A Classic Theological Curriculum

Introductory Remarks

Having worked over many years in theological education in Africa, Europe, and the United States, I have often been involved in discussions about theological curricula.  I am placing here my view of what should constitute a classic theological curriculum from an orthodox, Evangelical perspective.

Little commentary will be offered, but a few introductory remarks seem necessary.  First, this is proposed for a more British or European approach than an American approach to theological education.  One reason for this is that many countries follow the former model, with its theological training at the bachelor's level rather than the master's level and with a three rather than four-year undergraduate degree.  A further reason for this is that the luxury of an education in most parts of the world cannot dream of a four year undergraduate degree in any subject followed by another three years of a taught master's degree such as the Master of Divinity.  One will find American-based four-year theology degrees in Africa, but this is uneconomical in both time and money.  It is, frankly, uneconomical in America today.  The demise of Bible colleges in America and the increasing control of curricula by the academy rather than the Church has not proved to be successful past the 1980s.

A second introductory remark is needed.  The proposal in this curriculum has to do with a mix of both a classic theology curriculum emphasising content and a pastoral training in practice.  Too often, the weight in ministerial training has fallen on the side of academic study, to the detriment of preparing people for ministry.  The academy governs the curriculum, and the church or denomination is left to provide most of the actual training a new minister needs.  The answer is not one or the other but both.  Nothing is more practical than a solid grounding in Biblical interpretation and theological understanding.  I am convinced that classroom training for ministry practice is far weaker than learning through practice.

Further on this matter, I have often said to colleagues that, if the centre of gravity of the Church has moved to be somewhere in Africa rather than Europe (or the West), then Africa had better be trained in Biblical interpretation and Christian theology.  Knowing and being able to interpret the Scriptures is the fundamental part of theological education, followed closely with training in the theology of the Church.  Such a statement is unapologetically Protestant and Evangelical, although I would suggest that Protestantism and Evangelicalism have in large part rejected their own heritage in this regard and need to recover it.  

In our day, what we often get is a dumbing down of the curriculum, whether because students have not been adequately trained at the high school level or because they are thought to need a more practical course of study.  In non-Western contexts, the argument is often added that something more practical and contextual is needed, as though the Church is a product of the context more than of its historical faith and authoritative Scriptures.  In the West, where students are ill-prepared for academic work in high schools and now colleges, and where 'truth' is understood more locally and functionally, the preference for a non-classical education is noticeable in curricula.  

Some have introduced culture into such a discussion, saying that learning styles are different and should be affirmed in the theological curriculum.  The truth is that education is enculturation.  The girl from Norwich who is sent up to Oxford for her three-year bachelor's degree returns home with a different accent, let alone whatever she has learned.  Education is enculturation, and the question is, 'What sort of culture do we want to teach this group of students?'  A curriculum that does not form students but that just dumps an education into their heads is a failed curriculum.  So much of the failure of the Church in the West has to do with affirming identities rather than educating students in their identity and with accommodations to culture rather than passing on the faith.  These Western failures should not be passed on to the Church in Africa, whether it be Western culture or African culture governing the curriculum.  What is needed is the culture of the Church and all that it requires to be formed as Christians and as ministers.

A third introductory remark is simply that the proposed curriculum is basic and can be altered in various ways.  I have suggested a certification approach in which students are certified in three areas of theological education and ministry.  One could mix these three certificates or teach them one by one.  I have also included a fourth year Bachelor of Theology Honours degree that could stand alone or be integrated with the three-year degree.  Some course substitutions could be made, but the main point of this proposal is to put these particular courses together.  The progression of courses within a certificate, and the possible progression of study if the certificates are mixed, is the sort of detail that a faculty would need to determine for itself.  I would advocate different approaches for different contexts and student populations.  One thing I would say, though, is that theological training should be careful to integrate classroom study with practical ministry experience.  I could see an entire practical training programme running alongside the academic, not just alongside the ministry certificate.

Finally, I have offered two possibilities for a masters' degree.  The reason for including the masters degree options, as well as the B.Th., Honours, is that one has to understand how the part relates to the whole.  The B.Th. degree will need to suffice for most students as their theological education and ministerial training, but it will also need to suffice for students who will continue their studies.

