MASTER OF DIVINITY (3 YEAR PROGRAMME)

DISTRIBUTION OF COURSES AND CREDIT HOURS

FIRST SEMESTER

SECOND SEMESTER

THIRD SEMESTER

FOURTH SEMESTER

FIFTH SEMESTER

SIXTH SEMESTER

Course Description:

Category A    General Prerequisites (10 credits) 

MDA 501: Law for Pastoral Ministry                                                        1 Credit hour

Objective

By the end of the course students would have been acquainted with the application of law to the pastoral ministry.

Content

The course is designed to introduce students to the rudimentary elements of law, as they are likely to confront them on a day-to-day basis. Areas to be covered will include the concept of Law, functions of Law in society, family law, the laws of marriage, succession, rudiments of criminal law, some selected offences, prison and borstal institutions, theories of punishment, prostitution, certification of photograph and travel documents, guarantors, land issues etc

Mode of delivery

The course will be delivered by lectures and student presentations.

MDA 502: Church Management                                                                1 credit hour

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to manage their personal lives, their families and the people they lead.

Outline: The course will address management issues relating to the understanding of principles that make for fruitful ministry, ability to manage one’s personal life and family as well as effective leadership necessary for managing and administering our God-given resources.

Mode of delivery

The course will be delivered by lectures and student presentations.

MDA 503: Ghanaian Language                                                                  0.5 credit hour

Objective

By the end of the course, students will be able to use their mother tongues to express themselves in grammatically-accurate ways to enhance communication.

Content

This course is aimed at helping students to learn the principles and rules governing the writing systems of the various Ghanaian Languages (i.e Akan, Ewe, Ga). Special attention will be given to orthography and the use of appropriate registers and word collocation for these languages. Reading and comprehension exercises will also constitute a major part of this course. Language and culture, grammar and translation exercises will also be included in the course.

Mode of delivery

Lectures, reading comprehension and class discussions will be the main modes of delivering the course.

MDA 504: Theologising in Ghanaian/African Languages                       0.5 credit

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to employ cultural resources from their mother tongue to articulate theological issues for the benefit of their Christian communities.

Content

This course is designed to facilitate a critical theological reflection on social, political and economic issues, which are of great relevance to church and society. Students will be given the opportunity to embark on this special exercise in their mother tongues. Specific case studies from the writings of African theologians such as Jacobus Capitein, Afua Kuma and Philip Laryea will be discussed.

Mode of delivery

Lectures and reading assignments will be employed to deliver the course.

MDA 505: Biblical Hebrew I                                                          1 credit hour

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to analyse simple grammar and syntax of introductory Biblical Hebrew and learn much of basic Biblical Hebrew vocabulary.

Content

This course introduces students to the grammar, syntax and vocabulary of Old Testament Hebrew. Basic vocabulary to enhance the reading of simple sentences in Hebrew is also covered, to facilitate student understanding of simple Biblical Hebrew texts.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and Class Quizzes will be employed

MDA 506: Biblical Greek I                                                              1 credit hour

Objective

By the end of the course, students will be able to analyse simple grammar and syntax of Biblical Greek and learn sufficient Biblical Greek vocabulary to be able to read simple New Testament Greek texts.

Content

This course introduces the grammar, syntax and vocabulary of New Testament Greek. Basic vocabulary to enhance the reading of simple sentences in Greek will also be covered. Emphasis will be given to the study of Greek vocabulary to help students prepare for further study in Biblical Greek.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and class presentations

MDA 507: Biblical Greek II                                                            1     credit hour

Objective

By the end of the course, students should be able to demonstrate their familiarity with some basic Greek morphology and syntax and translate some texts from the New Testament.

Content

This course focuses on the study of Greek syntax and morphology.  Further study of the grammar, vocabulary and translation of simple scripture passage from the Greek New Testament is undertaken flowing from the first course. Emphasis will be on more grammatical and syntactic studies, parsing of words and phrases.

