Institute/University/Seminary Name

Institute/University/Seminary Name

School or Department Name

Master of Arts in Transformational Urban Leadership (MATUL) Program

TUL501: Doing Theology Among the Poor(3 units)

Coursewriters:Timoteo D. Gener, PhD

Viv Grigg, PhD

I. Course Description

This course introduces the practice of theology especially among urban poor workers. At its basic level, theology is envisioned as the meeting of stories (God’s story and ours) of engaging our context for the purpose of advancing God’s reign in a transforming story. Urban theology is considered within the genre of contextual theology and interfaces with systematic theology

II. Course Rationale

Theology will be explored as a verb, not just a noun.

An essential aspect of preparing for ministry is being able to critically and constructively engage one’s own context, assessing and giving voice to the theology of the community. Constructing people’s theologies is also a form of Christian witness to God’s future hope (the new heaven and new earth) where the glory and honor of the nations will be offered to the Lamb (Rev. 21:24-26).

III. Student Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the students will be able to:

(1)Communicate in their own words what doing theology is about

(2)Recognize the place of prayer and spirituality in practicing theology

(3)Engage local theological themes that will arise from their ministry concerns, questions and needs.

(4)As part of a community, practice theology through the pastoral cycle

IV. Course Materials

CORE TEXTS

Bevans, Stephen B., S.V.D. (1996). Models of Contextual Theology. Maryknoll: Orbis.

Gener, Timoteo. “Re-visioning Local Theology: An Integral Dialogue with Practical

Theology, A Filipino Evangelical Perspective,” Journal of Asian Mission Vol.

6, No. 2 (2004): 133-166.

---. (2005) “Every Filipino Christian, a Theologian: A Way of Advancing Local Theology for the 21st Century,” in Doing Theology in the Philippines Mandaluyong: OMF Lit.

Grigg, Viv. (2006). Transformational Conversations.

Hanks, Thomas. (1983). God So Loved the Third World: The Biblical Vocabulary of Oppression. Maryknoll: Orbis.

Van Engen, Charles. (1996). Mission on the Way: Issues in Mission Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

V. Course Calendar

VI. Learning & Assessment Activities

VII. Expectations & Grading

VIII. Course Policies

IX. Course Bibliography

Acoba, E. et al. (2005)Doing Theology in the Philippines. Mandaluyong: OMF Lit..

Arbuckle, Gerald A.(1990) Earthing the Gospel: An Inculturation Handbook for the

Pastoral Worker. Maryknoll: Orbis.

Bakke, Ray. (1997). A Theology As Big As the City. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Press.

Bautista, Lorenzo. (1996) ‘The Church in the Philippines,” The Church in Asia Today, ed.

Saphir Athyal (Singapore: The Asia Lausanne Committee for World

Evangelization.

Bautista, Violeta. (1988) “The Socio-Psychological Make-up of the Filipino,” All things to all

Men: An Introduction to Missions in FilipinoCulture. Quezon City: New Day.

Bellingham, G. R. (1987). A Biblical Approach to Social Transformation.Philadelphia, Eastern Baptist Seminary.

Boff, Leonardo. (1988). When Theology Listens to the Poor. Maryknoll: Orbis and London: Harper and Row.

Cone, James H. (1972a). Black Spirituals: A Theological Interpretation. Theology Today, 29 (No. 1, April 1972).

De Mesa, Jose. (1995) “Buhay, Karanasan, Aral at Turo: A Filipino Hermeneutics of

Experience,” East Asia Pastoral Review 32. Available online:

---.`(1987)In Solidarity with the Culture: Studies in Theological Re-rooting. Quezon

City, Philippines: MaryhillSchool of Theology.

---. (1988) Isang Maiksing Katekismo para sa mga Bata: A Study in Indigenous

Catechetics. Manila: Wellspring Books.

Darragh, Neil. (1995). Doing Theology Ourselves: A Guide to Research and Action. Auckland, New Zealand: Accent Publications (a Division of Snedden and Cervin Pub. Ltd).

Dyrness, William. (1983/1991). Let the Earth Rejoice! A Biblical Theology of Holistic Mission. Pasadena: Fuller Seminary Press.

Ellul, Jacques. (1997). The Meaning of the City. Greenwood, SC: Attic Press.

Enriquez, Virgilio. (1994)From Colonial to Liberation Psychology: The Philippine Experience

Manila: De La Salle University Press.

Fackre, Gabriel. (1983). Narrative Theology: An Overview. Interpretation, 37 (No. 4 (October)), 340-353.

Gener, Timoteo. (2001) “Re-imaging Conversion in the Lowland Philippine Setting: The

Perspective of Gospel Re-rooting,” Journal of Asian Mission 3/1.

---. “Re-visioning Local Theology: An Integral Dialogue with Practical

Theology, A Filipino Evangelical Perspective,” Journal of Asian Mission Vol.

6, No. 2 (2004): 133-166.

---. (2005) “Every Filipino Christian, a Theologian: A Way of Advancing Local Theology for the 21st Century,” in Doing Theology in the Philippines Mandaluyong: OMF Lit.

Glasser, Arthur, Charles van Engen & Gilliland, Dean. (2003). Announcing the Kingdom. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Green, Laurie. (1990) Let’s Do TheologyLondon: Mowbray

Grigg, Viv. (2004) Companion to the Poo.r India: YWAM Publishing.

______. Transformational Conversations.

Kinast, Robert L. (2000) What Are They Saying About Theological Reflection?. Mahwah,

New Jersey: Paulist,.

Lapiz, Ed. (1997) Paano Maging Pilipinong Kristiyano: Becoming a Filipino Christian Makati

City: Kaloob

______.(2002)Pagbabalik-loobMakatiCity: HP Print Trader.

______.(2004)Pagbabagong-loob: Reseta sa Krisis (MakatiCity: HP Print Trader.

Schineller, Peter.(1992) A Handbook on Inculturation.New York Paulist..

1