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COURSE PRESCRIBTION

(A) OLD TESTAMENT

(B) NEW TESTAMENT

(C) THEOLOGY

(D) CHURCH HISTORY

CH 101 Origins & Foundations of Christianity (ca. 30 – 500AD)

This course surveys the origin, growth, and spread of Christianity in the first six centuries. It also highlights the social, cultural, political and religious world of early Christianity. The formation of Christian Doctrines and early Christian Theology, with emphasis on major issues, controversies, Church Councils, and some of the early prominent Church Fathers will also be touched upon.

Basic Text: Chadwick, Henry. The Early Church. Reprint. London; Penguin Books, 1988.

CH 102 The Church in Medieval Europe (ca. 500 – 1500AD)

This is a general survey of the role and impact of the church on Medieval Society and vice versa. The course looks at various selected themes from the period as well as personalities, which reflect the concerns, developments and piety of the period.

Basic Text: Densley, Margaret. A History of the Medieval Church 590 – 1500. London: Methuen & Coy, 1925.

CH 201 The Reformation (ca. 1500 – 1700AD)

This course looks at the impact of the medieval period on the church. Luther’s challenge on the status quo began an era that would see the church split from its Catholic roots. The course highlights the main players and the various sects of the reformation. It looks at the theological changes in doctrines and dogmas, and the importance of science and art, and their impact on the reformed church. The age of Reason and the Renaissance highlights the end of this period.

Basic Text: Chadwick, Owen. The Reformation. London: Penguin Books, 1964.

CH 202 History of Christian Mission 1:

Mission in the Third World (ca. 30 – 1700AD)

The course surveys the spread of Christianity to countries outside the known Roman Empire up to 1700. It looks at the way Christianity spread to Asia, India, Africa, and Latin America. The course looks at the efforts of various missions and missionaries from both Protestant and Roman Catholics. The course also highlights the impact of Christianity on these regions and the response of the variant cultures and pluralism to Christianity.

Basic Text: Neill, Stephen. A History of Christian Missions. Revised Edition. London: Penguin Books, 1987.

CH 203 History of Congregationalism

This course is an in-depth study of the origin and nature of Congregationalism, its major developments and organization as a denomination, and its emergence into English life and history.

Basic Text: Jones, R. Tudor. Congregationalism in England, 1662 – 1962. London: Independent Press, 1962.

CH 301 History of Christian Missions 2:

Mission in the Pacific (ca. 1700 – 1900AD)

This course takes a look at the formation of Missionary Societies and the renewed efforts of the Church in Europe, especially England, to take the gospel outside of Europe. This course surveys the efforts of the various mission societies and missionaries in the Pacific (including New Zealand and Australia). It also highlights the way the gospel took root and impacted each island. It also looks at the critical role the people and island communities played in shaping their own unique Christianity.

Basic Text: Garrett, John. To Live Among The Stars: Christian Origins in Oceania. Geneva & Suva: WCC & USP, 1982.

CH 302 Pacific Church History 1:

History of Christianity in Samoa (ca. 1830 – 1945)

This course focuses more deeply on the development and impact of Christianity on Samoan Society, as well as the efforts of the missionaries and Samoans themselves to promote the various denominations of Protestant roots in Samoa. This course looks at the history of the three mainline church mission denominations in Samoa (LMS, WMMS, RC), their relationships to each other and how they help shaped the political, economical, social, and religious mindset of the Samoan people.

Basic Text: Liuaana, F. B. Samoa Tula’i. Apia: Malua Press, 2004.

CH 303 History of Christianity in Modern Europe (ca. 1700 – 1900)

This course takes a look at the impact of the Reformation and the Renaissance on the churches in Europe. It highlights the efforts of the Protestants and the Roman Catholic Church to gain converts and new fields of mission in Modern Europe. It briefly looks at the Evangelical Movement and its impact on Christianity in Europe and outside of Europe. Important doctrinal issues and new theological reflections from this period will be touched upon.

Basic Text: Vidler, A.R. The Church in an Age of Revolution, 1789 to Present. London: Penguin Books, 1971.

