CHUR 2033 History of Christianity

Christianity developed out of the context of the Roman world as a new movement, beginning with Jesus and over time spreading to the rest of the world. This course will explore the development of different traditions and denominations, the emergence of theological ideas, and the changes in the Church as has grown and interacted with culture.

CHUR 3023 Baptist History and Polity

This course is a survey of Baptist history and of Baptist principles and polity.  Baptist principles and polity flow from both Baptist history and their distinct theological interpretations drawn from Scripture. Students will learn to understand both the past and the present of the people called Baptists. This course will satisfy the history and polity ordination requirement within the Canadian Baptist context.

CHUR 4033 Women in the Christian Tradition

This seminar course will explore the biblical, theological, and historical understandings of women in the Christian tradition. It will emphasize women’s lived religious experiences, female leaders, and changing views of women’s roles throughout Christian history. Students will read both primary and secondary source texts related to women from throughout Christian history. Prerequisite: Completion of, or concurrent enrolment in, CHUR 2033.

EVAN 3013 Evangelism and Mission in Contemporary Society

The aim of this course is to provide the theological and practical tools necessary to reach people in contemporary society with the good news of Jesus Christ. This course will provide the student with a theology of evangelism that focuses specifically on the evangelistic mission of the church in contemporary society. The course will provide a comprehensive understanding of current changes and trends in Canadian society as they relate to religious beliefs and practices. Students will develop a practical understanding of how congregations can effectively engage their communities and successfully reach people with the gospel and integrate new members into the congregation.

EVAN 3023 Bringing Renewal to Established Congregations

This course will consider how to give effective leadership to older, established congregations in order to bring renewal and growth.  Beginning with a Biblical understanding of renewal, students will consider the strengths and weaknesses of established churches, why established churches don’t change easily, and how to lead real change in an established church.  The typical life cycle of established congregations will be examined, along with ways to interrupt the cycle. The course will examine both spiritual and social reasons for congregational decline, the effect of the social environment on church life, and how to interact with contemporary society.  The course will emphasize the pastor’s leadership role in church renewal, and will look at practical ways to attract younger adults to a congregation of older members. Recommended prior study: EVAN 3013.

EVAN 3033 Perspectives on the World Christian Movement

Building on a Biblical rationale for world evangelization, this course examines the challenges involved in, and skills necessary for, communicating the gospel cross-culturally.  The course considers the components necessary for strategic and intelligent planning in the missionary task of the Church. Students are given the necessary perspectives for effective participation in the complex tasks of world evangelization and international development. New avenues and opportunities available for involvement in world missions at home or abroad are examined.

EVAN 3043 Integral Mission

This course explores, from a multidisciplinary approach, the role of the church in bringing shalom (peace with justice) to a broken world. In integral mission, word and deed are woven together. Students will explore the implications of the Christian Gospel within the psycho-social, economic, political, environmental and spiritual realm of human suffering.  Offered in partnership with CBM (Canadian Baptist Ministries).

EVAN 3063 Leading Healthy and Effective Churches

This study of principles and practice for effective leadership will focus on ways to lead congregations in rural, small-town, and urban settings. Students will learn about a variety of local church models and congregational dynamics. Effective local church pastors and leaders will provide input and answer questions about their ministries. Students will be taught how to incorporate diverse groups of people in the church, how to lead consistent numerical and spiritual growth, how to build effective team ministries, how to provide wise financial leadership for the congregation, how to resolve conflict effectively, and how to lead significant social impact in the community. Cross-listed as LEDR 3063. Recommended prior study: EVAN 3013.

EVAN 3073 Cross-Cultural Mission Partnership

This course prepares students for lifelong missional living and helps them develop a theology of mission. Topics covered: theoretical foundations of cross-cultural mission; the benefits and risks for the sending and receiving partner, team preparation and leadership, and elements of the post-experience debriefing.

