THE 614: Contemporary Issues in Theology (3 hours)

Course Purpose: The purpose of this course is to introduce students to specific and current
scholarly and intellectual discourses in African academic theology and intellectual life.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course the student will be able to:
1. Describe select contemporary movements or issues within current African theological
conversations in the academy
2. Critically evaluate these movements or issues (including their methods, presuppositions,
and conclusions) biblically and theologically based on evangelical presuppositions
3. Articulate the contributions of major proponents of these movements or issues and
evaluate them
4. Identify strengths within these movements or issues that they can learn from for the sake
of their ministry and personal growth

Course Content: This course is designed to allow different lecturers to teach in their areas of
expertise within the area of contemporary issues and movements in theology, especially within
Africa. The lecturer may choose to focus on some or all of the following: Correlation Theology,
Neo-Orthodox Theology, Open Theism, Process Theology, Ecumenical Theology, Feminist
Theology, recent forms of Black/Liberation Theology, Post-liberal Theology, Postcolonial
Theology, Reconstruction Theology, and recent developments in Roman Catholic Thought. The
issues/trends covered will be studied in depth by reading the works of their advocates, followed
by careful critique from an evangelical perspective to learn from their strengths and weaknesses.

Mode of Delivery: Student presentations, lecture, peer evaluation, readings from selected texts
and journal articles, group discussions

Instructional Materials/Equipment: Textbooks and articles, whiteboard, class notes

Course Assessment:
Article reviews: The student will be required to summarize five journal articles addressing
different contemporary trends in theology, giving a theological evaluation of each. 20%
Research paper: The student is required to write a research paper of at least 20 pages on any
contemporary issue of their choice. This should include a careful biblical and theological critique
of the writings of the primary proponents and of the issue as a whole. It is expected that the
student will read at least 400 pages on the issue. 50%
Final exam: 30%

Core Reading Materials:

Schwarz, Hans. Theology in a Global Context: The Last Two Hundred Years. Grand Rapids, MI:
William B. Eerdmans Publishing House, 2005.
Grenz, Stanley J. & John R. Francke., Eds. Beyond Foundationalism: Shaping Theology in a
Postmodern Context. London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001.

Recommended Reference Materials:

Anderson, William P. and Richard L. Dielslin, eds. A Journey through Christian Theology: With
Texts from the First to the Twenty –First Century. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress,
2000.
Cone, James H. The Cross and the Lynching Tree. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2011.
Dyrness, William A. Learning About Theology from the Third World. Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1990.
Edwards, D. Ecology at the Heart of Faith. Maryknoll, N.Y: Orbis Books, 2006.
Ford, D. F.  The Modern Theologians. Cambridge: Blackwell, 1997.
Healey, Donald Sybertz, ed. Towards an African Narrative Theology. Nairobi, Kenya: Paulines
Publications, 2005.
Hughes, Edgcumbre Philip. Creative Minds in Contemporary Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.
B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1966.
Marks, Darren C. (ed). Shaping a global theological mind, Aldershot, England; Burlington, VT:
Ashgate Pub., 2008.
McGrath, Alister E., Duncan Forrester, et.al. The Blackwell Encyclopedia Modern Christian
Thought. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, Ltd. 2006.
Parratt, John. An Introduction to Third World Theologies. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 2004.
Pearcy, Nancy: Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity. Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2008.
Porterfield, Amanda. “Feminist Theology as Revitalization Movement.” The Sociological
Analysis. Vol. 48, No.3 (Autumn 1987), pp. 234-244. Oxford University Press.
Rauschenbush, Walter. A Theology for the Social Gospel Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 1996.
Rissler, James D. “Open Theism: Does God Risk or Hope?” in Religious Studies, Vol. 42, No.1
(March, 2006), pp. 63-74. Cambridge University Press.
Ruether, R. Feminist Theologies: Legacy and Prospect. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 2007.
Sobrino, Jon. No Salvation Outside the Poor: Prophetic-Utopian Essays. Maryknoll: Orbis
Books, 2008.
Wa Said, Dibiga “An African Theology of Decolonization” in The Harvard Theological Review.
Vol. 64, No. 4 Theology and Black Consciousness (Oct., 1971), pp. 501-524.