Course Information

Course Description

This course introduces students to the basics of biblical Greek and to the tools necessary for translating and interpreting New Testament Greek texts. Students will start with the Greek alphabet and learn the rudiments of grammar and syntax. They will learn basic vocabulary and develop the ability to parse and to translate simple sentences from the New Testament. 

Professor

Daniel Frayer-Griggs

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course completes the study of introductory Greek grammar, extends vocabulary memorization, and introduces the practice of exegesis. Students will gain skills in interpreting texts by giving attention to their literary, social, historical, and canonical contexts, and by articulating the meaning of these texts as Christian Scripture. Students will also learn to identify appropriate scholarly resources for biblical interpretation.

Professor

Daniel Frayer-Griggs

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course introduces students to the basics of biblical Hebrew and to the tools necessary for translating and interpreting Hebrew texts. Students will learn Hebrew consonants and vowel points and the rudiments of grammar and syntax. They will learn basic vocabulary and begin to translate and interpret simple sentences from the Hebrew Bible. 

Professor

Jerome Creach

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course completes the study of introductory Hebrew grammar and introduces the practice of exegesis. Students will gain skills in interpreting texts by giving attention to their literary, social, historical, and canonical contexts, and by articulating the meaning of these texts as Christian Scripture. Students will also learn to identify appropriate scholarly resources for biblical interpretation. 

Professor

Jerome Creach

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course combines theoretical examinations of intentional faith-based social engagement and ‘real-time’ collective pursuits of such engagement as embodied in large contemporary networks of socially-engaged Christians (requiring pre-approval). The bulk of the course content will derive from student participation in a week-long annual or biannual conference of one of these networks (or of a similar network). An additional layer of theoretical analysis will be provided via course readings that outline tight connections between moral-ethical thought and action

Professor

AnneMarie Mingo

Time

Summer Semester 2026-2027 

• July 7, 2026 - Pre-conference orientation (one 3 hour session - Online)
• July 11-16, 2026 – Urban Immersion and Prathia Hall - Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry in Clinton, Tennessee (In-person requirements include: participation in an urban ministry immersion in the city, attending all seminarian track sessions, main sessions, and PTS recruiting)
• July 21, 2026 – Post-conference reflections (one 3 hour session - Online)
• August 4, 2026 – Final papers/presentations (one 3 hour session - Online)

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course surveys the history of Christianity from the late first century to the eve of the Reformation. Doctrinal and ecclesial developments will be considered within wider cultural contexts, with special attention to different ways of interpreting the biblical witness to Christ and life in Christ, and how they contribute to a shared, yet dynamic, Christian theological heritage.

Professor

Kenneth Woo

Time

Fall Semester 2026, Mondays and Fridays, 10:00-11:15 a.m., In Person

Full Course Description

Course Description

An introduction to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John (with the Johannine Epistles), and Acts showing their significance in the Church and the world today. Special attention is given to the specific content of these books, to their genres and connections with ancient biography or history, to various theological and historical portraits of Jesus, and to the various methods used in critical study of the Gospels.

Professor

Tucker Ferda

Time

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Wednesdays, 8:30-9:15 p.m.,  In Person

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the books of Genesis through Esther. The course will explore factors that gave rise to and helped shape this material, and it will focus on the canonical shape of the books and their contribution to the theology and life of the church.

Professor

Kimberly Russaw

Time

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Tuesdays, 6:30-9:15 a.m., Hybrid

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the books of Genesis through Esther. The course will explore factors that gave rise to and helped shape this material, and it will focus on the canonical shape of the books and their contribution to the theology and life of the church.

Professor

Kimberly Russaw

Time

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Thursdays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., Hybrid

Full Course Description

Course Description

In this course students will be introduced to and practice a variety of spiritual disciplines, grounded in historic Christian spiritual traditions. Students will reflect on their own life of prayer, practice of vocational discernment, and begin developing the skills to lead communal spiritual practices.

This course description applies to both the fall and spring semesters of Spiritual Formation (SP110A and SP110B)—the readings and assignments are spread across two semesters, both of which must be taken for credit.

