The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia

Explores methods of teaching in higher education settings, such as colleges and seminaries. Prepares students for teaching assistant responsibilities that are a required part of the PhD program. Three follow-up observations with written reports will occur throughout the rest of the first and the second years. Open only to students in the PhD program.

A seminar for DMin students in which case studies are used to explore theological and pastoral issues in ministry

What are the markers of hospitality and hostility around the sacraments? What does the rite of baptism have to do with issues of health, ecology, inclusion, justice and the poor? How is the celebration of the Eucharist associated with notions of international power, race, land/food, world migration and non-documented immigrants in US? This course seeks to
help students to become aware of philosophical, social, political, racial, class, and sexual references that mark the Christian faith but usually go unnoticed in the theological thinking and the liturgical practices of the sacraments. In order to do that, this course intends to offer tools for the students to make connections between the sacraments and historical
processes of globalization, under the rubrics of hospitality

This course will examine the Old Testament prophets and, more generally, the phenomenon of biblical prophecy, including popular attempts to use the prophetic material for end-of-world predictions. To organize our study, we will make use of three main rubrics: 1) The Good—prophetic teachings and experiences of God’s mercy, compassion,
salvation, and justice; 2) The Bad—prophetic teachings and experiences of God’s judgment, discipline, punishment, and rejection; and 3) The Ugly—prophetic use of the metaphors which depicts God as an avenging rapist/abuser of “His” wife, Israel/Judah/Jerusalem. Throughout the course we will attend to how these texts have been used in misguided and
hurtful ways, and particularly, how we might instead teach and preach them helpfully and well in congregational settings.

An examination of the particular contribution that Lutheran hymns and songs have made to the history, theology, and music of the Church. Attention will be given to the historical origins of such hymns, to the development of the chorale, and to contemporary congregational singing. Free elective.

A course for students who have covered the basics of preparing and delivering a sermon through coursework, but who want to learn how to make a good sermon a great sermon. We will address new methods of sermon delivery (especially the paperless or near-paperless pulpit), creative use of story and image, paying attention to the context of the listeners, and acquiring the skills required to take a sermon to the next level. Preaching and storytelling assignments will augment the interactive nature of this course. (Pre-requisite: Homiletics.) Enrollment limited to 15. Free elective.

The purpose of this course is to identify and study some of the major issues that emerge from the permeation of the gospel in various cultural contexts in different parts of the world. Recognizing the complex political, social and cultural realities that characterize different geographical contexts, the course will examine how the presentation of the gospel
transformed such contexts and assess the implications of such transformation. The course will examine issues regarding the gospel and multifaith realities and seek to draw out consequences for the mission and ministry of the church today. MDiv global option, MAR global/ecumenical/interfaith option, or free elective. May additionally be used toward the Multicultural Ministry concentration. Course may be repeated for credit.

This course seeks not only to analyze the history and background of the search for ecumenical understanding among the churches, but also address the challenges and opportunities regarding the possibilities for unity and concord among the churches today. Focusing on the work of the World Council of Churches, we will examine the quest for unity among
the Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant and Pentecostal confessional families; understandings of worship and the sacraments; interfaith relationships and the unity of humankind; gospel and cultures; mission and conversion; and justice, peace and the integrity of creation. MDiv ecumenical option, MAR global/ecumenical/interfaith option, or free elective.

An exploration of the poetry and theology of the Psalms and their relevance for Christian ministries, emphasizing careful studies of Psalm texts as well as comparison with other poetic texts within the Hebrew Bible, and later texts in the Psalms tradition (Apocrypha, Qumran, New Testament, Christian liturgy and hymnody). Pre-requisite: Old Testament or instructor permission. Biblical or free elective.