Mission Studies

• STH TM 808: Three Missionary Faiths (Buddhism, Christianity, Islam) and Their Importance for Global Development
  The terms "missionary" and "development" often prompt images of Western Christians working away from home. Much has been written about European colonial era missionaries and Western-led interventions around the world. But Christianity is not the only missionary world religion nor do modern development efforts fall within the sole purview of Western powers. This course will examine the missionary nature of Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam and consider the ways in which all three faiths think about engagement with the world in an era of climate change, resource wars, and global economic inequity. Using an inter-disciplinary approach that examines religious adherents' worldviews the course will concentrate on how the thinking patterns of followers of these three faith traditions translate into actions. We will also reflect on the ways in which the modern development enterprise itself exhibits missionary characteristics. Particular attention will go towards contexts in which interactions among the religious traditions and secular development interventions are taking place. Guest speakers, site visits, and multimedia presentations will complement reading assignments and classroom discussions.
• STH TM 815: The Debate over Modern Mission
  Exploration of biblical, historical, theological, political, and cultural perspectives on the world mission of the church. This course is a requirement for United Methodist MDiv students pursuing ordination in the United Methodist Church. STH TM815 is the course that meets the mission ordination requirements for MDiv students.
• STH TM 846: Religion and Society in East Asia
  Comparative and historical study of the interaction of religion and society in East Asia. Particular attention to the relation of Christianity with the Asian religions and the role of religion in modernization.
• STH TM 848: Emergence of Christianity as a Global Movement
  Historical development of world Christianity. Emphasis on social, cultural, spiritual, and political issues in African, Asian and Latin American Christianity in the nineteenth through twenty-first centuries. Also offered as STH TH 848.
• STH TM 853: Mission Enacted: Working with Faith-Based and International Non-Governmental Organizations
  This course will cover some important theoretical and practical issues related to cross-cultural non-governmental and faith-based service work. It will be structured according to formats commonly used in grant proposal writing and, as students learn to write their own proposals, they will also be encouraged to think critically about values and assumptions that undergird the systems and structures of such service work as currently envisioned and practiced. Case studies, guest speakers, and multimedia offerings will enrich the context.
• STH TM 856: Women in Mission and World Christianity
  History of Christian women in diakonia and mission outreach, including gender issues in mission and non-western Christianity today. Also offered as STH TM 848. Robert.
• STH TM 857: TM857: Theologies of Mission and Development for a Globalized Era
  This interdisciplinary course will look at two terms that are very important to contemporary experience but that often create cross-cultural confusion. Moving beyond thinking of "mission" just as service and/or evangelism and "development" in a materialist, industrial sense, we will attempt to create new awareness suitable for an era of climate change, economic inequity, and resource wars. Guiding our analysis will be information from worldviews that do not see things as split into sacred and secular realms. Self-reflection will go into the historically dominant role of the United States and American Christianity in forming current policies and practices and we will consider what alternative views might mean for the world's future.
• STH TM 860: African Traditional Religions
  African traditional religions are considered in light of other primal religions, their significance in contemporary society, liberation struggles, and environmental endeavors. The course also analyzes the African traditional religions?Christian encounter, with a view towards the dynamics of conversion and Christian contextualization. Finally, the development of the theology of religions in African Initiated Churches is considered. Also offered as TM 960 for doctoral students.
• STH TM 863: African Christianity
  Seminar exploring African Christian theologies and cultural issues, with special emphasis on Southern Africa. The course covers such themes as the nature of God, the problem of evil, environmentalism, gender, and indigenous churches. Also offered as STH TM 963 for doctoral students.
• STH TM 910: History of Christian Mission
  A seminar in the history of Christian missions, from the early church to the present. Issues of historiography, method, and the emergence of non-western church history. Required course for doctoral students in mission studies.
• STH TM 930: History of Missiology
  Seminar on the classic Protestant mission theorists of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Required for doctoral students in mission studies.
• STH TM 931: Readings in Contemporary Missiology
  Readings and discussions of important works in missiology from the 1960?s to the present. This course begins where TH/TM 930 ends. Required for doctoral students in mission studies
• STH TM 960: African Traditional Religions
  African traditional religions are considered in light of other primal religions, their significance in contemporary society, liberation struggles, and environmental endeavors. The course also analyzes the African traditional religions?Christian encounter, with a view towards the dynamics of conversion and Christian contextualization. Finally, the development of the theology of religions in African Initiated Churches is considered. Also offered as TM 860 for masters students.

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