Professor

L. Roger Owens

Time
SP 110-A1 Spiritual Formation - Odd Weeks Wednesdays, 10:00-11:15 a.m., In Person
SP 110-AH1  Spiritual Formation - Odd Weeks Thursdays, 6:30-7:45 p.m., Hybrid
SP 110-AH2  Spiritual Formation - Odd Weeks Mondays, 8:00-9:15 p.m., Hybrid

Weekend Intensive 
All Sections Week 12 - Sat., Dec. 5, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Online

Full Course Description

Course Description

An introduction to the study of the practices of Christian worship with attention to the ways the Bible, theology, tradition, and context shape what Christian communities do when they gather to worship God. Led by faculty representing a variety of theological disciplines and perspectives, each section of WS 110 considers particular dimensions of Christian worship, promoting theological reflection, historical and socio-cultural awareness, intellectual curiosity, and participation in the worship life of the seminary community and the wider church. The course is also designed to introduce the resources, tools, and skills that contribute to effective written communication at the master's level. 

Professor

Danjuma Gibson

Time

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30-2:45 p.m., In Person

Full Course Description

Course Description

An introduction to the study of the practices of Christian worship with attention to the ways the Bible, theology, tradition, and context shape what Christian communities do when they gather to worship God. Led by faculty representing a variety of theological disciplines and perspectives, each section of WS 110 considers particular dimensions of Christian worship, promoting theological reflection, historical and socio-cultural awareness, intellectual curiosity, and participation in the worship life of the seminary community and the wider church. The course is also designed to introduce the resources, tools, and skills that contribute to effective written communication at the master's level. 

Professor

Angela Hancock

Time

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Wednesdays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., Hybrid

Full Course Description

Course Description

Middler course language option

This course introduces the process of Old Testament exegesis and gives students opportunity to practice exegesis of various Old Testament passages from the English Bible. Students will learn to identify and evaluate the literary, social, historical, and canonical contexts of passages and to articulate the meaning of those passages as Christian Scripture. Students will also learn to identify appropriate scholarly resources for Old Testament interpretation.

Professor

Daniel Frayer-Griggs

Time

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30-9:45 a.m.

Full Course Description

Course Description

Middler required course.

This is the first of two consecutive courses in which students are invited into the postures, habits, and practices of theologically reflective ministry. Interdisciplinary in nature, the course pays particular attention to the integration of student experiences in field placement sites with work in contextual analysis, Christian theology, and pastoral care.

Professor

Times

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Wednesdays, 1:30-4:15 p.m., In Person

Full Course Description - Creach

or

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Tuesdays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., Hybrid

Full Course Description - Smith

Course Description

This course introduces students to the basics of biblical Greek and to the tools necessary for translating and interpreting New Testament Greek texts. Students will start with the Greek alphabet and learn the rudiments of grammar and syntax. They will learn basic vocabulary and develop the ability to parse and to translate simple sentences from the New Testament.

Professor

Tucker Ferda

Time

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:00-1:15 p.m., Hybrid

Full Course Description 

Course Description

This course introduces students to the basics of biblical Hebrew and to the tools necessary for translating and interpreting Hebrew texts. Students will learn Hebrew consonants and vowel points and the rudiments of Hebrew grammar and syntax. Students will learn basic vocabulary and begin to translate and interpret simple sentences from the Hebrew Bible.

Professor

Kimberly Russaw

Time

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30-9:45 a.m., In Person

Full Course Description

Course Description

In this course, students will be introduced to the theology and practice of caring ministry, with special attention to pastoral self-awareness and key relational skills. The course will help students develop their capacity to understand and discern the needs of persons and communities and to determine appropriate responses. Students will also explore the intersection of leadership and care through the study of organizational dynamics and group processes.

Professor

Leanna Fuller

Time

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30-2:45 p.m., In Person
Fall Semester 2026-2027, Mondays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., Hybrid

Full Course Description

Course Description

This is the first of two courses introducing students to Christian doctrine. Students are invited to reflect theologically on the biblical narrative of election, creation, sin, Israel, and Christ's incarnation, death, resurrection and ascension as lifted up in the church's creedal confessions about Trinity and Christ. Attention will be given to how God's being and work draw us into God's mission and give shape to faithful practices and ministry within particular cultural contexts. 

Professor

Edwin van Driel

Time

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Wednesdays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., Hybrid

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course equips students to reflect on the church and its relationship to its various locations, with a particular focus on national and global contexts and issues.  Students will learn to use biblical and theological resources with insight from the social sciences to analyze contexts and to identify and explore ethical issues related to cultural, economic, and social structures in which the church participates in God's mission.