My hope is that, as others do what I have been doing for over thirty years--discussing theological curriculum--this proposal will generate the discussion needed.

B.A. Curriculum

The BTh is offered in three certificate areas.  Students can proceed in all three areas at the same time (recommended).  Each certificate comprises 10 modules.  A fourth year comprises BTh. Honours and is a bridge to further study at the Masters Level.

Certificate in Biblical Studies

The Story of the Bible (a Bible Survey module)
Interpreting the Bible
Pentateuch	Gospels
Historical Books	Paul
Prophets	General Epistles
Psalms and Wisdom Literature
Biblical Theology

 

Certificate in Theology

The Christian Faith (a Theology Survey module) I Doctrines of Scripture, Trinity, Christology, Pneumatology

The Christian Faith (a Theology Survey module) II Doctrines of Soteriology, Ecclesiology, Eschatology

Biblical and Christian Ethics

Patristic History and Theology

Medieval History and Theology

Reformation History and Theology

Post-Reformation History and Theology

Theological and Ethical Issues Facing the Church Today

Missional and Ministerial Issues Facing the Church Today

 

Certificate in Mission and Ministry

Some modules are offered with practica.  Note that communication (preaching and teaching) is spread out throughout the certificate rather than put into one or two stand-alone courses.  Students should be preaching and/or teaching regularly in the programme.

Didactic Content	Practica
The Life of the Believer (A Survey of the Life of a Follower of Jesus Christ)	Spiritual Disciplines
History and Theology of Christian Ministry and Mission
Denominational Distinctives (including polity, liturgy for your denomination)
Evangelism and Apologetics	Proclaiming Christian Faith (including preaching)
Church Planting	Church Planting Ministry (including preaching and teaching)
Worship	Worship Practicum (including preaching)
Ministry in the Local Church (children, youth, singles, married, elderly; teaching and preaching; finances)	Ministry Practicum (including teaching)
Church and Culture
Ministry of the Church in the World	Serving the Wider Community Practicum
Religions
Pastoral Care and Counselling	Pastoral Care and Counselling Practicum

 

B.Th., Honours (4^th Year)

The language modules, interpreting the Bible module, and exegesis modules can be taken in lieu of the Certificate in Biblical Studies.  This would allow a student to proceed to the masters level without the bridge course of a B.Th. Honours.  These modules would need to be spread out during the first 3 years.  

The assumption here is that theological studies rests on Biblical authority, content, and interpretation, and so a bridge course needs this Biblical studies focus.  A student in theology, ministry, etc. at the next level will need this foundation in Bible.

Greek I

Greek II

Hebrew I

Hebrew II

Interpreting the Bible with Biblical Languages and in Historical-Cultural Context

Exegesis in the Pentateuch

Exegesis in the Prophets

Exegesis in the Gospels

Exegesis in the Epistles

Biblical Theology and Ethics

 

Masters Degree

The masters degree is offered either as a taught masters in 1 year full-time or as a research masters in 1 year full-time.

The taught masters degree involves mastery of subject areas and work in primary sources.  Each module combines study in Old Testament, New Testament, Church History, and Theology.  Each module also involves a ministry practicum.

Didactic	Practica
The Gospel	Evangelism and Preaching
Christology	Teaching a course on Jesus/Christology
Soteriology	Teaching a course on Salvation
Pneumatology	Individual or Cohort Spiritual Retreat
Ecclesiology	Ministry in a local Church
Missions	Ministry in Church Planting, Bible Translation, Cross-Cultural Teaching of Bible/Theology, Engagement with other religion/s
Christian Relief and Development	Work with a Christian Relief/Development Ministry
Local Church Ministry I (different age groups)	Practicum in this area
Local Church Ministry II (worship, business)	Practicum in this area
Guided Research in a Subject

 

The research masters degree may be completed in one of the following fields, given the prior preparation of students to a high standard and the availability of supervisors:

·       Old Testament
·       New Testament
·       Bible
·       Theology
·       Church History
·       Ethics
·       Missions

·       Ministry