EVAN  4033 Evangelism and Discipleship of Youth

This course explores the theology, methods, and tools for effective evangelism and discipleship of youth. The course considers how to reach youth in today’s culture with the Gospel, how to communicate the Gospel in word an deed to this generation, and how to engage this generation in transformational discipleship. Cross-listed as NXGN 3033

EVAN 4043 Reaching and Retaining Young Adults

This course will examine the changing young adult (18-30) culture.  Through examining demographic and developmental issues, students will explore ministry implications for local churches. Various models will be introduced as students are taught how to develop effective and contextualized young adult ministries. Cross-listed as NXGN 3043.

HEBR 3013 Foundations Biblical Hebrew 1

Careful study of the Old Testament is based upon access to the language in which it was originally written. This course will equip students to access the many tools available for the study of the Old Testament in its original language. In order to prepare students for careful and critical study, foundational Hebrew grammar and vocabulary will be covered.

HEBR 3023 Foundations of Biblical Hebrew 2

This course builds on HEBR 3013, focusing on developing vocabulary acquisition, and a more in-depth understanding of grammar.  By the end of the course, students should be able to translate portions of the Old Testament.  Prerequisite: HEBR 3013.

LEDR 2113 Theology and Practice of Racial Justice

The church has a vital role and witness in addressing prevalent societal ills that continue to hinder the flourishing of racialized, marginalized, and under-represented communities. Students will consider holistic approaches, rooted in a biblical theology of justice, as they engage a variety of global and human rights concerns. This will include the Indigenous Peoples of Canada and the African Nova Scotian community. Students will research and discuss ways by which they might lead the church to have a significant social impact in the community and the work of allyship. Prerequisites: Any 3 of the following: BIBL 2013; BIBL 3013; BIBL 3023; THEO 3013; THEO 3023.

LEDR 3023 Leadership and Youth Ministry

This course will explore contemporary leadership theory from a Christian perspective with a view toward applying discoveries to ministry among youth. The course will include significant reflection on the student as a leader. Other topics will include: leading change effectively, time management, stress management, budgeting, and recruiting a leadership team. This course will also explore practical ways youth leaders can assist adolescents in developing their leadership gifts. Cross-listed as NXGN 3023.

LEDR 3043 The Practice of Leadership in Contemporary Ministry

Based on Biblical models and principles of leadership, students will learn how to lead in times of change to integrate a Biblical understanding of Christian leadership with the realities of contemporary society. Students will consider the characteristics of good leaders (from both Biblical and sociological perspectives) and the congregational dynamics that must be understood and applied by an effective leader. The challenges of Christian leadership in the contexts of bureaucratization, institutionalization, and secularization will be addressed, as well as why leaders fail and how to respond appropriately in times of failure or stress.

LEDR 3063 Leading Healthy and Effective Churches

This study of principles and practice for effective leadership will focus on ways to lead congregations in rural, small-town, and urban settings. Students will learn about a variety of local church models and congregational dynamics. Effective local church pastors and leaders will provide input and answer questions about their ministries. Students will be taught how to incorporate diverse groups of people in the church, how to lead consistent numerical and spiritual growth, how to build effective team ministries, how to provide wise financial leadership for the congregation, how to resolve conflict effectively, and how to lead significant social impact in the community. Cross-listed as EVAN 3063. Recommended prior study: EVAN 3013.

LEDR 3073 Leadership that Advances the Mission

This course will explore leadership theory and leadership arts that can help a Christian leader advance the mission of the ministry he or she has been asked to lead. Topics to be explored will include: defining leadership and followership, establishing and communicating vision, time management, communications, fund raising, and growth strategies. Barriers to success in ministry leadership including failure, disappointment, and conflict will also be discussed.

LEDR 3083 Camping Ministry

This course examines camping ministry by considering a variety of camping ministry models and the theological rationale undergirding each model. A focus on understanding children and youth campers will include a review of typical stages of development and faith formation. Students are introduced to camp leadership topics including: staffing, programming, the business side of camp and the skills needed for camp leadership. The course explores the role camp plays in evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development of children and youth, as well as the potential benefit to the child, church and community. Cross-listed as NXGN 3083.

