GTUS Courses (2008-09 Academic Year)

Spring / Summer 2008

SCUPE M 306: Urban Preaching Intensive
This course is designed to provide individuals with the theoretical framework and social insight necessary to effectively preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the contemporary urban context. It refers to the act of preaching as an art, which presupposes that many of the traditional or classical homiletical approaches may not adequately respond to the needs of either this context or generation. This course, therefore, applies the language and hermeneutic tools of the arts, including popular culture, to describe both the social context of urban life and the preached word.
Credit: 3 semester hours
Faculty: David Frenchak/Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou
Course Schedule: April 4-5, 11-12, 18-19 (9am-5pm)
MS V. Preaching and Communication

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: Bill Wylie-Kellermann
Course Schedule: April 15-18

SCUPE S-H 305: Restoring Urban Communities
Introduction to principles and practices of church-based community development. Presents the relationship between biblical faith and development practice through site visits to effective models, and an overview of the resources and leadership skills necessary for effective community development.
Credit: 3 semester hours.
Faculty: Mary Nelson
Course Schedule: May 2-3, 9-10, 16-17 (Fridays 1-9pm; Saturdays 9-5pm)
RSS Religion and Society Studies

SCUPE Supervised Ministry Practicum
Focuses on personal formation for ministry by integrating work in the ministry setting with SCUPE's academic course load. 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: Credit varies by seminary.
Faculty: TBA
Course Schedule: Summer 2008

SCUPE M 302: Cross Cultural Ministry Intensive
Using the city as a multicultural global laboratory, this two-week intensive provides 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 one, offers ant-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: Cynthia Milsap
Course Schedule: June 2-6, 9-13 (9am-5pm)
MS I Nature and Practice of Ministry

SCUPE Supervised Ministry Practicum
Focuses on personal formation for ministry by integrating work in the ministry setting with SCUPE's academic course load. 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. TBA Summer

Fall 2008

Eco-Justice: A Vision for a Sustainable City   (Proposed Course)
Building on the theological foundation of stewardship and historic faith traditions this course addresses the questions around what makes cities sustainable.  We will examine the relationship of faith and spirituality to environment and community health in the urban landscape.  Topics include energy, politics of food, environmental justice and pollution.  The class will also consider a theology of earth care and ecological restoration as an act of Christian communion through site visits and theological reflections.
Credit:  3 semester hours
Faculty: Rev. Clare Butterfield and Sara Spoonheim
Course Schedule: October 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 (Fridays 1-9 p.m., Saturdays 9-5)

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. 7-8, 14-15, 21-22 (Fridays 1-9pm; Saturdays 9-5pm)
RSS Religion in Society Studies

Winter/ Spring 2009

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: Jan 5-9, 12-16 (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 on the biblical language of “principalities and powers”, this course examines the spiritual realities foundational to understanding and transforming the social, economic and political structures of our urban world.
Credit:  3 semester hours
Faculty: Dr. Bill Wylie-Kellermann
Course Schedule: Feb 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 (Fridays 1-9pm; Saturdays 9-5pm)
TS III. Topics in Theology (Cross list MS I, RSS)

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 6-7, Mar 13-14, 20-21 (Fridays 1-9pm; Saturdays 9-5pm)
TS III. Topics in Theology (Cross list: NT III)

SCUPE M 306: Urban Preaching Intensive
This course is designed to provide individuals with a theoretical framework and social perspective necessary to effectively preach the prophetic Gospel of Jesus Christ in the contemporary urban context. It refers to the act of preaching as an art, which moves beyond many of the traditional or classical homiletical approaches in its direct response to the realities faced by this context and generation.  This intensive applies the language and hermeneutic tools of the arts, including popular culture, to describe both the social context of urban life and the preached word.
Credit:  3 semester hours
Faculty: Dr. David Frenchak and Dr. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou
Course Schedule: April 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 (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, skills and resources necessary for asset based sustainable community building.
Credit: 3 semester hours.
Faculty: Dr. Mary Nelson
Course Schedule: May 1-2, 8-9, 15-16 (Fridays 1-9pm; Saturdays 9-5pm)
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.  Schedule: TBA

Summer 2009

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: Dr. Cynthia Milsap
Course Schedule: June 1-5, 8-12 (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.
Schedule:  TBA

To register for any of the above course, contact Dody Finch at the SCUPE office,

(312) 726-1200, dody@scupe.com.