CH 304 History of Christian Missions 3:

Evangelism, Revivals, Awakenings, and American Christianity

(ca. 1600 – 1800ad)

This is a survey course that takes the students on a historical journey on the influence and impact of the Evangelical Movement, together with Mass Revivals and Awakenings, on the growth of Protestant Christianity in America. The course looks at the efforts of great church leaders in America such as Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and those whom they influenced such as John Wesley.

Basic Text: Noll, Mark. A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992.

CH 401 Pacific Church History 2:

Samoan (LMS) Missionary Enterprises (ca. 1830 – 1960)

This is a very special course that highlights the efforts of the Samoan missionaries and teachers to various mission fields in the Pacific – including Vanuatu, Niue, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Rotuma, Tokelau, and Papua New Guinea. While Samoans involved with other mission societies will be alluded to, the bulk of this course concentrates on Samoans under the LMS. The role played by the establishment of the Malua Seminary will also be emphasized. This course will involve library and field research of existing Samoan missionaries from the period involve.

Basic Text: Garrett, John. To Live Among The Stars: Christian Origins in Oceania. Geneva & Suva: WCC & USP, 1982.

CH 402 History of Ecumenism and The Ecumenical Movement

This is an important course for students’ understanding of the basis of Ecumenism. A brief history of the understanding of Ecumenism from the Early Church to 1900 will be looked at, with a larger portion of the course devoted to the efforts of many Christian Churches in the 1900s to prioritized Ecumenism. The course looks at the formation of the World Council of Churches and other similar regional, national, and church councils, in the wake of the euphoria for ecumenism. The course also highlights the positives and shortfalls of ecumenism.

Basic Text: Lossky, Ncholas, et al. Dictionary of the Ecumenical Movement. Geneva: WCC, 1991.

CH 403 Pacific Church History 3:

Mission Churches to Independent Churches (1960 – present)

This course requires the student to critically examine how Pacific churches became free from foreign Mission Societies and Mission Boards. As colonies became de-colonized, Pacific Churches began to assert independence.

Basic Text: Forman, Charles. The Island Churches o the South Pacific: Emergence in the Twentieth Century. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1982.

CH 404 Historiography & a Christian Perspective on Historical Thoughts

This is a must course the serious student of History and for those who wish to take post-graduate study in History. It looks at the various Philosophies of History, Traditions of History, and Interpretation of History. Most importantly this course looks at how Christians see History and also how Christians should evaluate the other non-Christian philosophies of history.

Basic Text: Bebbington, David. Patterns in History: A Christian Perspective on Historical Thoughts. Leicester: Apollos, 1979.

CH 405 Pacific Church History 4:

The Congregational Christian Church in Samoa (1960 – present)

This looks at the Samoa (LMS) Church since its independence in 1962. It looks at some of the difficulties and problems it encountered and its growth and development to where it is today. The course also looks at the relationship between the new independent church and Samoan society, especially the integration between Samoan Christianity and Samoan culture. The split in the 1980s with Eastern Samoa and its impact on CCCS is examined. The course also surveys the growth of the CCCS in New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii and America. Students are expected to do field research work as part of this course.

CH 406 Pacific Church History 5:

The Bible and Samoan Society

This course looks briefly at the history of the Bible and Bible translation, especially in relation to the Pacific Islands, especially in Samoa. The course also critically examines the mutual influence of the Bible and Samoan culture on modern Samoan society. Students are expected to research and present a paper on an aspect of modern Samoan society to highlight the influence and impact that the Bible has on Samoan society and/or vice versa.

Basic Text: Faletoese, Kenape. O le Tala Faasolpito o le Ekalesia Samoa (LMS). Apia: Malua Press, 1959.

CH 480 Thesis

The course consists of writing a research paper, the length of which must comply with the requirements as defined in the section on Subject Requirements for the degrees of Bachelor of Divinity and Bachelor of Theology, respectively. Students shall be required to undertake independent research under the personal supervision of a designated member of Staff. Students must decide upon a topic (in outline, at least) and discuss it with a member of Staff before beginning work on the Thesis.

(E) PASTORIAL THEORY