Current and Upcoming Courses

| Spring Intensive | Spring Semester | June Term |

Spring Intensive 2012

| January Term | Spring Semester | June Term | 

March 12-16 -- STM/DMin--Theology the Lutheran Way -- (Dr. Oswald Bayer, St. John's Summit professor)

The course functions to build a bridge between the academic theology and the practical, spiritual life of the pastor. In order to make this happen, the course will look at Luther's three rules of the practice of faith: prayer, meditation, and praxis, as points for dialogue between students.

Spring 2012

| January Term | Spring Intensive | DMin/STM | STM/PhD | PhD | June Term |

PhD seminar --The Heritage of Reformation Hermeneutics -- (Dr. Erik Heen)

An examination of biblical theologies of churches that are heirs of the Reformation through various pre-modern (e.g., protestant orthodoxy), modern (e.g., the literalism of common sense realism; neo-Lutheranism), and post-modern (e.g., reader-response) configurations. Attention will be given to the effect of larger shifts in scientific, academic, and popular culture upon the understanding of the nature and role of Scripture in the theological enterprise. The rise of higher criticism, especially historical-criticism, and its effect upon the discipline of biblical theology is assessed as well as possibilities for a re-configuration of the role of biblical studies for the public work of the church in the twenty-first century.

STM/PhD -- Scriptures of the World and Interreligious Hermeneutics -- (Dr. J. Paul Rajashekar)

An exploration of the dynamics of scriptures and their function in the life of religious communities.  The seminar will examine the phenomenology and the evolution of the concept of scripture; their authority, power, inspiration and ritual use; and methods of textual interpretation.  Sacred scriptures will be reviewed from a comparative perspective, identifying distinctive elements in selected scriptural traditions (Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism.and Sikhism).

STM/DMin -- Reading Scripture in Ancient Judaism -- (Dr. Wilda Gafney)

This course will explore rabbinic Jewish exegesis in the first through fourth centuries. We will explore early rabbinic readings of the Exodus story, Passover and selected passages from the Torah and Prophets. We will become acquainted with extra-biblical Jewish sacred literature in the Mishnah, Talmud and midrash. And, we will pay some attention to the role of classical exegesis in contemporary Judaism. Knowledge of Biblical Hebrew is helpful but not required.

STM/DMin -- Theological Issues in Christian-Muslim Relations -- (Dr. David D. Grafton) -
(Distance Education Course-students should have computer competency and will need to work through the LTSP Blackboard Site.) 

Do Christians and Muslims share some common theological presuppositions?  Where do they diverge on key theological topics?  This course will explore the commonalities and differences in a variety of Muslim and Christian theologies through reading primary (translated) sources.  Focus will be given to the authority and use of Scriptures, the Nature of God, the Work of Jesus, and social ethics.

STM/DMin -- The Parables of Jesus -- (Dr. Mark Vitalis Hoffman, LTSG)
(Distance Education Course-students should have computer competency and will need to work through the LTSP Blackboard Site.) 

 The parables of Jesus are among the best known memories of Jesus. The parables of Jesus are also among the most controversial aspects of our understanding of Jesus' message. This course will provide a survey of the interpretation of parables, but the main focus will be on the study of specific parables of Jesus considering both how they were experienced in the context of Jesus' ministry and in the life of the Church today.  

June Term 2012

Has your preaching become stale?  Do people listen to your sermons politely, while their hearts and lives seem untouched?  Learn to sharpen the hearing of those whose ears have been dulled by many sermons.  Participants will preach, reqork, and re-preach a single sermon, while beginning to master specific strategies and tactics for reconnecting with God's people.

June 11-15 -- STM/DMin--The Old Testament in the New (Dr. Pete Enns)

This course will open up the issue of contemporary Christian preaching and teaching from the OT by examining carefully how the NT writers themselves specifically engaged the OT.  Part of the course will be spent on understanding the hermeneutical context of the 2^nd Temple period. We will examine and evaluate different models for explaining this issue and what we can learn from them about the use of the OT in contemporary Christian proclamation and teaching.

June 18-22 -- DM701G DMin Colloquium I (Dr. Grafton)

June 18-22 -- SDM702G DMin Colloquium II (Dr. Grafton)

Colloquium I introduces students to the DMin program and advanced level study in a peer learning environment, while Colloquium II prepares students for their DMin Project.  Both Colloquia are offered concurrently.   

For further information see: "Objectives of the DMin Colloquia".

June 25-29 -- STM/DMin - Children of Abraham: Explorations in Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations (Dr. David D. Grafton)

This course will use a social-historical approach to uncover primary models of interaction between Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities from their Eastern origins until today.  Special attention will be given to the sacred Scriptures of each community and how those texts are utilized tol provide identity, guidance and parameters for inter-faith relations.

For further information on courses for 2011-12, email the Director of Graduate Studies at advanced@Ltsp.edu or call 215-248-6347. 

For further information for admission requirements for LTSP Graduate Programs email admissions@Ltsp.edu or call 215-248-7302.

For registration information, email the Registrar at registrar@Ltsp.edu or call 215-248-6305.

Also: For information on STM courses at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg go to http://www.ltsg.edu/academics/stm/stmcourses.htm or call 717-334-6286.

For information on STM courses at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, go to their website at www.ltss.edu or call 803-461-3253 (registrar). For travel seminars at LTSS, email lluker@ltss.edu or click on www.ltss.edu "Seminary Events."