Professor

AnneMarie Mingo

Time

Fall 2026-2027, Thursdays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., In-Person

Full Course Description

Course Description

MTS required course.

This course introduces students to the sources, methods, and bibliographical tools important for academic research and writing in a theological context. Students will gain familiarity with on-campus resources such as the Barbour Library and Center for Writing and Learning Support. Designed to be completed in the first year of one’s program, this course will develop skills in critical analysis as students begin engaging scholarship relevant to completing a research project.

Daniel Frayer-Griggs

Time

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Thursdays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., Online

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course will examine the history, theological focus, and core values that inform ministry in the city. Attention will be given to helping students discern their vocational call in the context of city life and Christian witness in this arena.

Professor

R. Drew Smith

Time

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Wednesdays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., Online

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course offers an academic study of religions believed, expressed, and experienced by African Americans. In this course, students will utilize secondary historical and contemporary sources of African American religious experiences of women and men to chart the history of religions in the African American community. Together we will examine a system of sacred symbols that have been passed down for centuries by African peoples. The course will focus on themes of faith, freedom, uplift, resistance, love, and hope.

This course is an approved elective for the Graduate Certificate in Urban Ministry.

Professor

AnneMarie Mingo

Time

Fall Semester 2026-27, Thursdays  6:30-9:15 p.m., Online

Full Course Description

Course Description

An introduction to John Calvin’s thought in the context of his career as a reformer, with attention to the intellectual background and socio-political realities that shaped his theology. The course will highlight Calvin’s lived experience as a religious refugee whose theology was especially sensitive to the needs of fellow exiles. This course fulfills the Historical Context Elective (HCE) requirement for M.Div. Students.

Professor

Kenneth Woo

Time

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Wednesdays 6:30-9:15pm Online

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course explores the biblical book of Psalms. It considers historical and social settings for the Psalms, but it focuses on literary, theological, and canonical issues. The course gives special attention to the reign of God as the central theological issue in the book and to God’s work for justice as a key feature of God’s reign. The course serves as an elective for the Graduate Certificate in Urban Ministry.

Professor

Jerome Creach

Time

Fall Semester 2026-27, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:00-1:15 p.m., Online

Full Course Description

Course Description

Course Description

A crumbling empire, failing institutions, an aggressive social climate, and a church insure about its future and anxious about the presence of God and the direction of history: this is the context in which St. Augustine wrote his massive The City of God. Retracing the Biblical narrative from creation to eschaton, and engaging topics as diverse as the origin of sin and evil, free will and divine omniscience, the role of states and governments, and the ultimate good and the end of history, Augustine wanted to offer a new direction to his contemporaries, but simultaneously developed a vision on the church and its place in history that throughout the centuries again and again in times of crisis has inspired theologians, philosophers, and politicians. This course introduces students to Augustine’s argument, tracing both its classic nature and its contemporary applications.

Professor

Edwin van Driel

Time

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Mondays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., Online

Full Course Description

Course Description

A study of the Gospel of Matthew – its background, literary structure and techniques, theological concerns, and significance for our situation. The course will emphasize careful reading and seek to place Matthew’s themes in conversation with the larger canonical witness. Students will also learn about diverse approaches to reading Matthew in contemporary secondary literature and throughout the history of interpretation.

Professor

Tucker Ferda

Time

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Tuesdays 6:30-9:15p.m., In Person

Full Course Description

Course Description

This ministry/spirituality course invites close examination of classic and contemporary nonfiction (personal essay, memoir) and poetry that express the life of faith in order to help students grow in their own craft of writing. Students will explore the factors that make for compelling spiritual writing, write and critique each others’ work, and explore the relationship between writing, ministry, and the public expression of faith. Students will also reflect on the place of creative writing in their own ministry vocations.

