Course Descriptions

MUSIC

See Music Department courses.

SCRIPTURE

Old Testament I: An overview of a variety of approaches to the interpretation of Scripture, focusing on Genesis, Exodus, Joshua, Judges, 1 + 2 Samuel, and Psalms. Special attention is given to the use of the best modern materials and techniques while continuing to be aware of their limitations. The theological meaning of the text is held as paramount.

Old Testament II: Wisdom books, Prophets (especially Amos, Micah, Hosea, Isaiah, and Jeremiah), Esther, Tobit, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 + 2 Maccabees provide the raw material for a course of study that includes the religious life of ancient Israel, the role of prophets among God's Chosen People and the development of Judaism before the close of the Hellenistic Age. The continuity of this material with that studied in the fall semester and with the New Testament to come is a central focus of the work.

New Testament I: Directed reading of the English New Testament with emphasis on the Synoptic Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. Special attention is given to the socio-political context of the times, and the history of the Apostolic Church.

New Testament II: Continuation of the first semester. Emphasis on the Gospel According to St. John, the Epistles of St. Paul, the Epistle to the Hebrews, the Catholic Epistles, and the Revelation to St. John the Divine.

THEOLOGY

Dogmatic Theology I: An overview of Christian Thought with an emphasis on the Doctrine of God and the Trinity. This semester also includes a brief discussion of the pattern of reasoning on ethical questions.

Dogmatic Theology II: God and the World: A survey of a variety of views on topics touching on the relation of God to Creation including: Grace and Free Will, Theodicy and the Existence of Evil, the Providence of God and human moral responsibility.

Moral Theology: The imperative of Christian conduct as founded in eschatology and the witness of the saints; equal emphasis on the positive method, scholastic method, and casuistic method; with special attention to the Anglican tradition in moral theology from Bps Taylor and Sanderson, and other early writers, to the teaching of Fr Martin Thornton in recent years. (Elective)

Pastoral Theology: Practical study designed to enable the clergy to meet the pastoral needs of individuals and congregations. (Elective)

Patristics I & II: Two semesters of study of the Early Fathers of the Church and their influence on the development of Christian doctrine.

CHURCH HISTORY

History and Christianity

I. Historical Background to the Old Testament
II. Historical Background to the New Testament
III. Rome in the Middle Ages
IV. Modern Ideologies

This is a four-semester sequence that provides an historical context for the rise of Christianity and the development of the Christian Church into modern times. In the first semester, the course examines the historical context for the Old Testament books, particularly the ancient Semitic and Egyptian cultures. The second semester focuses on the Greek and Roman cultures as the historical context for the New Testament books. The third semester traces the growth of the Christian Church through the Middle Ages and the development of a Christian civilization. In the final semester, the focus is on the Reformation, the development of the Anglican Church, and the rise of the modern ideologies and the challenges they pose to Christianity.

ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS

Biblical Greek I & II: A language study of New Testament Greek.

Canon Law: The history and development of Canon Law from the primitive Church through the Seven Ecumenical Councils in the Eastern and Western Churches to the present, including Anglican and American modifications.

Dante's Divine Comedy: A theological and literary study of Dante's masterpiece. (Elective)

Ecclesiastical Polity: The government and organization of the Church with emphasis on the Biblical basis for, and the historical development of, the threefold apostolic ministry, along with a comparative study of the government and ministry of major Christian denominations.

Ecclesiology: An in-depth study of the Church from Pentecost to the present with special reference to the Church as the New Israel, as ecclesia, and as the Body of Christ; with emphasis on the organic rather than on the organizational nature of the Church; investigation of the mission, ministry, sacraments, and marks of the Church; the place of Anglicanism in the catholic continuum.

Historical Liturgics: The history and development of the worship of the Church with a special emphasis on the liturgical history of the Eucharist.

History of Christian Art I: Explores the development of Christian art and architecture within the context of the Roman Empire and follows it through Early Medieval and Gothic Europe to the early Renaissance, with attention to connoisseurship and iconography.

History of Christian Art II: Continues the exploration of Christian art with special emphasis on the historical role of the Church as patron the major monuments of High Renaissance and Baroque art and architecture.

Homiletics: This course is a workshop focusing upon developing both the technical and thematic elements of preaching. The seminarians deliver sermons on Wednesdays, according to a rotating cycle, which are then reviewed by their brother seminarians in a round table discussion with final reflections given by the Archbishop. This is an ancient and effective form of Episcopal instruction that was employed by certain great High Church bishops of the past. Occasional reports on contemporary Christian literature are also required as a means of developing the mind and perfecting critical skills.

Practical Liturgics: Study of the organization and celebration of Christian worship with reference to the Anglican tradition.