Seminary Now

The Latino community is in between the racial discourse of black and white—in the middle, metaphorically brown. In that sense, it’s not just Latinos who are brown. Brown can refer to anyone who feels themselves in between. And to all who wander, the Brown church says welcome. Robert Chao Romero, the son of a Mexican father and a Chinese immigrant mother, explores the history and theology of what he terms the "Brown Church." Romero considers how this movement has responded to injustices throughout its history by appealing to the belief that God's vision for redemption includes not only heavenly promises but also the transformation of every aspect of our lives and the world.

Does God call women to serve as equal partners in marriage and as leaders in the church? The answer to this straightforward question is deeply contested. Into the fray, Lucy Peppiatt offers her work on interpretation of the Bible and Christian practice. With careful exegetical work, Peppiatt considers relevant passages in Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Peter, 1 Timothy, and 1 Corinthians. There she finds a story of God releasing women alongside men into all forms of ministry, leadership, work, and service on the basis of character and gifting, rather than biological sex. Those who see the overturning of male-dominated hierarchy in the Scriptures, she argues, are truly rediscovering an ancient message—a message distorted by those who assumed that a patriarchal world, which they sometimes saw reflected in the Bible, was the one God had ordained.

God’s original intent for equal partnership has been so distorted that churches and organizations continually struggle to foster healthy mixed-gender ministry collaboration. Is it even possible to return to the Genesis ideal of co-laborers in today's contexts? In this course, Rob Dixon, Lisa Rodriguez-Watson, and Layla Van Gerpen provide a model for how to develop flourishing mixed-gender partnerships. Together, they highlight the importance of having an authentic learner’s posture, examine a theology of gender equality, discuss barriers to mixed-gender partnerships, and show how to value differences.

Growing up in the American South, Esau McCaulley knew firsthand the ongoing struggle between despair and hope that marks the lives of some in the African American context. A key element in the fight for hope, he discovered, has long been the practice of Bible reading and interpretation that comes out of traditional Black churches. This ecclesial tradition is often disregarded or viewed with suspicion by much of the wider church and academy, but it has something vital to say. At a time in which some within the African American community are questioning the place of the Christian faith in the struggle for justice, New Testament scholar McCaulley argues that reading Scripture from the perspective of Black church tradition is invaluable for connecting with a rich faith history and addressing the urgent issues of our times.

Throughout Scripture and church history, women have been central to the mission of God. But all too often women have lacked opportunities to minister fully. Many churches lack visible examples of women in ministry and leadership. When women teach, preach, lead, evangelize, pastor, and disciple, and when men partner to embolden the women in their lives, the church's imagination expands to better reflect God's story and hope for the world.

What is the church? And why does it exist? These are essential questions for those who seek to follow Jesus in community. David Fitch delves into the origins of the church, exploring the identity and calling of the body of Christ in scripture and church history. Learn about the Christian practices that shape the church and how our understandings of church might change in light of the life of the church through the centuries. At a time when the church in the US is losing credibility and cultural privilege, Fitch offers a model for thriving as God’s people in our own time and place.

“Coach” Wayne Gordon teaches the principles and practices of church-based community development. In this video course filmed on location in Lawndale, Coach shows how these principles are implemented in the Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago, including the Lawndale Health Center, the Hope House, Lou Malnati’s, and community housing. Coach Gordon has lived and served in Lawndale for 43 years. He has worked as a high-school coach and as pastor of Lawndale Christian Community Church, building deep, long-term relationships. Key principles of church-based community development he teaches in this course include: *loving God and loving neighbors *listening to people in the community because they have the best solutions to their local problems *learning a theology of place and the importance of place for ministry *looking at issues of racism, justice, and poverty

We can see the injustice and inequality in our lives and in the world. We are ready to rise up. But how, exactly, do we do this? How does one reconcile? What we need is a clear sense of direction. Based on her extensive consulting experience with churches, colleges and organizations, Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil has created a roadmap to show us the way. She guides us through the common topics of discussion and past the bumpy social terrain and political boundaries that will arise.

Confronted by the deep-rooted racial injustice in our society, many white Christians instinctively scramble to add diversity to their churches and ministries. But is diversity really the answer to the widespread racial dysfunction we see in the church?

This course presents a theological vision for Gospel-shaped, multiethnic churches. Multiethnic churches are a sign and foretaste of God's kingdom on earth by being communities of reconciliation, justice, mission, and love through God the Holy Spirit's transformative work.

Greg Boyd explores the cruciform nature of God's kingdom. God's kingdom expresses the humble, other-oriented, self-sacrificial, enemy-embracing love of God that is most perfectly expressed on the cross.