Church History and Christian Movement

Catalog description

The course will explore the rise of the Church under persecution, orthodoxy vs. heresy, doctrinal developments, the rise of the Roman Papacy and opposition to it during the Middle Ages, the Protestant Reformation, the development of modern denominationalism, modern Roman Catholicism, the ecumenical movement and current developments. The range of various denominations and faith groups within Christianity will be explored. PMIN 5343 Wesleyan Polity and Practices (3 cr. ) This course will feature a study of the doctrine (from a Wesleyan perspective), polity (governance structure), and pastoral practices (including ordination and the sacraments) in the Methodist tradition as interpreted by the Global Methodist Church and applied to its local and global context. PMIN 5353 Wesleyan Worship and Sacramental Theology (3 cr. ) This course explores the theology, history, and practice of worship and sacraments within the Wesleyan tradition, with a specific focus on the emerging liturgical identity of the Global Methodist Church. Using the "means of grace" as the theological scaffolding for worship, students will trace liturgical developments along with contemporary expressions within the Wesleyan tradition, while giving special attention to the sacramental roles of Baptism and Holy Communion. This course ultimately equips students to lead worship that is biblically grounded, theologically Wesleyan, and missionally driven within a global context.