The Course is taught in three sections. the course is taught in three sections.

The first examines the historical and contemporary understanding of the identity and purpose of the Christian Church. There is an examination of how it has evolved from its beginnings as a Jewish sect, through the extended Western era of Christendom when it was often at the centre of power and influence. There is a consideration of  phenomena of post-Christendom times that have been emerging in the last few decades. There is a critical evaluation of the ecumenical ‘Notes’ of the Church. The larger part of this section is spent in a detailed study of five core models of the historical Church. Finally there is consideration given to fresh expressions and emerging forms of Church, including new monasticism. 

The second section examines the role of ministry in the Church, beginning with Biblical patterns and tracing the role of the clergy from the early Church, through Papal authority and the Reformation to current models in the Church today including chaplaincy and emerging models of pioneering ministry. Finally there is a critical evaluation of issues of contemporary debate such as the place of gender and homosexuality in relation to ordained Christian ministry.

The final section explores the biblical paradigms of mission and traces the historical paradigm shifts in mission theology and praxis. It evaluates the tensions between evangelism and social action and critically evaluates current trends In missional thinking as they interact with local cultures and global concerns.

The first examines the historical and contemporary understanding of the identity and purpose of the Christian Church. The second section examines critical issues of contemporary debate such as leadership and authority, gender and homosexuality in relation to ordained Christian ministry. The final section explores historical landmarks in the theology of mission and critically evaluates current theory and practice.

1.     explain clearly the main features of the biblical background for Christian ideas of ‘church’ and the key historical anchors of the tradition

2.     analyze and evaluate leading ways of conceiving ‘the church’ in relation to the world, and as one community yet in many expressions

3.     analyze and evaluate significant approaches to ministry, leadership and organization of ‘church’

4.     trace historic landmarks for the theology of mission and critically appraise approaches to current issues in the field

The module will be primarily taught through lectures, PowerPoint, facilitated group discussion and e-learning together with occasional reflections on a variety of alternative media including film. In addition to tutor led material, students will be expected to critically engage and evaluate a number of key primary and secondary theological texts and prepare materials for teacher initiated discussion. Students will also be expected to engage in small group enquiry and feedback. The module will be supported by material on Learning Central.

Subject-specific:  Students should be able to:

a)  Explain the emergence of contemporary theologies of the church, its meaning and mission

b)  Expound, critically and empathetically, core themes of key writers and movements in ecclesiology, ministry and mission today 

c)   Critically compare selected, competing teachings, evaluating the claims to be contextual, coherent and cogent and continuous with Christian  

      Scriptures and tradition.

d)   Expound critically, sympathetically and in a focused way selected aspects of key writers or themes of ecclesiology, ministry and mission.

Generic:  Students should be able to:

a)     Empathetically identify with the concerns of other (albeit historical) cultures.

b)     Empathetically enter into other cultures by listening to its representatives.

c)     Explain an unfamiliar text using modern methodology and re-contextualising it in their own familiar world.

d)     Critically explain and evaluate ideas and their exponents.

e)     Communicate ideas, someone else’s or their own, with clarity.

Employment-related: Students should acquire the following employability skills:

a)    All traditional intellectual skills such as critical analysis and evaluation of evidence together with modelling and solving problems.

b)    Key skills such as informal oral communication and clear written communication.

c)     Familiarity with a PC-computer and the production of documents.

d)    The discipline and capacity to improve performance individually and with a group.

e)    The ability to work collegially in enquiry and negotiation of perceptions.

f)    Personal attributes such as self-reliance and adaptability in a chosen project

Students will be expected to submit a portfolio of 2x 2000 word summative assignments (50% each)

This may include an opportunity to submit a draft of Assignment 1 only

This constitutes preparation towards submitting it as one of the two final pieces of work for the portfolio.

Summative assessment consists of a portfolio of two assignments one of which may have been submitted as a formative essay

A portfolio of two written assignments of no more than 2000 words each 100% of final mark.

 Two essays selected from a range of titles reflecting the syllabus topics

May 2015

The potential for reassessment in this module

Reassessment is be determined according to University Regulations but may include the possibility of submitting revised essays of no more than 2000 words

Areas covered include

(a) biblical background,

(b) key points in the history of ‘ecclesiology’, viz. Christian teaching on church (eg. early, reformed, post-reformed and modern),

(c) anchors of the tradition,

(d) leading models for conceptualizing church

1. church catholicity, unity and sacramental theologies

(f)  power and church

(f) organization (‘polity’), leadership and related office, authority

Please see Background Reading List for an indicative list.