Professor

L. Roger Owens

Time

Fall Semester 2026-2027, Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:00-1:15 p.m., Online

Full Course Description

Course Description

An introduction to the essential elements of Presbyterian polity (the Book of Order) in light of the confessional and theological foundations (the Book of Confessions) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The course will explore ways an understanding of Presbyterian polity can support, guide, and enhance the practice of ministry in diverse congregational settings. In addition, students will be introduced to basic parliamentary procedure and the role of the moderator in planning and facilitating session meetings. This course is designed to prepare Presbyterian students for the ordination examination in church polity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Professor

Trent Hancock

Time

January 2026, Mondays and Wednesdays 6:30-8:45 p.m., and Saturdays 9:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Online

Full Course Description

Course Description

Intercultural Experiential Learning will be organized around intercultural/experiential learning trips to reflect on hosts’ understanding of their context and the mission of the Church in that context. The course provides pre-experience orientation in cultural competence and anti-racism, intercultural communication, a theology of short-term mission engagement, area studies for the specific context to be studied, and spiritual practices for mission. After the encounters, students will reflect on their experiences and explore personal, cultural, missiological, and theological strategies for leading others in intercultural experiences.

Professors

Hunter Farrell, Emiola Oriola

Time

January 2026

Jan. 5-7, 2026, 5:00-8:00 p.m., In person and Online
Jan. 26-28, 2026, 5:00-8:00 p.m., In person and Online

See January 2026 schedule for dates of specific trips.

Full Course Description

Course Description

Course Description

Year 1 required course.

This course surveys the history of Christianity from the Reformation to the present. Ecclesial and doctrinal developments will be considered with special attention to the different forms that Christian life and thought have taken as the church has entered new cultural contexts and discerned faithfulness to God’s mission.

Professor

Kenneth Woo or Ryan Ramsey

Time

Spring Semester 2025-2026

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00-11:15 a.m, In Person

Mondays and Fridays, 12:00-1:15 p.m, Hybrid

Full Course Description - IP           Full Course Description - Hybrid

Course Description

An introduction to those books of the New Testament associated with the letter-form (the Pauline corpus, Hebrews, the Petrine epistles, Jude and Revelation), showing their significance in the Church and the world today. Special attention is given to the specific content of these books, to their particular genres, to the life and theology of Paul, and to the methods used in the critical study of these books (literary, socio-historical, rhetorical), as well as to the question of pseudepigraphy.

Professor

Rafael Rodriguez

Time

Spring Semester 2025-2026, Wednesdays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., Hybrid

Full Course Description

Course Description

An introduction to the prophetic books (Latter Prophets), Psalter, and Wisdom literature of the Old Testament with an exploration of factors that gave rise to and helped shaped this material. In addition to examining the background of prophecy in the cultures of the ancient Near East, attention is given to the specific content of these books, to the theology of the prophetic books, to the various literary genres (e.g., oracle, hymn, lament), to methods used in the interpretation of Scripture (source, form, redaction, literary, socio-cultural, canonical, and rhetorical criticism), and to the psalms as a product of Israel’s cultic life.

Professor

Jerome Creach

Time

Spring Semester 2025-2026, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30-2:45 p.m., In-Person

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course offers an orientation to the ways anthropological and sociological approaches to the interpretation of culture contribute to theological reflection with and within particular socio-cultural contexts. Focusing on a particular neighborhood and/or institutional environment, students will become familiar with the techniques and develop the skills to critically consider the missiological, theological, and ethical dimensions of a Christian community in relation to the wider society.

Professor

Scott Hagley or Ryan Ramsey

Time

Spring Semester 2025-2026: 
Wednesdays, 1:30-4:15 p.m., In person/Hagley
Tuesdays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., Hybrid/Ramsey

Full Course Description- In person         Full Course Description - Hybrid

Course Description

In this course students will be introduced to and practice a variety of spiritual disciplines, grounded in historic Christian spiritual traditions. Students will reflect on their own life of prayer, practice of vocational discernment, and begin developing the skills to lead communal spiritual practices.

Professor

L. Roger Owens

Time

SP 110B Spiritual Formation - Odd Weeks Wednesday, 10:00-11:15 a.m., In Person
SP 110B-H1 Spiritual Formation - Odd Weeks Monday, 6:30-7:45 p.m., Hybrid
SP 110-B-H2 Spiritual Formation - Odd Weeks Monday, 8:00-9:15 p.m., Hybrid

Weekend Intensive 
All Sections Week 12 - Sat., May 8, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Online 

Full Course Description (All sections)

Course Description

This course introduces the process of New Testament exegesis and gives students the opportunity to practice exegesis of various New Testament passages in the English Bible. Students will learn to identify and evaluate the literary, social, historical, and canonical contexts of passages and to articulate a faithful interpretation of the meanings of those passages as Christian Scripture. Students will also learn to identify reliable and appropriate scholarly resources for New Testament interpretation.

