Events
-
19Oct 2021
Taste of Seminary: Do We Need Adam & Eve?: Scripture, Science and Human Origins with Dr. Ken Cuffey
Who were Adam and Eve, how exactly are we related to them, and does it really matter? What role, if any, should science have on a serious engagement with Scripture?
-
23Oct 2021
UTS Book Sale
October 23rd and 30th from 9am to 3pm at Cornerstone Fellowship in Urbana. Click for more info!
-
26Oct 2021
Taste of Seminary: Ritual and Reality: Constituting Ourselves through Everyday Symbolic Actions with Dr. Peter Spychalla
We do more than meets the eye in religious and everyday rituals. Join us as we explore human meaning-making in ritual.
Summer 2022 Courses
Practical Ministry
PM 740 105: Faith, Art and Devotion
- Start date: June 22, 2022
The creative arts (music, visual arts & poetry) can enhance and broaden our personal worship of God, the original creator. In this class we will explore ways that the arts can be a whole-person participation in expanding our relationship with Him, while also learning to help others worship God.
- Time: Wednesday, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Credit: 1 hours
Location: Online
Instructor: Judy Webb
PM 760 650: Sharing Jesus without Fear
- Start date: June 6, 2022
A Biblical and practical analysis of what it means to share Jesus in a world that is increasing hostile to Christianity. We will look at motivations, barriers, and fear factors in communicating the Good News. The relationship between discipleship and evangelism, the differences between witness and evangelism, and dealing with the power of the Bible and prayer will be explored. Models of presentations will be considered, and there will be opportunities to try them out.
This class will run Mondays and Wednesdays in June.
- Time: Monday and Wednesday, 6:00 - 8:30 pm
Credit: 2 hours
Location: Online
Instructor: Mike McQueen
FM 740 130: Celtic Christian Spirituality
- Start date: May 31, 2022
Join us in exploring the spirituality of the native Christian faith of the British Isles. The course gives special attention to the forms, content, and emphases of Celtic Christian prayer and how these can be applied today. Theological themes include God as Trinity; the goodness, grace, and presence of God in creation; and a theology of place and journeying. Get acquainted with Patrick, Brigid, Columba, Iona, Aidan, Brendan, Columbanus, Lindisfarne, Anamchara (soul friend), the Book of Kells, Carmina Gadelica, and more. We will explore how Celtic Christian theological, ascetical, and devotional themes are expressed in Celtic spiritual practices, poems, hymns, literature, artwork, and symbols. We also examine contemporary appropriation of early Celtic themes in the imaginative literature of George MacDonald, church work of George MacLeod, and current revival of interest among Christians in all things Celtic.
- Time: Tuesday, 6:00 - 8:30 pm
Credit: 2 hours
Location: Online
Instructor: Peter Spychalla
Fall 2022 Courses
BIBLICAL STUDIES
BL 501 100: New Testament Greek I
- Start date: August 22, 2022
An introduction to the Koine Greek language of the New Testament. Emphasis will be placed on acquisition of basic vocabulary, introduction to the grammar, verbal voice, tense, and aspect. The course offers graduate credit for students in programs other than the M.Div. degree.
- Time: Monday and Wednesday, 4:00 pm - 5:45 pm
Credit: 3 hours
Location: Online
Instructor: Peter Spychalla
BI 740 200: Women Then and Now: Roles, Ministry, and Identity
- Start date: August 24, 2022
A readings seminar course to consider the topic of women in the Biblical world and today: their identity as created in the image of God and implications; women’s roles in society, involvement in Christian ministry in the church and world; relationships within the home and outside. The student will study key passages pertinent to the issues, read a selection of significant recent writings about women in ministry, discuss their import, and formulate a personal synthesis.
- Time: Wednesday, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Credit: 3 hours
Location: Online
Instructor: Ken Cuffey
BI 510 200: Inductive Bible Study Methods
- Start date: August 23, 2022
A survey of the steps and methods of systematic personal Bible study by incorporating practice in using these methods with biblical texts.
- Time: Tuesday, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Credit: 2 hours
Location: Online
Instructor: Ken Cuffey
CHRISTIAN HISTORY & THOUGHT
CH 740 300: Bonhoeffer: Costly Community
- Start date: August 23, 2022
The life and thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer has been celebrated in countless writings, biography and film. His inspirational life and profound theological insight into the disciple’s call to follow Christ and the idolatry of unchecked government power make his work timeless. Bonhoeffer: Costly Community will explore the interrelationship between Bonhoeffer’s life and thought and its importance for today.
- Time: Tuesday, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Credit: 3 hours
Location: Online
Instructor: Joe Thomas
CT 740 330: G. K. Chesterton: An Introduction to His Wit and Wisdom
- Start date: August 31, 2018
Known for his sharp sense of humor and his pithy wisdom, G. K. Chesterton influenced writers such as C. S. Lewis and Ravi Zacharias, as well as musicians such as Larry Norman. This class will focus on his best-known writings such as the apologetic books Orthodoxy and The Everlasting Man, as well as his fiction. This includes the detective series Father Brown, which a popular BBC television series is based on. We will also read some of his essays, poems, and even a play he wrote.
- Time: Wednesday, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Credit: 3 hours
Location: Online
Instructor: Melody Green
CT 510 100: Christian Ethics
- Start date: September 9, 2022
An introduction to the principles and practice of Christian ethics that examines biblical and philosophical questions surrounding the establishment of ethics, and the role of scripture in ethical reflection and character formation as it relates to contemporary cultural issues and moral problems.
- Only meets four weekends:
Dates: Sep 9-10, Oct 7-8, Nov 11-12, Dec 2-3
Time: Friday, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm and Saturday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Credit: 3 hours
Location: Online
Instructor: Todd Daly
CT 501 100: Theology I
- Start date: August 22, 2022
This course provides an overview of the Christian doctrines of revelation, scripture, God the Father, Christ the Son and the incarnation.
- Time: Monday, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Credit: 3 hours
Location: Online
Instructor: Todd Daly
CH 501 100: History of World Christianity I: Early and Medieval
- Start date: August 25, 2022
A general historical survey of the Christian movement from its inception through the Medieval period. Particular attention is given to significant ideas, individuals, movements, crises, and institutions in the rise and development of Christianity prior to the Protestant Reformation.
- Time: Thursday, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Credit: 3 hours
Location: Online
Instructor: Joe Thomas
PRACTICAL MINISTRY
PM 740 110: Launching, Landing & Leaving: Preparing for the Missions Adventure
- Start date: August 23, 2022
How should a person prepare to launch as a missionary? How can a newly-landed missionary become not only successful in ministry but also healthy and happy? After time on the field, how may a seasoned field worker leaving the field prepare for a good farewell/handoff as well as healthy re-adjustment? This 3-credit course will introduce considerations, challenges and disciplines to empower adventurers in missions toward God-glorifying lives.
- Time: Tuesday, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Credit: 3 hours
Location: Online
Instructor: Anne Alexander
PM 608 100: Jesus and Muhammad: Building Bridges with Islam
- Start date: August 22, 2022
- Time: Monday, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Credit: 3 hours
Location: Online
Instructor: Mike McQueen