Christian theology are covered including the nature and necessity of the theological task and contemporary understandings of the doctrine of God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, humanity, the church, and Christian hope.

RELG5400 World Religions Feb. 28 – April 22, 2011 (online)
An exploration of the major religions of the world, along with their antecedent primal and ancient religious traditions. Special emphasis will be given to doctrine, polity, sacred literature, history, rituals, spiritual practices and worship, and the ethical and moral belief structures of the world faiths.

RELG5320 Community of Christ Theology May 16 – July 1, 2011 (3-1-3)
Explores the main themes, key issues, and seminal thinkers in RLDS/Community of Christ theology. We will approach the topic from two angles: historically and systematically. Our historical exploration will trace how Restoration theology has continually developed in response to the intellectual, social, and cultural challenges of each age. Our systematic exploration will attempt to understand what has been believed, taught, and confessed by the Community of Christ at different points in its history. We will focus considerable attention on (1) the issue of denominational “distinctiveness,” (2) the relationship of the RLDS church/Community of Christ to its early Latter Day saint roots and to the wider Christian tradition, (3) how the church’s encounter with modernity and postmodernity continues to reshape and redefine its theology, and (4) future directions of Community of Christ theology.

RELG6240 Contemporary Culture January - February 2012 (Specific dates TBA) (3-1-3)
An examination of the nature and implications of current issues and practices found in major world cultures with emphasis on their impact on Christian ministry, particularly ecumenical and intercultural ministry.

RELG5260 Ethics March – May 2012 (Specific dates TBA) (online)
An investigation of traditional ethical theories and an inquiry into means, methods, and appeals of ethical consciousness. In addition, some specific contemporary issues are addressed such as ecology, human sexuality, gender, race and ethnicity, economic justice, and militarism as it relates to the culture of violence.

Foundations of Christian Ministry – Begins August 2011 (Specific dates TBA)
Target Audience: Congregational leaders, self-sustaining mission center officers, and life-long learners who desire greater understanding of the Bible and practical application of that knowledge to improve their preaching.

RELG5020 Hebrew Scriptures I August – October 2011 (online)
A review of the sacred literature of the Hebrews up to the eighth century B.C.E. centered on its covenantal themes. Attention will be given to techniques of exegesis based on the various methods of biblical criticism.

RELG5030 Hebrew Scriptures II October – December 2011 (online)
A review of the sacred literature of the Hebrews from the eighth century B.C.E. to the close of the canon, centered on its covenantal themes. Attention will be given to techniques of exegesis based on the various methods of biblical criticism.

RELG5040 New Testament I January – March 2012 (3-1-3)
A review of the New Testament literature focusing on the gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, centered around its christological themes as they relate to other primary doctrines. Attention will be given to techniques of exegesis based on various methods of biblical criticism.

RELG6220 Preaching January – March 2012 (3-1-3)
Participants will learn to develop and deliver scripture-based sermons through instruction in homiletical theory and practice. Using discussion, lecture, and small group processes, participants will explore fundamental convictions about preaching: preaching as witness, the preaching task, steps in creating a sermon, sermon delivery, the experience of the listener, emotion and imagination in preaching, the vocabulary of faith, spirituality in preaching, and sermon evaluation.

RELG5050 New Testament II May – July 2012 (3-1-3)
A review of the New Testament literature focusing on Paul and the General Epistles, centered around its christological themes as they relate to other primary doctrines. Attention will be given to techniques of exegesis based on various methods of biblical criticism.

Congregational Ministry – January 2012 (Specific dates TBA)
Target Audience: Congregational leaders, self-sustaining mission center officers, and life-long learners who desire to strengthen their understanding of their role as minister in relation to teaching, care of others, and peace & justice making within the contemporary cultural context.

RELG6140 Learning to Teach/Teaching to Learn January – February 2012 (3-1-3)
An exploration of the fundamentals of sound Christian religious education, including developmental issues in faith formation, differences in learning styles, and pedagogical methods that promote transformative learning.

RELG6240 Contemporary Culture January – February 2012 (3-1-3)
An examination of the nature and implications of current issues and practices found in major world cultures with emphasis on their impact on Christian ministry, particularly ecumenical and intercultural ministry.

RELG6111 Specialized Ministry: Peace and Justice May – July 2012 (3-1-3)
Seeks to root peace and justice making in Christian discipleship. Students will be challenged to develop a critical prophetic perspective on human systems and institutions through the integration of resources introduced in this class and their life experience. Students will work toward articulating a thoughtful theology of peace and justice that finds expression in Christian discipleship and congregational expression.

RELG6200 Pastoral Care May – July 2012
An introduction to the theoretical and practical aspects of pastoral care that are required for an effective liberative ministry of nurture, healing, and spiritual growth in the church. Attention will be given to the fundamental theological foundations and of the aims, methods, and resources for pastoral care. A limited practical exposure to the art of counseling will be offered.

RELG5010 Professional Ministerial Issues August – October 2012
An introduction to church polity and the role of the minister with focus on issues central to the identity, functioning, leadership style, administrative skills, spiritual growth and maturity, and ministerial ethics of the minister. Attention is given to the issue of holistic self-care.