Required prerequisite knowledge

All students must have at least one year (60 ECTS) of studies in theology at an accredited institution in Norway or abroad. For Norwegian students this course extends the missiological reflections offered in KGR 104 Menighetsbygging at NLA University College, Bergen.

Relevance within study programme

Elective course bachelor in theology.

Introduction

This course will enable students to integrate the study of Missiology into the study of theology.  Missiology emerged as subject area within theology as a matter of emergency when the first missionaries encountered the world and was forced to theologize. Investigating how mission relates to a Trinitarian soteriology and ecclesiology, this course aims at developing a missional hermeneutics and a missional ecclesiology.

Learning outcomes descriptors

The candidate:

Knowledge

• has thorough knowledge of the Biblical basis for Christian mission
• has thorough knowledge of the major themes in contemporary missiology and the importance of context – both with regards to mission in the Western world and in the Global South
• is familiar with themes in theological and cultural anthropology with relevance to missiology
• has basic knowledge of the history of mission and missiology

Skills

• is able to apply biblical, historical and anthropological insights from the study of Missiology in interpreting the challenge of contextualizing the Gospel in different cultural and religious contexts.
• is able to relate the challenge of contextualizing the Gospel to the historical emerging of mission and Missiology
• is able to relate to contemporary issues in missiology in an academic manner.
• can use experience, creativity and exploratory work methods to acquire new knowledge in the field of Missiology

General competence

• can solve vocational challenges related to the study of Missiology in a critical and creative manner, alone or in cooperation with others
• has gained reflective competence on the importance of cross cultural communication of the Gospel.
• has gained competence as someone who is able to relate an unchanging Gospel to an ever changing world.
• can use his/her own vocational competence in new and complex contexts

Content

Acknowledging an increasingly multicultural and multireligious Western society, the course challenges students to rethink the importance of mission in a Western context, and a Norwegian context in particular, by offering new and fresh approaches to mission and the study of mission, also with missiological perspectives from the Global South. The course will therefore equip students for intercultural ministry abroad, as well as Christian ministry in churches and Christian organizations in Norway.

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures and seminars.

Scope

App. 300 hours.

Coursework requirements

None.

Final assessment

A 3000 words assessed essay, marked according undergraduate criteria at a marking scale (A-F).

Permitted aids under examination

All.

Grading, examination

Teh essay is assesed according undergraduate criteria at a marking scale (A-F).

Assessment language

English or Norwegian.

Practice

None.

Course evaluation

Annual teacher and student evaluations.

Available for Course Students

No.

Syllabus

Berentsen J-M., Engelsviken T. & Jørgensen K. (2004). Missiologi i dag. Oslo Universitetsforlaget. P. 5-74; 106-128; 173-197; 242-258; 327-355; 369-396. (184 p.) eller

Bosh, D.J. (1996). Transforming Mission. Paradigm shifts in Theology of Mission. New York: Orbis Books, p. 1-56; 368-510. (174 p.)

Croft , Steven (ed.): Mission-shaped questions: defining issues for today`s church, Church House Publishing, London, 2008. (200 p.)

Hiebert, Paul G. Anthropological Insights for Missionaries. Baker Academic, Grand Rapids 1985 171-224.  (53 p.)

Wright, Christopher J. H. The Mission of God. Inter Varsity Press, Downers Grow 2006, s. 29-70; 393-530. (183 p.)

Mission in Context: Transformation, Reconciliation, Empowerment. The Lutheran World Federation, Geneva, 2004.  http://www.lutheranworld.org/LWF_Documents/DMD-Mission-in-Context-low.pdf  (64 p.)

The Cape Town Commitment. : http://www.lausanne.org/no/documents/ctcommitment.html (49 p.)

 (Total 733 pages)