catalog 2009/10 admissions office 800.600.1212 [email protected] www.gordonconwell.edu/charlotte/admissions 14542 Choate Circle, Charlotte, NC 28273 704.527.9909 ~ www.gordonconwell.edu Contents CATALOG 2009/10 GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY–CHARLOTTE 1 Introduction 37 Degree Programs 3 History and Accreditation 40 Master of Divinity 4 President’s Message 41 Master of Arts 6 Our Vision and Mission 43 Master of Arts in Religion 8 Statement of Faith 43 Doctor of Ministry 10 Community Life Statement 46 Checksheets 11 Faculty 58 Seminary Resources 25 Board of Trustees 59 The Harold John Ockenga Institute 25 Emeriti 59 Semlink 64 Campus Ethos and Resources 26 Admissions 69 Associated Study Opportunities 28 Tuition Charges 29 Financial Assistance 71 Course Descriptions 35 Other Campuses 72 Division of Biblical Studies 77 Division of Christian Thought 80 Division of the Ministry of the Church 85 Calendar 2009-2010 2 introduction history Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary has a rich heritage, spanning more than a century. The school’s roots are found in two institutions which have long provided evangelical leadership for the Christian church in a variety of ministries. The Conwell School of Theology was founded in Philadelphia in 1884 by the Rev. Russell Conwell, a prominent Baptist minister. In 1889, out of a desire to equip “men and women in practical religious work... and to furnish them with a thoroughly biblical training,” the Boston Missionary Training School was founded by another prominent Baptist minister, the Rev. Adoniram J. Gordon. The Conwell School of Theology and Gordon Divinity School merged in 1969 through the efforts of philanthropist J. Howard Pew, Dr. Harold J. Ockenga and Dr. Billy Graham. Their vision was to “establish within a strong evangelical framework, an independent, interdenominational seminary.” The united schools became known as Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Dr. Ockenga, the long-time pastor of Boston’s historic Park Street Church, became the institution’s first president and served until 1979. In 1981, Dr. Robert E. Cooley was inaugurated as the second president and under his leadership Gordon-Conwell strengthened its on-campus program, expanded seminary housing, and completed the campus learning complex, including the Chapel and a 41,000 square foot Academic Center. During the 1991-1992 academic year, the establishment of two branch campuses was formalized: the Boston campus, and the Charlotte, North Carolina, campus. Dr. Cooley currently serves as President Emeritus. Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., well-known biblical scholar, author, Bible teacher and preacher, served as the third president of the merged school from 1997-2006. Dr. James Emery White became the fourth president of Gordon- Conwell in July 2006. Dr. Billy Graham continues his relationship with the school as Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees. accreditation Gordon-Conwell operates under a charter of the Board of Higher Education of the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts. The seminary is a member of The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. The seminary is certified by the United States Government for the training of veterans and the education of chaplains for military service and for the enrolling of foreign students. Degree program(s) of study offered by Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary—Charlotte have been declared exempt from the requirements for licensure under provisions of North Carolina General Statutes (G.S.) 116-15(d) for exemption from licensure with respect to religious education. Exemption from licensure is not based upon any assessment of program quality under established licensing standards. 3 introduction PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE welcome Greetings from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary! Thank you for taking the time to learn about our school. Gordon-Conwell combines a rich tradition with cutting-edge educational innovation. Rooted in the gospel and God’s Word, the seminary seeks to de- velop Christian leaders who are thoughtful, globally aware, spiritually mature and ready for a broad array of ministries. What can you expect from Gordon-Conwell? You can anticipate being pushed to think in ways you never imagined, for the Church needs thinking Christians who can address our contexts from a Christian worldview. You will be prodded to deepen your walk with Christ, while looking outward to the needs of the world. You will meet professors and fellow students who may think differently about those parts of our faith that are secondary to the core. They will expand your own theological and spiritual horizons. You will find world-renowned professors who give themselves personally to your needs and concerns. You will be encouraged to have a passion for a world without Christ, while giving attention to the needs of the whole person and the whole of society. You will sometimes be nudged beyond your comfort zone to become