1. Explain the Bible’s role in the formation of Christian faith and practice, both individually and corporately.

2. Describe the Bible’s character as a divine/human text and why that matters for Christian readers.

3. Apply foundational exegetical methods to a variety of literary genres.

4. Develop an approach to interpretation that is faithful and fitting to the biblical text and to the community that reads it.

Texts (Required):

Eric D. Barreto and Michael J. Chan. Exploring the Bible. Fortress, 2016.

Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (4th Edition). Zondervan Academic, 2014. Also available in Kindle. Note: Do not buy an earlier edition.

Terry Wildman et al. First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament. InterVarsity, 2021.

National Council of Churches. NRSVue Holy Bible with Apocrypha. Print options are available through Zondervan Press at https://faithgateway.com/collections/nrsvue-bibles. Free online access at https://www.biblegateway.com/

Gaventa, Beverly Roberts and David Petersen, eds. The New Interpreter’s Bible One-Volume Commentary. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2010.

Powell, Mark Allan, ed. The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. Revised and Updated. 3rd edition. New York: HarperOne, 2011.

Additional reading and online assignments are listed in the Appendix.

We will spend most of our time talking: about the Bible, biblical books, and related topics that are relevant to you and to your community. Please complete the pre-class work thoughtfully, completely, and on time, so that you can be a full contributor to the conversations we have. Give yourself time to reflect on the written assignments and to write your thoughts clearly. Take notes. Ask questions. Bring your ideas and questions with you to the class week. Come ready to talk and to learn.

Pre-Class Assignments

Reading, Listening, and Viewing

• Read Exploring the Bible in its entirety.

• Read How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth in its entirety.

• Read Genesis 1-33; Proverbs 1-10; Isaiah 1-12; Mark 1-13; 1 Corinthians 1-16

• Listen to the two podcasts listed in the Appendix.

• View the Bible Project videos listed in the Appendix.

Writing Assignments

1. Read “The Reader as Interpreter” in Fee & Stuart (pp. 22-25), “Theological Guidelines: Scripture” at Theological Guidelines: Scripture (umc.org), and “The Revised Gottwald Inventory” in Barreto and Chan (pp. 123-28). Guided by what you’ve read, write a 3-4 page paper that answers the Question, “Who Am I as an Interpreter?” Include at least six of the elements in the Inventory. Think carefully and write clearly.

2. Keep a notebook in which you record your thoughts about the assignments listed above. One of the basic skills of biblical interpretation entails showing respect for the authors and interpreters of the Bible, by listening carefully to what they say. Your notes will reflect the attention you devote to this task. Your notebook will contain at least two observations on:

• Each chapter in Exploring the Bible and Reading the Bible for All Its Worth.

• Each of the podcast interviews (with Hoklotubbe and Wildman)

• Each of the Bible Project Videos.

Notes may take the form of insights, takeaways, observations, or questions. Write them in complete sentences that express a definite idea – as opposed to identifying a topic. For example:

An idea: “The biblical canon is the final form of a centuries-long process.”

A topic: “This chapter is about literary genres.”

Submit your notebook as a MSWord file by

Topics of Conversation during the Class Week

Monday morning: 1) The Bible and Interpretation. 2) Creation

Monday afternoon: 1) Hebrew Narrative. 2) Ceremonies and Prayers

Tuesday morning: 1) Define the Course Project. 2) Prophets. 3) Epistles

Tuesday afternoon: 1) Gospels. 2) Wrap-up

Post-class Assignments

1. Revisit your “Who Am I as an Interpreter?” paper. Write a 3-4 page paper in which you talk about how your mind has changed and/or stayed the same as a result of the assignments and our class conversations.

2. The class will decide on a final project during the in-person week.

About the Written Assignments

1. Give yourself time to think, write, and revise your paper.

2. Good papers will give interact with particular ideas from the sources.

3. Support your opinions with sound thinking.

4. Develop your ideas fully and clearly. If you’re unsure, ask a friend or loved-one to read your paper to see if it makes sense. If not, revise accordingly.

5. All assignments are to be written in MSWord, with 12-point Times Roman font and 1-inch margins.

6. Send all assignments to Dr. Hawk by email as an attached file, by 5:00 p.m. of the due date.

7. Late assignments will receive a deduction in grade.

Calculation of Grades

• “Who Am I as a Bible Interpreter?” (20%) Due:

• Notebook (30%) Due:

• “How My Mind Has Changed and/or Stayed the Same” (20%) Due:

• Final Project, 30% Due:

Appendix

Podcasts

• The Bible For Normal People - Episode 196: Chris Hoklotubbe - The Bible and Native American Spirituality. https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-196-chris-hoklotubbe-the-bible-and-native-american-spirituality/

• “The Bible from an Indigenous Perspective.” The Takeaway. New York Public Radio. https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/takeaway/segments/bible-indigenous-perspective.