PACC 3013 Understanding Pastoral Care and Counselling

This course is a study and exercise in understanding the nature, form, and purpose of the pastoral relationship in bringing about healing and wholeness to those with whom we journey. Pastoral response involves understanding of the situation of others and understanding one’s self through a process of self-exploration and theological reflection. Through the acquisition of relational, pastoral care, and counselling skills, each person will consider and form their own identities and skills as caregivers who care for the body, mind, and Spirit.

PACC 3053 Care for People with Mental Health Concerns and Addictions

Drawing on relevant and current research, this course will provide students with an overview of a range of mental health concerns and an overview of addictions, as well as best practices for offering care. Students will be challenged to relate Christian theology to mental illness and to addiction and to consider the possibilities and limitations for offering care within a congregational setting and as an aspect of the church’s mission. Appropriate boundary-setting, the need for self-care and a theologically robust understanding of care will be important aspects of this discussion.

PACC 4013 Counselling Adolescents and their Families

Addictions, eating disorders, self-injury, sexual choices, media saturation, sexual abuse, family breakdown, anxiety, depression, and suicide – these are the dark realities that mark the lives of many young people today. This class is designed to address a number of these contemporary behavioral, emotional, and relational issues faced by new millennium adolescents.  It is meant to prepare the student for increased ministry effectiveness through a deeper awareness of underlying issues affecting adolescents and their families today. Students will develop a greater level of freedom in addressing and discussing these issues with both adolescents themselves and adults who intersect with the adolescent world. Cross-listed as NXGN 4013. Recommended prior study: PACC 3013.

PACC 4023 Marriage and Family Counselling

This course focuses on how to support couples and families in times of transition, difficulty, and crisis. Students will be introduced to the structure and function of marriage, the various aspects of the marital relationship, family systems, and ways the counsellor may approach premarital, marriage, and family counselling as a creative, preventative, and healing ministry. Recommended prior study: PACC 3013.

PACC 4033 The Church’s Response to Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a serious and pervasive problem in contemporary society and in church congregations.  This course will define and explain what domestic violence is, provide an overview of current research, explain the role of churches and church leaders in responding to the needs of victims, and provide information about accessing community resources, all in the context of a Biblical understanding of care for those who suffer.  The course will consider the church’s response to social needs as an important aspect of witness.

PACC 4043 Ministry in the Face of Grief, Loss, and Death

The reality of death dramatically informs our living, and yet it is a reality that we can tend to ignore until forced to consider it. It is vital for ministering-persons to grapple with the reality of mortality and to develop means of caring that address the complexity found in experiences of dying and grief. In this course, Biblical, theological, spiritual, psychological, social, medical and ethical dimensions of dying and bereavement will be discussed. Students will be given opportunity to embrace more deeply the reality of their own mortality, and will develop strategies to effectively and compassionately care for others in the midst of dying and grief.

PACC 4063 Suicide: Perspectives and Intervention

Suicide is a devastating issue, both for those considering it, and for their friends and loved ones and community. This course will draw on current research, theological resources and historical perspectives to illuminate the complexity of the phenomenon and means of care for those at risk of suicide and for those who have experienced the death of a loved one due to suicide. Issues of self-care for the pastoral caregiver will also be addressed. Students will participate in the nationally-accredited, two-day ASIST workshop (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) to equip participants to recognize, effectively intervene, and offer care to those considering suicide.

SPFM 3013 Christian Spiritual Formation for Ministry Leaders

This course will consider the Biblical and theological foundations of Christian discipleship.  Students will reflect on the indispensable role that spiritual disciplines have in cultivating deeper Christian spiritual formation. While aimed at those who are called to be leaders in the church, the course will also explore the application of spiritual disciplines to the life of the church as a whole and to its mission in the world.

SPFM 4013 Pathways of Prayer: The Soul’s Quest for God

Prayer is as vital to the health and vibrancy of the soul of the church, as breathing is to the human body.  This course is designed to equip ministry leaders to lead and encourage the church in the practice of consistent prayer as a vital aspect of our relationship with God and one another, and a viable means of nurturing healthy growing congregations.  Recommended prior study: SPFM 3013.