IN481/581D: THEOLOGY OF MISSION AND EVANGELISM
Instructor: Bonnie Sue Lewis
3 credits; letter grade only; core requirement for M.Div.

Course Description
This is the first of three required mission/evangelism courses for fulfillment of the M.Div. It is 3 credits, letter grade only. This course orients mission in the very heart of our missional God and as the very essence of the Church and of every local congregation. It will focus on the Triune God as a missionary God, the congregation as hermeneutic of the Gospel, and on changing paradigms of mission that influence how we do evangelism in today’s post-modern, post-Christendom, pluralistic society. Thus, evangelism and mission are grounded in a missiological ecclesiology.

Course Objectives

1. To identify major trends and structures in mission history and their significance for the church universal.
2. To identify methods of cross-cultural transmission and transformation of Christian faith in the history of the missionary movement.
3. To recognize the changing context of world mission and its implications for mission structures and evangelistic strategies today.
4. To identify and strengthen pastoral responses to changing mission contexts of today.

M. Div. Curricular Goals

1. Be formed by, live in, and minister out of Scripture and the historical and theological tradition of the Church.
2. Evangelize the world with faithfulness and contextual sensitivity.
3. Lead and nurture congregations to promote peace and justice in the public arena and encourage the witness and service of the church in mission to the world.
4. Integrate theology and practice in all areas of life and ministry.

Requirements

1. Class Preparation and Participation – students must adequately demonstrate their understanding of the assigned reading material by submitting one-page written responses to weekly discussion questions.
2. Three position papers will be assigned (5-7 pages, typed, double-spaced).

Bibliography (Tentative)

• William Abraham, The Logic of Evangelism
• Samuel Escobar, The New Global Mission
• Lesslie Newbigin, The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission
• Martha Grace Reese, Unbinding the Gospel: Real Life Evangelism
• Dana Robert, Christian Mission: How Christianity became a World Religion
• Lamin Sanneh, Whose Religion is It? The Gospel beyond the West
• Plus - Selected Articles

The purpose of this Introduction to Online Learning course is to introduce you to the online learning system used by The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. When you have completed the course, you will be equipped to use our UDTSlearning platform for our lay education / training for lay pastors online courses.