CHC2052, 2008 : Schedule of Topics and Assignments

Week

Week beginning Monday

Topics

Key Questions

Introductions 4 February Introductions and Expectations Where am I coming from?
What questions do we have?

Module I : Foundations

1

11 February

What do we mean by Presbyterian?

Characteristics and Differences

What are the common elements in Presbyterian and Reformed identities?
What is the same and different about Presbyterian order, worship, theology and mission?

2

25 February

Celtic History and Spirituality

What do we know about Celtic Christianity?
Why is it popular and what does it mean?

3

10 March

The Reformation then and now

Who were the key players and what did they do?

4

24 March

Reformed theology and church organisation

What is in the “DNA” of the Reformed tradition?

5

7 April

Confessions and Covenants

What can we learn from the Westminster and other Confessions, the people who wrote them and the times they lived in?

Post Assignment One with cover sheet by Friday 18 April 2008 to
John Roxborogh, 23 Royston Street, NEV, Dunedin 9010.

Module II : A Global Tradition

6

28 April

Worship, Revival, Assembly, Presbytery and Party in 18th Century Scotland

How did key groups and institutions take shape in an age of reason and of revival?

7

12 May

Renewal in Mission and the Disruption of 1843 – the story of Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847)

What memories of Church and Society did Presbyterian Settlers bring to New Zealand?

8

26 May

Merchants Migrants and Missionaries in the global spread of Presbyterian Christianity.

What was going on as Presbyterians shared in the “Age of Expansion”?

9

9 June

Northern and Southern Churches in 19th Century
New Zealand.
Who were the characters and what were the issues in the foundation years of New Zealand Presbyterianism?

10

23 June

Confidence and Decline in 20th Century
New Zealand

Towards a Multicultural Church

What, looking back, worked well and badly as Presbyterian and other Kiwi Christians adjusted to change and opportunity?

Can a mono-cultural tradition provide the framework for a multicultural church of Maori, Pakeha, Asian and Pacific Islander?

 

Post Assignment Two with cover sheet by Friday 11 July 2008 to
John Roxborogh, 23 Royston Street, NEV, Dunedin 9010.

Module III : Diversity and Renewal in Mission

11

21 July

Leadership roles and structures for ministry and mission

Do particular patterns of organization and leadership help and hinder mission?

12

4 August

Sacraments and ceremonies in the mission of the church

Baptism, communion, weddings and funerals - for witness, encouragement, celebration and hope.

13

18 August

Word and song in worship for different generations

Music and preaching across generations and cultures.

14

1 September

Change, controversy and mission

How do we manage change?
What processes work for Presbyterians when we see truth differently? How does this affect our mission?

15

15 September

Theology and mission

Who are the theologians who help put into words what we need to say about God and about Christian mission?

Post Assignment Three with cover sheet by Friday 26 September to
John Roxborogh, 23 Royston Street, NEV,
Dunedin 9010.