GTUS Courses (2010-2011)

Fall 2010

SCUPE S-H 307: Eco-Justice: A Vision for a Sustainable City  
The church has a significant role in developing a holistic vision for a sustainable city as an outworking of the concept of shalom, a just peace.  The course will evaluate the three components of sustainable community development: the three E’s of economics, environment and equity (or social justice).  Participants will explore the course topic via readings, panel discussions and site visits.  Students will have the option of exploring key issues such as energy policy, food production, environ-mental justice and pollution and how these challenges relate to the central course themes.  Central to the course is the question, “What does it mean to be a sustainable urban community?”
Credit:  3 semester hours
Faculty: Dr. Clinton Stockwell
Course Schedule: October 1-2; 15-16 and 22-23 (Fridays 1-9 p.m., Saturdays 9am-5pm) 

SCUPE  S-H 303: Public Issues in Urban Ministry
For those living in major metropolitan areas, there are critical issues affecting the quality of life. This course provides an in-depth examination of the believer’s role as an agent of social analysis, public theology and a leader in transformational ministry, specifically in relation to the public realities of city life.
Credit:  3 semester hours
Faculty: Dr. Ron Peters
Course Schedule: Nov. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 (Fridays 1-9pm; Saturdays 9am-5pm)
RSS Religion in Society Studies

Winter/ Spring 2011

SCUPE M 305: Dimensions and Dynamics of Urban Ministry
Organized as a sequence of city-wide experiential learning opportunities, the course introduces students to congregations and faith-based organizations that bring good news through prophetic ministry. Students have the opportunity to engage in dialogue with urban ministry leaders who offer vision, courage and hope.  Course methodology includes contextual experience, theological reflection, social analysis and dialogue with significant church leaders and the instructor.
Credit: 3 semester hours
Faculty: Dr. Yvonne Delk
Course Schedule: January 3-7, 10-14, Mondays to Fridays (9am-5pm)
MS I. Nature and Practice of Ministry

SCUPE  B-Th 302: Urban Principalities and the Spirit of the City
Drawing from the ground-breaking theological work of Wink and Stringfellow on the biblical language of “principalities and powers”, this course examines the profound spiritual realities foundational to understanding and transforming the social, economic and political structures of our urban world.
Credit:  3 semester hours
Faculty: Rev. Bill Wylie-Kellermann
Course Schedule: Feb 4-5, 11-12, 18-19 (Fridays 1-9pm; Saturdays 9am-5pm)
TS III. Topics in Theology (Cross list MS I, RSS)

SCUPE S-H 304: Good News for the City
Course held in conjunction with the Congress on Urban Ministry, which features nationally recognized speakers addressing current issues of evangelism and justice within arenas of politics, economics, race, culture. Fees include event registration.
Credit:  3 semester hours
Faculty:  Rev. Bill Wylie-Kellermann
Course Schedule:  March 1-4

SCUPE M 304: Christology and Culture
Employing a narrative hermeneutic, this course explores Christology from a global, cultural and liberation perspective – and its significance for urban ministry.  The course cultivates an understanding and appreciation of the diversity of cultural images and models used to elaborate the meaning of Jesus throughout history.
Through theological and historical analysis, students engage in an in-depth study of the meaning of Christ’s life-death-resurrection for his contemporaries, the early church and specifically for this present time in history
Credit: 3 semester hours.
Faculty: Dr. Jim Perkinson
Course Schedule: March 11-12, Mar 18-19, 25-26 (Fridays 1-9pm; Saturdays 9am-5pm)
TS III. Topics in Theology (Cross list: NT III)

SCUPE M 306:  The Art of Prophetic Preaching in the Urban Context
Freedom to preach in the spirit of the prophets requires preaching with the mind, body and spirit. Prophetic preaching in the city is an invitation to enter into the redemptive story of the gospel as it is evidenced in our urban world and requires not only a biblical and theological framework but also prophetic imagination, evidenced in a kind of playful energy that has the potential to both delight and shock the listener out of stuck thinking and stuck places while at the same time kindling and strengthening hope. We will apply the language and homiletic tools and resources of the arts, theater, and popular culture, to describe both the social context of urban life and the preached word.
Credit:  3 semester hours
Faculty: Dr. David Frenchak and Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III
Course Schedule: April 1-2, 8-9, 15-16 (Fridays 1-9pm; Saturdays 9am-5pm)
MS V. Preaching and Communication

SCUPE  S-H 305: Restoring Urban Communities
Field-based in one of the nation’s premier Christian community development organizations, this course introduces the principles and practices of congregational-based community development.  It examines the relationship between biblical faith and community development practice through site visits to exceptional Chicago development models, and identifies the leadership competencies, organizing principles, skills and resources necessary for an asset-based approach to sustainable community building.
Credit: 3 semester hours.
Faculty: Dr. Mary Nelson
Course Schedule: May 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 (Fridays 1-9pm; Saturdays 9am-5pm)
RSS Religion and Society Studies

SCUPE Supervised Ministry Practicum
Required for students actively engaged in a ministry internship, the practicum focuses on personal formation for ministry by integrating work in the ministry setting with SCUPE's academic curriculum. Using a case study approach, it provides a forum for faith sharing, personal self-awareness of gifts and skills for ministry, theological reflection on experience, and peer group reflection on actual ministry in response to the Gospel. It is also the course vehicle for SCUPE's full-time internship field education/ministry credit. Credit varies by seminary.
Credit: Varies by seminary.
Faculty: Dr. Garnett Foster
Schedule:

Summer 2011

SCUPE  M 302: Cross Cultural Ministry Intensive
The world has come to the city. Using the city as a global classroom, this two-week intensive provides students with a practical theology for ministry in a multicultural context, engages biblical study of the early church's struggle with cultural barriers, encourages respect and appreciation of world-views and value systems different from one's own, offers anti-racism training, builds skills in movement and communication across cultural divides, and exposes students directly to a wide variety of ministries in diverse cultural settings.
Credit:  3 semester hours.
Faculty: Rev. Cynthia Milsap
Course Schedule: June 6-10, 13-17 Mondays to Fridays (9am-5pm)
MS I Nature and Practice of Ministry

SCUPE Supervised Ministry Practicum
Required for students actively engaged in a summer ministry internship, the practicum focuses on personal formation for ministry by integrating work in the ministry setting with SCUPE’s summer academic curriculum. Using a case study approach, it provides a forum for faith sharing, personal self-awareness of gifts and skills for ministry, theological reflection on experience, and peer group reflection on actual ministry in response to the Gospel. It is also the course vehicle for SCUPE's full-time summer internship field education/ministry credit.
Credit: Varies by seminary.
Faculty: Dr. Garnett Foster
Schedule:  TBA

To register for any of the above courses, please contact Dody Finch, Registrar at the SCUPE office, (312) 726-1200, dody@scupe.com.