Indicative Reading and Resource List:

Reading list for section 1 (Nature of Church)

Avis, Paul ed.,            The Christian church: an introduction to the major traditions,  London : SPCK, 2002   

Bradshaw, T               The Olive Branch. An Evangelical Anglican Doctrine of the Church, Paternoster, Carlisle 1992

Dulles, Avery               Models of the Church, New York, Gill & MacMillan, 1981

Fackre, Gabriel           The Church: Signs of the Spirit and Signs of the Times, Eerdmans, 2007.

Fiddes P                      Tracks and traces, Baptist identity in church and theology, Carlisle, Paternoster, 2003

Gaillardetz R,              Ecclesiology for a global church: a people called and sent, Maryknoll, N.Y, Orbis Books, 2008

Gay, Doug                   Remixing the Church: Towards an Emerging Ecclesiology,   London, SCM, 2011.

Gibbs, Eddie and

Bolger, Ryan K            Emerging Churches, Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures, London, SPCK, 2006  

Goodhew, David.        Church Growth in Britain: 1980 To The Present, London, Ashgate, 2012

Grdzelidze, T, ed.,       One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. Ecumenical Reflections on the Church, Faith and Order Paper no.197, WCC, Geneva, 2005

Giles, Kevin,                 What On Earth is the Church? A Biblical and Theological Enquiry, London, SPCK, 1995

Greenwood, R             Transforming church. Liberating structures for London, SPCK, 2002.

Karkkainen, V-M         An Introduction to Ecclesiology, Ecumenical, Historical and Global Perspectives, Downers Grove, IVP Academic, 2002   

Kasper W                    Leadership in the church, how traditional roles can serve the Christian community today, N.Y. Crossroad, 2003

Moltmann, J                The Church in the Power of the Spirit, London, SCM, 1975 and many reprints

Murray, Stuart              Church after Christendom, Carlisle 2004

Moynagh, Michael      Church for Every Context: An Introduction to Theology and Practice London, SPCK, 2012

Tomlin, G                     The Provocative Church, London, SPCK, 2002

Van Gelder, Craig       The Essence of the Church: A Community Created by the Spirit Grand Rapids, Baker Books 2000    

Volf, Miroslav,              After Our Likeness. The Church as the Image of the Trinity, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1998

Ward, Pete,                  Liquid Church, Carlisle, Cumbria : Paternoster Press, 2002

WCC                            The Nature and Mission of the Church Geneva, 2005

                                     The Nature and Purpose of the Church, Geneva, 1998

Select Reading list for section 2 (‘Ministry/Leadership’)

Ray Anderson (ed.)     Theological Foundations for Ministry, Eerdmans, 1979

ARCIC                           The agreed statements: Authority and Ordination London 1978

C.K. Barrett                  Church, Ministry and Sacraments in the New Testament, Paternoster, 1993

Stephen Bates             A Church at War: Anglicans and Homosexuality, Hodder and Stoughton, 2005

Paul Bernier                 Ministry in the Church: A Historical and Pastoral Approach, Twenty-Third Publications, 1992

Alan Billings                 Making God Possible: The Task of Ordained Ministry Present and Future, SPCK, 2010

L. Boff                            Church, Charism and Power, SCM 1985

T. Bradshaw (ed)        The Way Forward: Christian voices on homosexuality and the Church, SCM 2003

W. Carr                          Manifold Wisdom, SPCK 1991

S. Croft                          Ministry in Three Dimensions, DLT 1999

C. Cruse                      New Testament Foundations of Ministry, Marshall, Morgan and Scott, 1983

R.T. France                 Women in the Church’s Ministry, Paternoster 1995

E. Gibbs &

I. Coffey                        Church Next: quantum changes in Christian ministry, IVP 2001

C. Gore                       The Church and the Ministry, Longmans, 1919

R. Gouldbourne           Reinventing the Wheel: women and ministry in English Baptist life, Whitley Publications 1997

Ali Green                       A Theology of Women's Priesthood, SPCK, 2009

*R. Greenwood            Transforming Church, SPCK  2002

M. Grundy                     Understanding Congregations, Mowbray  1998

C. Hall and

R. Hannaford (eds)     Order and Ministry, Redwood Books 1996

J. Halliburton                The Authority of a Bishop, SPCK  1987

M. Harper                      Let my people grow, Hodder and Stoughton, 1977

M. Hengel                    Christ and Power, Christian Journals (Ireland) 1977

Justin Lewis-Anthony If You Meet George Herbert on the Road, Kill Him: Radically Rethinking Priestly Ministry, Continuum, 2009