Short Videos: The Bible Project

• How to Read Biblical Narrative (Episodes 1-3, 5). https://bibleproject.com/explore/category/how-to-read-biblical-narrative/

• How to Read Biblical Poetry (Episodes 1-3). https://bibleproject.com/explore/category/how-to-read-biblical-poetry/

• How to Read Biblical Prose Discourse (Episodes 2-3). https://bibleproject.com/explore/category/how-to-read-biblical-prose-discourse/

• The Creation Series (Episodes 1-5). https://bibleproject.com/explore/category/creation-series/

Students will be able to

1. Articulate a Biblical and theological understanding of polity.

2. Understand and explain the polity of The United Methodist Church, including conferencing, oversight, and discipline.

3. Articulate the nature of stewardship Biblically and theologically.

4. Identify techniques and develop skills as effective administrators of local churches, including financial management.

Laceye Warner, The Method of our Mission

Lovett Weems, Leadership in the Wesleyan Spirit

John Flowers and Karen Vannoy , Adapt to Thrive Abingdon Press, 2024

Reference: 2016 Book of Discipline

Additional materials will be provided related to the 2024 General Conference

At the end of this course, Students will be able to:

1. Implement and oversee appropriate types of care in various settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, and homes.

2. Organize caring ministries within the congregation.

3. Reflect on and practice skills of sensitive caregiving, using role play and analysis of case studies.

4. Discern and implement appropriate boundaries, knowing when and to whom to refer people, and when and when not to share information.

5. 5Comprehend and use the gifts that each student brings to congregational care.

6. Develop skills of listening, pastoral presence, and empowerment of others that are shaped by the cultural and local context and by the Gospel.

7. Implement appropriate boundaries and develop further awareness of self-care.

8. Understand how to utilize the church’s resources to meet the needs of the community.

The course has five separate segments, the first focuses on understanding the value of story; the second Native American concepts in counseling and planning for Advent; African American Pastoral Care and Listening Skills; Assessment and Crisis and its importance in congregational care; and Recognizing patterns in congregational life regarding grief, change, and conflict and utilizing church resources for the benefit of one’s local community.

Requirements to earn credit

1. Send in assignments on time and read books and articles as indicated. If something comes up please contact Michelle if you run into problems. My cell is 630-336-2317 and email mickiol@aol.com.

2. Actively participate in class discussions and role plays

3. Have materials ready for class. One of these will be a verbatim of a pastoral encounter to present to the whole class. The format will be given once you have registered for the class.

4. Written materials that are submitted have followed the guidelines.

   1. 1 inch margin, single spaced, name and assignment on the header of each page.

   2. Times Roman 12-point font.

   3. Insert Page numbers on each page.

   4. Use appropriate citations, endnotes and bibliography. Use of Turabian, Chicago style and/or APA maybe used, just be consistent throughout your papers.

1. Keep Going: The Act of Perseverance Joseph Marshall III, Sterling Ethos: New York, 2006.

2. Women Out of Order: Risking Change and Creating Care in a Multicultural World Editors Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner & Teresa Snorton Fortress Press 2010

   1. Read Chapter 6 (This will be sent to you once you have registered by email.)

3. Practicing Care in Rural Congregations and Communities Jeanne Hoeft, L. Shannon Jung and Joretta Marshall 2013 Fortress Press.

4. Attend To Stories: How to Flourish in Ministry by Karen Scheib Wesley’s Foundery Books, 2018.

Once I know who is in the class you will be paired together for a joint presentation on one of the following books and will then present to the group about the book while we are in person in Alaska.

1. African American Pastoral Care and Counseling: The politics of oppression and empowerment Ed Wimberly. Pilgrim Press, 2006.

2. Crisis Counseling in the Congregation Larry Webb, Abingdon Press, 2011.

3. I’m Sorry, I Love you, Goodbye by Janet Bieschke. Capucia Publishing, 2018.

4. Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life. By Henry Cloud and John Townsend. ‎ Zondervan, 2017.

Two Movies to watch-both can be rented from Amazon at 3.99 each:

1. Smoke Signals (Starring: Adam Beach , Evan Adams , Irene Bedard and Gary Farmer)

2. The Preacher’s Wife (Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, Courtney B. Vance)

Other books that are suggested:

1. Duran, Eduardo. Healing the Soul Wound: Counseling with American Indians and other Native Peoples. Teachers College, 2006.

