The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a product of many mergers among Lutherans of various ethnic, racial and theological backgrounds, all of whom were attempting to construct a Lutheran Church which would be effective and responsive to its context in the New World. This course will help students understand both the internal dynamics of American Lutheranism, and the wider context, the landscape in North America, in which Lutheranism now functions. Because they find themselves in a period of transition, challenge or even a survival mode of existence, many congregations today are searching for 'appropriate' evangelism methods and 'effective' mission techniques. This course will consider issues of ecclesiology and church leadership from an ecumenical, sociological, cultural and missional perspective as we respond to the challenge to train 'missionary leaders' who know how to form missional communities capable of reaching out beyond the current confines and traditional boundaries of church life. This course will look at various models of leadership in the church and the world analyzing the Biblical, theological, societal and practical implications and practices.
Special attention is given to the relation between polity, politics, leadership and church life.
Presbyterian students will receive specific assistance in relation to Standard Ordination examinations in Polity and Worship. This course will survey the third New Testament Gospel in its literary, historical, sociological and theological contexts. Particular attention will be given to considering Luke from a variety of interpretive methodologies and to assessing critically different approaches to Luke. The work of Luke as an editor of Mark and the relationship of Luke to its companion volume Acts will also be considered. Theological and pedagogical issues underlying targeting materials to specific developmental levels and to students with special needs will be addressed.