Renowned scholars teaching at SFTS during six-week summer term

The lineup of renowned scholars teaching during the Doctor of Ministry summer term June 6-July 15 at San Francisco Theological Seminary is once again drawing an ecumenical and international field of students to San Anselmo.

For the second consecutive summer, SFTS is proud to welcome Dr. Dwight Hopkins, professor of theology at the University of Chicago Divinity School. Hopkins will teach “Black Theology & Womanist Theology, Church & Academy.”

The ordained American Baptist minister is a constructive theologian working in the areas of contemporary models of theology, black theologies, liberation theologies and East-West cross-cultural comparisons. He is interested in multidisciplinary approaches to the academic study of religious thought, especially cultural, political, economic and interpretive methods.

Hopkins’ course compares and contrasts black and womanist theologies and their status in the church and the academy. The black church proclaims the gospel and cares for the holistic life of the community. Black and womanist theologies are critical reflections on what the gospel calls the black church to believe, say and do.

Rev. Dr. Gregory Love will lead a seminar entitled “God and Human Suffering.” Love is associate professor of systematic theology at SFTS. He was recently named winner of the 2011 Angell Award by the Presbyterian Writers Guild (PWG) for the best first book published the previous calendar year by a Presbyterian writer. His book is titled Love, Violence, and the Cross: How the Nonviolent God Saves Us through the Cross of Christ.

Love’s seminar will focus on development of theodicy in the ministry context. If God is good and loves us like a parent deeply loves her or his child, then why do we—or those we love—sometimes go through experiences of utter hell? If God is “Lord of all” and works vigorously to bring God’s peace, then why do children die of horrible diseases? The focus on class discussion aims toward development of your own theodicy for your ministry context.

To enhance your interfaith understanding, Dr. Christopher Ocker, SFTS professor of history, will teach a seminar on “Knowing God: Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives.” This course is an exercise in comparative historical theology. It helps students reexamine the basis of theological knowledge in conversation with three great teachers of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the “Abrahamic” religions. 

Registration for the Doctor of Ministry summer seminars is limited, but available for qualified applicants and those seeking continuing education credits. Here’s a look at the 2011 Doctor of Ministry summer seminars:

June 6-17
“Preaching as Theatre.” Rev. Dr. Jana Childers, SFTS Professor of Homiletics and Speech Communication. (Full)

“The Christian Faith, Jesus and the Tragic Vision.” Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson, Pastor, Christian Fellowship Baptist Church, Atlanta.

“Knowing God: Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives.” Dr. Christopher Ocker, SFTS Professor of History.

“Pastor as Person.” Dr. Gerardo James de Jesus, Temple University Adjunct Faculty and Jungian analyst in private practice.

June 20-July 1
“Self, Other, and Community.” Dr. Charlene Jin Lee, SFTS Assistant Professor of Christian Education and Director of Student Formation, Southern California.

“God and Human Suffering.” Dr. Gregory Love, SFTS Associate Professor of Systematic Theology.

“Trauma, Loss and Grief in Theological and Pastoral Perspectives.” Dr. R. Scott Sullender, SFTS Associate Professor of Pastoral Counseling

“Theology of Ministry.” Dr. Martha Taylor, SFTS Adjunct faculty

July 4-15
“Psychology of Religion: Two Contemporary Issues with Implications for Ministry.” Dr. Lewis R. Rambo, SFTS Research Professor of Psychology and Religion

“Black Theology & Womanist Theology, Church & Academy.” Dr. Dwight Hopkins, University of Chicago Divinity School Professor of Theology.

“Culture and Mission.” Dr. Herman Waetjen, SFTS Robert S. Dollar Professor of New Testament, Emeritus.