This course will uncover a theology of the city that gives Christians a rationale and biblical understanding of the meaning and purpose of cities. We will delve into the parameters of the gospel, the role of common grace in the city, and the church's involvement in shaping urban form.
For many entering into fields ranging from urban planning to architecture to church planting to community development arises the need to have a more robust theological understanding of the city. This framework guides both professionals and ministry leaders alike. Many people today live, serve, and work in the city but fail to make the connection with God's plans and purposes in the city nor a biblical understanding of them. This course is a rudder to guide students along regardless of what their career path is.
As the tide has turned and a wave of church planters and ministry leaders have washed up on the shorelines of city centers many are learning to navigate the intricacies of urban life for the first time. Many of today's church planters are migrating in from the suburbs, smaller cities, and rural towns as they are confronted with a culture, lifestyle, and built environment that is more foreign than they thought ... or would admit. What do church planters need to know about the city in order to be effective? Throughout the course students will be exposed to different trends that are reshaping the city both in culture and urban form. This in turn influences how people experience and live in the city which then has direct bearing in how you plant a church. Exegeting the city today is of critical importance.
The Bible has a lot to say about cities and housed within is a robust theological understanding of the nature and purpose of cities. This theological underpinning gives students a deeper understanding of not only their role in living and ministering in the city, but God's plans and intentions for cities.
This course explores the urban nature of the Bible and displays the urban trajectory of the missio Dei.
The nature of this class is based upon context … the city. We explore how cities impact and influence our theology and at the same time how our theology informs us of our understanding of cities.
Cities are the landing place for new residents, immigrants, refugees, and the like. They are inherently multicultural and it is then this context where we begin applying a theological framework.
A deeper theological understanding of not only the city, but God's work in the cities informs us which gives followers a Christ a more comprehensive way to engage practically in the city. Whereas before it was assumed that the role of the Christian is about spiritual things, but a theology of the city leads us to get involved in city building which entails a city's economics, built environment, and more.
Theology is not to be done in a vacuum, but instead in community. Throughout this course students will reflect and engage in theologizing in the context of a community.