This course fulfills the language requirement for students who do not take Greek or Hebrew.

Professor

Daniel Frayer-Griggs

Time

Spring Semester 2025-2026, Wednesdays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., Hybrid

Full Course Description

Course Description

This is the first of two consecutive courses in which students are invited into the postures, habits, and practices of theologically reflective ministry. Interdisciplinary in nature, the course pays particular attention to the integration of student experiences in field placement sites with work in contextual analysis, Christian theology, and pastoral care.

Students will register for the same group they were part of in the fall (FE210-H).

Professor

Kenneth Woo or L. Roger Owens

Times

Spring Semester 2025-2026, Wednesdays, 1:30-4:15 p.m., In Person, Woo
or
Spring Semester 2025-2026, Tuesdays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., Hybrid, Owens

Full Course Description - Woo

Full Course Description - Owens

Course Description

This course explores biblical, theological, and historical understandings of Christian mission and evangelism with a view toward practices for leading the church to discern and participate in God’s mission within particular contexts.

Professor

Scott Hagley

Time

Spring Semester 2025-2026, Thursdays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., Hybrid

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course completes the study of introductory Greek grammar, extends vocabulary memorization, and introduces the practice of exegesis. Students will gain skills in interpreting texts by giving attention to their literary, social, historical, and canonical contexts, and by articulating the meaning of these texts as Christian Scripture. Students will also learn to identify appropriate scholarly resources for biblical interpretation.

Professor

Rafael Rodriguez

Time

Spring Semester 2025-2026, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30-9:45 a.m., In person

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course completes the study of introductory Hebrew grammar and introduces the practice of exegesis. Students will gain skills in interpreting texts by giving attention to their literary, social, historical, and canonical contexts, and by articulating the interpretation of these texts as Christian Scripture. Students will also learn to identify appropriate scholarly resources for biblical interpretation.

Professor

Jerome Creach

Time

Spring Semester 2025-2026, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30-9:45 a.m., In-Person

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course introduces students to the theology and practice of preaching, with attention to the performative skills involved in effective communication in ministry settings. Topics include: the oral interpretation of Scripture, biblical exegesis for proclamation, the role of culture and context in preaching, the structure and rhetoric of sermons, and the non-verbal dimensions of communication.

Professor

Jennifer Carner or Angela Hancock

Time

Spring Semester 2025-2026
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00-11:15 a.m., In person
Mondays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., Hybrid

Full Course Description (Both Sections)

Course Description

Senior required course.

This is the second of two courses introducing students to Christian doctrine. Students are invited to reflect theologically on the biblical narrative of God’s gifts through the Spirit of the risen Christ, including justification, sanctification, vocation, the church, the sacraments, and the eschatological consummation of God’s reign, as lifted up in the church’s creedal confessions. Attention will be given to how God’s being and work draw us into God’s mission and give shape to faithful practices and ministry within particular cultural contexts. 

Professor

Edwin Van Driel

Time

Spring Semester 2025-2026, Mondays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., Hybrid

Spring Semester 2025-2026, Tuesdays, 1:30-4:15 p.m., In-Person

Full Course Description (Both Sections)

Prerequisites

Successful completion of an introductory course such as Genesis through Esther (OT 110), Prophets, Psalms, and Wisdom Literature (OT 120), Gospels, Acts, and Johannine Epistles (NT 110), or New Testament Letters and Apocalypse (NT 120), or permission from the professor.

Course Description 

Methods of Biblical Interpretation is a 3-credit-hour elective course that offers students an opportunity to develop an understanding of biblical exegesis.  Students examine the principles, methods, and tools used in the critical study of the Bible, including form, historical-critical, ideological, narrative, womanist, queer, and other exegetical methods.  This course relies heavily upon students’ close reading of both scholarly writings and biblical passages to consider how exegetical methods answer particular questions about the Bible, its context, and its audience.

Professor

Kimberly Russaw

Time

Spring Semester 2025-2026: Wednesdays, 6:30-9:15 p.m.

