STM courses are designed for students enrolled in advanced level degree programs (STM, ThM, DMin, or PhD). Students enrolled in first-level masters degree programs may register for STM courses with the permission of the instructor. Pastors may audit STM courses with the permission of the instructor.

To register as a student or as an auditor, please use the Registration form or the Auditor form found on the Registrar's page. Registration forms are generally available late March (for summer and fall terms) and late October (for Jan and spring terms).

STM courses are scheduled to be offered as follows:

(revised 11 Feb 2008)

MAY 20-23, 2008

6.102 Matthew

The gospel of Matthew presents the theological narrative of God drawing near to dwell with humanity in the person of Jesus Emmanuel, the Son of God.  This course will explore this theological narrative to discover anew what it is claiming about our lives and ministry as the people called into Jesus’ church. Particular attention will be paid to those texts from Matthew which populate the second half of Year A to help equip participants in their preaching and teaching.

Richard Carlson

JUNE 16-20, 2008

6.201 Image – Icon, Idol, and Work of Art: Selected Topics in Theological Aesthetics

Images and their status have been at the heart of recent controversies concerning religion(s) and culture(s) and the subject of renewed attention in relation to the theme of postmodernity in philosophical and theological aesthetics.  Does the advent of postmodernity signify the return of the image?  The course will examine the contemporary discussion of the status of the image in light of (1) the Patristic iconcoclastic controversies, (2) the Reformation disputes, and (3) the emergence of modern art and its autonomy from religion. What are the aesthetic and theological criteria for the evaluation of images?

Eric Crump

FALL 2008, THURSDAYS

6.200 World Christianity

This course will provide the student with the opportunity to explore a profound shift in the Western understanding of the church. Since the middle part of the 20th century, the task of mission has assumed new complexity, as Western churches discovered ecumenical and interfaith possibilities, retreated from colonialist postures in relationship to African, Asian, and Latin American churches, and recognized, even at home, the growing globalization of their communities.  Mission is no longer a task "over there." The habits and discipline of dialogue and partnership will in the future come to shape a common mission.

Maria Erling

FALL 08, THURSDAYS

6.306  Here and Now: The Year in the Presence of the Resurrected Christ

A danger of the church year is that it can pretend to be a time machine, claiming to take participants back to first century Jerusalem, where Jesus really lives.  This understanding violates two fundamental teachings of Christian theology: that God always comes to us, rather than the other way around; and that Christ promises always to be present with (and through ) his followers).  This course will examine a different way of celebrating the church year, focusing on this constant, promised presence, with the theological, historical, thematic, and practical implications of that understanding.

Mark Oldenburg

JANUARY 2009

6.103  To Speak in Parables:Proclamation of the Gospel in the Parables of Jesus

The parables of Jesus are among the best known memories of Jesus. The parables of Jesus are also among the most controversial aspects of our understanding of Jesus' message. This course will provide a survey of the interpretation of parables, but the main focus will be on the study of specific parables of Jesus, including the many of the Lukan parables that are included in the Year C lectionary readings.

Mark Vitalis Hoffman

SPRING 2009, THURSDAYS

6.104 Bible Facts and Artifacts

A seminar to explore archaeological material from the ancient Near East as a means of informing the interpretation of biblical texts for preaching and teaching. Students will study and report on excavated artifacts and relevant biblical material.

Briant Bohleke

MAY 18-22, 09

6.202 Comparative Soteriologies

This course is founded on two core theological presuppositions.  First, the doctrine of salvation is a central component of any articulation of Christian theology.  Second, in our 21st century context any responsible discussion of salvation must reflect an awareness of the alternative soteriological claims of non-Christian religions.  In this course, therefore, we will study these claims and examine how they both challenge and shed fresh light on a Christian understanding of salvation.

Kristin Johnston Largen

JUNE 15-19, 2009

6.303 Evangelizing in the Post-Modern Context

This course will examine the evangelizing character of Christian mission from a biblical/ theological point of view.  Moreover, this course will process with students what is implied by the context for this evangelizing--that the U.S. is post-modern and post-Christian.

William Avery

FALL 2009, THURSDAYS

6.201 Image – Icon, Idol, and Work of Art: Selected Topics in Theological Aesthetics

Images and their status have been at the heart of recent controversies concerning religion(s) and culture(s) and the subject of renewed attention in relation to the theme of postmodernity in philosophical and theological aesthetics.  Does the advent of postmodernity signify the return of the image?  The course will examine the contemporary discussion of the status of the image in light of (1) the Patristic iconcoclastic controversies, (2) the Reformation disputes, and (3) the emergence of modern art and its autonomy from religion. What are the aesthetic and theological criteria for the evaluation of images?

Eric Crump

FALL 2009, THURSDAYS

Pietism and Social Liberation

“Since theology is a practical discipline, everything must be directed to the practice (“praxis”) of faith and life.”  Theologian and pastor Philip Spener (1635-1705) was not alone in expressing such a “pious desire.”  In this critical study of the enduring Pietist movement, we will examine many of its manifestations including: the contemporary significance of the lives and thought of social reformers in Halle, the praxes of liberation informing Württemberg writings, the radical reforms for the church and world of Johann Christoph Blumhardt and Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt.  We also will suggest ways of understanding the current relevance of Pietism by investigating the work of agencies such as Lutheran Services in America.  As we explore the varieties of Pietist experience, we will focus on its persistent striving for the transformation of both the self and world.

Leonard Hummel and Mark Oldenburg

JANUARY 2010

Christian Mysticism

In this course we will read a broad selection of writings that shed light on mystical consciousness and practice, and on mystical life and theology. We will read texts from Origen, Gregory the Great, Augustine, Dionysius, Bernard of Clairvaux, Meister Eckhart, John Tauler, John of the Cross, Hadewijch of Antwerp, Marguerite Porete, Teresa of Avila, Mechtild of Magdeburg, Julian of Norwich, Nicolas of Cusa, Francis of Assisi,  Bonaventure, and others, including Martin Luther and contemporary figures. We will examine the essentials of mysticism, mystical theology and mystical experience, and the role of mystics in Christian tradition. We will seek connections between Luther’s theology and Lutheran spirituality and the rich sources of Christian mysticism.

Kirsi Stjerna

SPRING 2010, THURSDAYS

Second Temple Judaism

An introduction to the Palestinian Jewish context in which Jesus lived and out of which Christianity arose. Selected readings of primary texts (in English). Topics and literary corpora include: The Maccabean Revolt, the Pseudepigrapha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Philo, Josephus and the Jewish War against the Romans.

Brooks Schramm

MAY 17-21, 2010

Preaching in the Abrahamic Community

Preaching is one form of sacred discourse and is a predominant feature in all three Abrahamic faiths.  This course will explore the history, characteristics, rhetorical strategies, structures and functions of preaching in Jewish, Muslim and Christian settings.  Students will read materials in both the practices and theories of such preaching. 

Susan Hedahl

JUNE 14-18, 2010

The Joseph Story

The story of Joseph has been called the most perfect novella ever written.  Students will explore the motifs of the story, examine the context of the time period in which it is set, its ancillary themes, its time of composition, and its socio-literary ramifications.  Because Biblical stories and their literary expressions continue to influence Western culture and religious thought, we will also examine a modern version and any contemporary resonances of Genesis 37-50.

Briant Bohleke