T.W. Manson               The Church’s Ministry, Hodder and Stoughton, 1948

K. Mason                     Priesthood and Society, Canterbury 1992

M.A.H. Molinsky          The Shape of the Ministry, Canterbury, 1992

P. Moore (ed.)Man,    Woman and Priesthood, SPCK 1978

Open Synod Group     By what authority?      Mowbray 1987

Murray A. Rae

and Graham Redding  More than a Single Issue: Theological Considerations Concerning the Ordination of Practising Homosexuals, ATF, 2002

A. Redfern                    Ministry and Priesthood, DLT 1999

E. Schillebeeckx          The Church with a human face: a new and expanded theology of ministry, SCM, 1997

K.J. Torjesen               When women were priests, Harper Collins 1995

J. Torrance                  Worship, community and the triune God of grace, Downers Grove/IVP, 1996

T.F. Torrance              Royal Priesthood, Oliver and Boyd, 1955

T.F. Torrance             The Mediation of Christ, Paternoster, c.1983

M. Vasey                     Strangers and Friends: a new exploration of homosexuality and the Bible, Hodder and Stoughton 1995

Walter Wink                Homosexuality and Christian Faith: Questions of Conscience for Churches, Augsburg Fortress, 1999

P. Ward                       Liquid Church, Paternoster 2002

WCC                            Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, 1982

Select Reading list for section 3 (Theology of Mission)

Bosch, David J                        Transforming Mission. Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission, Orbis, Maryknoll, 1998

Kirk, J Andrew                         What is Mission? Theological Explorations, London, Darton Longman, 1999

Nussbaum, Stan,                    A Reader’s Guide to ‘Transforming Mission’, Maryknoll, New York, Orbis, 2005

Wright, Christopher, J H          The Mission of God's People, Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 2010

Spencer, Stephen,                  Christian Mission: Historic Types and Contemporary Expressions, SCM Study Guide, London SCM 2007

Avis, Paul                                  A Ministry Shaped by Mission,London : T&T Clark International, 2005

Bediako, Kwame,                    Theology and identity, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1999

Bevans, B &

Schroeder, Roger P                Constants in Context. A Theology of Mission Today, Maryknoll, NY, Orbis, 2004

Bosch, D                                   Witness to the World. The Christian Mission in Theological Perspective, London, Marshalls, 1980

Cracknell, Kenneth,                 In good and generous faith : Christian responses to religiouspluralism, Cleveland, Pilgrim Press, 2006 

Drane, J                                   The McDonaldization of the Church, London, Darton  Longman, 2000

Escobar, Samuel                     The New Global Mission, Downers Grove, IVP, 2003           

Gibbs, E & Coffey, I                Church Next. Quantum Changes in Christian Ministry,  Leicester, IVP, 2001

Lord, Andrew,                          Spirit-shaped mission. A Holistic Charismatic Missiology, Bletchley, Paternoster, 2005

Hooker, Morna

Young Frances                        Holiness and Mission: Learning From the Early Church About Mission in the City,  London: SCM, 2010

Morisey A                                  Journeying Out. A new approach to Christian mission. 2004, Continuum/T and T Clark

Newbigin Lesslie                    The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission, London: SPCK, 1995

Perriman, Andrew,                  Re: mission : biblical mission for a post-biblical church, Milton Keynes : Paternoster, 2007

Saayman, W &

Kritzinger, K                             Mission in Bold Humility, Maryknoll, NY, Orbis, 1997

Scherer, J A &

Bevans, S B                             New Directions in Mission and Evangelisation 3: Faith &  Culture, Maryknoll, Orbis, 1999

Kirk J. Andrew  &

Vanhoozer Kevin J, eds          To Stake a Claim : Mission and the Western Crisis of Knowledge, Maryknoll, NY, Orbis Books, 1999

Shenk, W R,                             Changing Frontiers of Mission, Maryknoll, NY, Orbis, 1999

Wallis, Andrew 

and Ross Cathy,                     Mission in the 21st Century: Exploring the Five Marks of Global Mission, London: DLT, 2008 

*WCC                                       The Nature and Mission of the Church, Geneva, 2005