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course combines theoretical examinations of intentional faith-based social engagement and ‘real-time’ collective pursuits of such engagement as embodied in large contemporary networks of socially-engaged Christians (requiring pre-approval). The bulk of the course content will derive from student participation in a week-long annual or biannual conference of one of these networks (or of a similar network). An additional layer of theoretical analysis will be provided via course readings that outline tight connections between moral-ethical thought and action

Professor

AnneMarie Mingo

Time

Spring Semester 2025-2026 

     Feb. 17, 2026 – Pre-conference orientation (one 3 hour session - online)
     Feb. 21-26, 2026 – Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference in Chicago (in-person – requirements include: participation in an urban ministry immersion in the                                         city, attending all seminarian track sessions, main sessions, and recruiting at the PTS table)
    March 3, 2026 – Post-conference reflections (one 3 hour session - online)
    March 17, 2026 – Final papers/presentations (one 3 hour session - online)

Full Course Description

Course Description

The Pittsburgh Metropolitan region has embodied in important ways America’s early settler adventures, difficult race relations, industrial revolution, labor strife, urban decline and redevelopment, and an evolving religious culture. Utilizing historical, sociological, and theological readings as well as lectures from key, local experts and informants, the course explores Pittsburgh’s metropolitan ethos and the role of churches in the formation and maintenance of metro-Pittsburgh’s social and religious culture. Observational and analytical tools acquired in this course will readily transfer to interpretation and analysis of local social and religious contexts beyond the metro-Pittsburgh context.

This course is required for the Graduate Certificate in Urban Ministry.

Professor

Charles Gilmer

Time

Spring Semester 2025-2026, Wednesdays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., Online

Full Course Description 

Course Description

This course will engage in a careful study of the Gospel of John, emphasizing its backgrounds, narrative techniques and structure, and theological concerns. Students will consider the Fourth Gospel in relation and contrast to the synoptics, while we explore its importance for Christian theology. We will also critically engage the book’s representation of Judaism, particularly considering its reception history. The course will proceed by means of lectures and in-class discussions. Greek is not required but will be very helpful.

Professor

Daniel Frayer-Griggs

Time

Spring Semester 2025-2026, Mondays and Fridays, 12:00-1:15 p.m., Online

Full Course Description

Prerequisite

Successful completion of an introductory course such as Genesis through Esther (OT 110), Prophets, Psalms, and Wisdom Literature (OT 120), Gospels, Acts, and Johannine Epistles (NT 110), or New Testament Letters and Apocalypse (NT 120), or permission from the professor.

Course Description

Building on a general knowledge of the Historical Books and a survey of the book of Judges, The Book of Judges is a one-semester, three-credit-hour elective course that enables students to examine the book’s content and engage the critical scholarship associated with its study.  This course relies heavily upon students’ close reading of both biblical passages and scholarly writings to scrutinize how factors such as methodological approaches, socio-historical contexts, and individual or community urgencies collaborate to produce various understandings of the content of the book of Judges.  The Book of Judges is designed to help students draw on a specific book of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament as a conversation partner in helping interpret God’s presence in the world. 

Professor

Kimberly Russaw

Times

Spring Semester 2025-2026, Thursdays, 1:30-4:15 p.m. Online

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course explores theories and practices related to providing pastoral care to persons coping with death, loss, grief, and transition. Students will also engage biblical, theological, and spiritual resources as frameworks for understanding the nature and role of transformation within experiences of transition and loss.

Professor

Leanna Fuller

Time

Spring Semester 2025-2026 Tuesdays, 1:30-4:15 p.m., In person

Full Course Description

NOTE: This course is an approved elective for the Graduate Certificate in Urban Ministry.

Course Description

This course explores the communal, intercultural, and systemic contexts of caring practices and the links between justice-making and pastoral care. In this course students will consider the ways in which communal dynamics such as injustice, exclusion, and conflict may shape individual experiences of suffering, both in congregations and in the communities of which they are a part.

Professor

Leanna Fuller

Time

Spring Semester 2025-205, Tuesdays 6:30-9:15 p.m., Online

Full Course Description

Course Description

This course exposes students to practical theology in the age of authoritarianism. By engaging with case studies from around the world that highlight the experience of Christians and faith communities being forced to exist under authoritarian rule.Students will develop skills in using practical theological methodology to examine context and social location for the purpose of imagining and constructing a liberative praxis that promotes faithful Christian living in response to authoritarian ideology.

Professor

Danjuma Gibson

Time

Spring Semester, Wednesdays, 8:30-11:15 a.m.

Full Course Description