prepared to serve Christ wherever He calls you. Whether you sense a leading to pastoral ministry, cross-cultural ministries, teaching ministries, counseling or as a lay person serving Christ in the market- place, I encourage you to consider Gordon-Conwell, a seminary helping the Church to think and live. dennis hollinger, ph.d. president & professor of christian ethics 4 introduction 5 introduction the gordon-conwell–charlotte vision The Charlotte campus desires to train men and women for ministry at home and abroad and to impart to them a biblically rich and culturally sensitive vision of ministry. Foundational to all of this is unswerving fidelity to Gordon-Conwell’s Mission Statement and to its classically evangelical Basis of Faith. The specific vision for the Charlotte campus is driven by three commitments: 1. The campus is to have a strong thrust toward the theo- logical engagement of modern culture in its North American setting. How bibli- cal truth relates to culture—theologically and practically—is an underlying concern in Charlotte’s education, for those serving Christ need to understand how Christian faith has been influenced by the culture as well as how it should seek to influence the culture. 2. The campus is to embrace fully the partnerships in ministry which helped launch it. This entails a concerted effort to involve the local church and local ministries in the educational experience of its stu- dents. An important aspect of the M.Div. degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary—Charlotte is the emphasis placed on mentored ministry and integrative seminars. In both occasions, students are engaged in theological/practical integration, which is essential for a seminary education. 3. The campus is to employ the adult model of education and expects students to take significant responsibility in the shaping of their own educational experience. The Charlotte program is designed to address the needs of students, many of whom are actively engaged in ministry. They may be full-time pastors, bivocational pastors or non-ordained staff with limited theological training. Students within a two-to-three hour radius of Charlotte will have access to quality contextualized theological education and hands-on training for parish ministry, without leaving their employment or ministry for the dura- tion of their studies. statement of mission Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary is an educational institution serving the Lord and his Church. Its mission is to prepare men and women for ministry at home and abroad. The seminary undertakes this task as a training partner with the Church so that what is learned on campus may be comple- mented by the spiritual nurture and the exercise of ministry available through our mentoring programs in the Church. Those who work and study at Gordon-Conwell are united in the common belief that the abiding truth of God’s written Word and the centrality of Christ’s saving work are foundational to the seminary’s mission. These principles structure the seminary’s life and values, inform its curriculum 6 and activities, and determine the evangelical perspective in which it sees its responsibilities in preparing students for ministry in the modern world. introduction the gordon-conwell–charlotte mission Article 1 To encourage students to become knowledgeable in God’s inerrant Word and competent in its interpretation, proclamation and application in the contemporary world. Because the teaching of God’s Word is indispensable to the well-being and vitality of God’s people, the seminary has a fundamental responsibility to encourage in students a love for Scripture. It is to teach exegetical skills by which they will be enabled to interpret the Word and inculcate understanding by which they will be able to apply it effectively. Article 2 To maintain academic excellence, in the highest tradition of Christian scholarship in the teach- ing of the biblical, historical and theological disciplines. Theological education, which is properly done within and for the Church, ought to function with rigor and academic integrity. The seminary, therefore, must provide an environment within which teaching and learning can best occur and encourage high levels of scholarly competence and research in its faculty. Article 3To train and encourage students, in cooperation with the Church, to become skilled in ministry. The Church and the seminary share the goal of seeing knowledge, skills and at- titudes integrated in the person who ministers. Both in traditional degree programs and in continuing education a combination of careful training and supervised experience in ministry are educational practices essential to achieving that goal. Article 4 To cultivate in partnership with the churches, spiritual matu- rity in students so that their love for God in Christ is evidenced in Christ-like character, outlook, conduct, relationships and involve- ment in Church and society. Academic learning that honors God and serves his people must cultivate a growing life of biblical discipleship and intimacy with Christ.