2. Jackson, Cari. The Gift to Listen the Courage to Hear. Augsburg, 2003.

3. Justes, Emma. Please Don’t Tell: What to do with the Secrets People Share. Abingdon, 2014.

4. Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, and Switzler. Crucial Conversations. McGraw Hill, 2012.

5. Richardson, Ronald. Creating a Healthier Church. Augsburg, 1996.

6. Rogers, Dalene Fuller. Pastoral Care for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Healing the Shattered Soul. Routledge, 2002.

7. The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict, 2nd edition. Arbinger Institute, 2015.

1. List and reflect upon the major movements, primary figures, and events that led to the eighteenth-century revivals, particularly with respect to the lives and ministries of John and Charles Wesley.

2. Understand and articulate the vision of holiness and the theology of grace as it shaped the Wesleys and the structures of the Methodist movement.

3. Identify and discuss significant theological and historical developments in American Methodism, including ordination and episcopacy as well as how the church provided ministry to various ethnic/racial groups in America.

4. Reflect theologically on Wesleyan heritage and identity.

1. Richard Heitzenrater. Wesley and the People Called Methodists. Abingdon Press, 2nd edition, 2013. ISBN-13: 978-1426742248, ISBN-10: 142674224X. Also available in Kindle.

2. Russ Richey, Ken Rowe, Jeanne M. Schmidt, American Methodism: A Compact History. Abingdon Press, Reprint edition, 2012. ISBN-13: 978-1426742279, ISBN-10: 1426742274. Also available in Kindle.

3. Randy Maddox. Responsible Grace: John Wesley’s Theology (Kingswood Series), Kingswood Books, 1994. ISBN-13: 978-0687003341, ISBN-10: 0687003342. Also available in Kindle.

Additional Texts (Required): As an additional required text, students are to choose one of the following Native American texts:

1. John Wesley’s sermons/treatises:

   1. The character of a Methodist. By John Wesley, M.A. Late Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford. ; [One line of text] | Evans Early American Imprint Collection | University of Michigan Library Digital Collections (umich.edu)

   2. Chapter 13 - Brief Thoughts on Christian Perfection (worthychristianbooks.com)

   3. John Wesley's "On A Catholic Spirit" in Modern English (crivoice.org)

2. Chapter 9 “Mission and Ministry-Church and Culture: A Difficult Beginning”, by David Wilson. Coming Full Circle: Constructing Native Christian Theology. Editors Steven Charleston and Elaine A. Robinson. This chapter will be sent to you if you do not already own the book.

3. John Wesley and Slavery: Myth and Reality by Irv Brendlinger (Article) will be sent to you.

Supplementary Texts (Not required):

John Wigger, Taking Heaven By Storm: Methodism and the Rise of Popular Christianity in America, University of Illinois Press; Reprint edition, 2001. ISBN-13: 978- 0252069949, ISBN-10: 0252069943.

John Wesley, A Plain Account of Christian Perfection

David W. Scott and Filipe Maia, editors, Methodism and American Empire: Reflections on Decolonizing the Church

Students are expected to read all of the required reading prior to the start of the course.

1. A sermon on one of these major themes, using Wesley’s writings as a backdrop to fit your context (final sermon to be preached in your congregation in October 2024 prior to final online summary session):

   1. Dimensions of Grace (prevenient, justifying, sanctifying). You will write the sermon share it with your classmates for feedback.

   2. Christian perfections, as distinctly different than Christian perfectionism.

   3. Catholic spirit and the nurturing of faith community.

   4. Holiness as more than right moral behavior.

2. A ten (10) page paper that reflects your theological understanding of the course objectives applied to your ministry setting. Paper is DUE 10 days AFTER completion of the course. Please email to above email address and call my cell phone the day you send it to me. ● Please include a title page with your name, the course number, your contact information, date, and Annual Conference. In addition, it is expected that your paper will have proper spelling, sentence structure, grammar, and parenthetical documentation. ● NOTE: Late papers will change your mark significantly.

3. Students are expected to select one of the additional texts and be prepared to share in class and speak on why it is important to know and understand the context and history of the reading selected.

4. Class participation is mandatory and weighted heavily in final grading.

5. Students will meet, and are expected to participate in, small groups to share their learning with others.

6. Students will be expected to lead in a devotional prior to each class meeting.

More details will be sent to students once they register.