DESCRIPTION:

This is a doctoral seminar for Th.M. and Ph.D. students into which a limited number of M.A. and M.Div. students will be admitted. The seminar will explore evangelism as an academic discipline. As such it will consider such matters as research methods appropriate to an interdisciplinary subject; key issues in the areas of theology, history, and biblical studies; the use of the social sciences; and various movements and approaches to evangelism. The aim of the course is to understand how to do research in evangelism with the intention of enriching and correcting the practice of evangelism as well as developing new and creative ways of doing evangelism.

The practice of evangelism is often guided more by pragmatic issues (what seems to work) than a theoretical understanding (what does the Bible, history, and theology say). As a result the ministry of evangelism has a checkered history in which coercive practices and cultural paradigms are all too present. For the church to invigorate constantly its practice of evangelism it needs thoughtful practitioners who are able to explore the issues carefully.

The class will consist of some lecture, student presentations by the Th.M./Ph.D. students, discussion, case studies, and inter-active dialogue. The seminar will meet weekly for a two-hour session.

Brueggemann, Walter. Biblical Perspectives on Evangelism: Living in a Three-Storied Universe. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1993

Guder, Darrell. The Continuing Conversion of the Church. Eerdmans, 2000.

Guder, Darrell, ed. Missional Church. Eerdmans, 1998.

Klaiber, Walter. Call & Response: Biblical Foundations of a Theology of Evangelism. Abingdon, 1997.

Kraft, Charles H. Communication Theory for Christian Witness. Rev. ed. Orbis Books, 1983, 1991.

Kreider, Alan. The Change of Conversion and the Origin of Christendom. Trinity Press, 1999.

Richardson, Rick. Evangelism Outside the Box: New Ways to Help People Experience the Good News. InterVarsity Press, 2000.

Rudnick, Milton. Speaking the Gospel Through the Ages: A History of Evangelism. Concordia, 1984.

Salter, Darius. American Evangelism: Its Theology and Practice. Baker,1996.

Wuthnow, Robert. After Heaven: Spirituality in America since the 1950s. University of California, 1998.

It is expected that each student will read the required books and be prepared to participate in the classroom discussion and exercises. EV522 students will read 1500 pages and write a 20 page research paper. EV822 students will read 3000 pages (required books plus materials from the bibliography) and write a 40 page research paper. Students are also expected to prepare and present a seminar.

For master's level students: Permission of the Instructor.