About Publications Courses Contact

 

Selected Courses and Descriptions

Introduction to Educational Ministries
PSTH 503

Howard Thurman says, “Practice is theory realizing itself.” This first level course is provides the learner with an introduction to the theory and methodology of Christian Education from a liberation perspective. Christian Education, for the purposes of this course, is the theory and practice (praxis or art) of nurturing faith for the liberation of all oppressed peoples. Praxis is belief set in action. This course leans heavily upon the African-centric notion of ubuntu (“I am because we are.”) as a basis for rekindling Christian community in and beyond the local church.  Education is a practice of freedom and is best accomplished through and with the entire community.

Soul Pedagogy: Teaching for Spiritual Experience
PSTH 624

“We are spirits that matter.” (source unknown) Classrooms are a primary context for teaching Christian faith and tradition in the local church. As such, churches struggle with the predominance of theory over practice and passive learning over active learning – even for those aware of the necessity for germane experiences of spirituality in preparation for effective ministry and discipleship. In this course, we will explore what it means to bring the experience of spirituality into classrooms for the enabling of liberative learning. The aim of the course is to assist teachers and church leaders to become a community of interpretation to expand our collective literacy concerning issues of Christian spirituality and teaching. A primary resource for this course will be the notion of soul as experience of the body. If we teach who we are, the question of “how is it with your soul?” becomes a critical pedagogical question. Our primary questions are: How do we nurture teachers who are smart at their own discipline as well as skilled in discernment, intuition, and wisdom? What does it mean to create classrooms that honor the necessity of both interior and exterior life? 

Reel to Real: Portrayals of Women
PSTH 596/RLSOC 798/WGST 172

Films are powerful purveyors of story which shape, form, and inform the identity of women and their place(s) in society. Movies, while designed for entertainment, provide public discourse about the roles, responsibilities, stereotypes, and contestation of women and their identity. Analyzing film as public discourse affords pedagogical opportunity to engage the complexity of the identities of women in contemporary society while at the same time creating conversation to deconstruct the outdated, outmoded, and dehumanizing images which maintain oppression and misogyny. As cultural critics and theologians (not film critics), we will use archetypes and stereotypes of women to see how these stereotypes are embedded in culture as “truth.” The pivotal question for our discussion is: Upon whose gaze is the identity of women determined and for what gain?

God-Talk with Black Thinkers
PSTH 642/RLSOC 789

The “God Talk” project has been at Drew Theological Seminary since the spring of 2002. The courses are designed to put Drew seminarians and graduate students in dialogue with some of the best theological minds of the 21st century. The project holds in creative tension our seminary’s mission to both educate our students for practical leadership within the local church as well as to educate our students to be theologians in residence with their local church and to the world. The project is an interdisciplinary series of intensive courses taught by the best African-American and African intellectuals from across the country. To date, our students have been exposed to such thinkers as: Delores Williams, Carlyle Fielding Stewart III, Cheryl Kirk-Duggan, Karen Baker-Fletcher, Vincent Harding, Arthur Jones, Ferninand Jones, Gwinyai H. Muzorewa, James Cone, Stacey & Juan Floyd-Thomas, Zan Holmes, Carol Duncan, Alton Pollard, Anthony Pinn, Stephen Ray, Shawn Copeland, Fred Smith, Ronald Peters, Carolyn Medine, Iva Carruthers, Jeremiah Wright, Charles Long, Iva Carruthers and Fareed Munir. This is an intensive experience designed to heal, rekindle and inspire students for more effective leadership.  

Ministry and Imagination: Paradise As A Christian Practice
PASTH 650

Note: This co-taught, intensive, experiential course has a different theme each year.  Some of the past themes have been:
2006 – Creativity, Imagination, and Wonder
2007 – Writing on the Body
2008 – Breath and Life
2009 – Wholly Living, Holy Dying
2010 – Today You Will  Be With Me In Paradise
2011 – And He Descended into Hell
2012 – Filled With the Holy Spirit

2010 Description of “Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise:”
We will gather at an ocean front retreat center to better know (experience and critical reflection: mind, body and spirit) paradise in new and needed ways for more effective Christian leadership. This intensive course, graded only on pass/fail basis, will explore the notion of paradise as a Christian co-taught, spiritual practice, with a focus on humor and ecstasy. An adage about teaching says, “You cannot teach what you do not know.” It is our contention that seminarians must have first-hand experience of and critical reflection of those practices of self-care and wellness that will serve them while pastoring. This course will assist pastors and church leaders with maintaining healthy and vibrant communities who are resilient by being personally better versed and experienced in the goodness of life and living – in the experience of paradise, joy, heaven, rapture, glory, bliss, delight. Previous experience of humor and ecstasy are required.