Mode of Instruction

Direct lectures and pear group teaching.

MDA 508: Biblical Hebrew II                                                         1          Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to recognise and analyse the strong stems of the strong verbs in Biblical Hebrew to help them do some basic translations.

Content

This course is a continuation of the study undertaken in Biblical Hebrew I and introduces students to stems of the strong verbs in Hebrew grammar, syntax and enables students to do some basic translations of texts in the Hebrew Bible.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and class discussions will be used to presenting the course.

MD 509: Practical Attachment/Practicum I                                  4 credits hours

Objective

Content

This is a programme-long placement in a church, a specialized ministry or Para-church institution under an approved supervisor (minister). This is a supervised programme and seeks to bring ministerial students and ministers into a supervised encounter where mentoring, guiding and theological reflections are dominant. This is full course and carries 3 units of academic credit. It is a general requirement for all graduating students

Mode of Delivery

Observation and participation at the facility.

Reading List

Not applicable

MDA 510: Practical attachment II                                                 4 credits hours

Objective

By the end of the attachment, students would have been exposed to the central activities of practical ministry.

Content

This is a programme-long placement in a church, a specialized ministry or Para-church institution under an approved supervisor (minister). This is a supervised program and seeks to bring ministerial students and ministers into a supervised encounter where mentoring, guiding and theological reflections are dominant. This is full course and carries 3 units of academic credit. It is a general requirement for all graduating students

Mode of Delivery

Observation and participation are the main modes of learning.

MDA 511: Project Work                                                                  6 credit hours

MDA 512: Research Methods in Religion and Theology              1 Credit hour

Objective

By the end of the course students will understand and appreciate the what, why and how of research.

Content

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to various research methods at a tertiary level that are used especially in the humanities and includes how to write and cite references from academic papers or materials. Attention will be given to both qualitative and quantitative approaches to research as well as the key components of a given research project.

Mode of Delivery

Seminars, lectures and class presentations will be used in delivering the course.

MDA 513: On-campus Practical Attachment                                            2 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the annual placement, first year, second year and third year students would have experienced practical ministry in children’s service, chaplaincy and adult congregation respectively.

Mode of Delivery

Student observation, participation and journal-keeping

Reading List

No reading required

Category B: Bible (24 credits)

CORE BIBLE COURSES

MDB 503: Introduction to the Old Testament                                          3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be grounded social, political and religious world, as well as the main literary genres of the Old Testament.

Content

The course provides a background for the study of the Old Testament (OT) and will cover the growth and development of the Canon, Inspiration, Revelation and Authority of the OT. Other areas to be covered include a study of the political, social and religious setting of the Bible world, use of Biblical criticism and Archaeology in the study of the OT. Emphasis will also be placed on the authorship and content of the Pentateuch, Deuteronomistic history, Chronicler history, the latter Prophets, Psalter and Wisdom literature.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDB 502: Introduction to the New Testament                             3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course, students should have a good understanding of the historical development, literature and theology of the New Testament.

Content

This course covers a general introduction to the New Testament documents with a concentration on the political, social, religious and cultural backgrounds and environment that helped shape the documents.  Issues of the Canon of the literature will be studied with the objective of giving insight into the background and relevance of the New Testament in the on-going ministry of the Church.

Mode of Delivery

Direct lectures and student presentations

MDB 501: Biblical Hermeneutics                                                   3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be equipped to handle the interpretation of various types of genres (literary styles) of the Bible without much difficulty.

Content

This course will introduce the student to the theory and practice of Biblical hermeneutics and will also undertake a survey of contemporary perspectives such as the new hermeneutics, literary interpretation, feminist theology, Third World evangelical structuralism and post modernism.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDB 504: Theology of the New Testament                                               3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to analyse the various approaches to theological study of the New Testament.

Content

This course focuses on the main theological themes in the New Testament, development of theological issues with emphasis on problems of unity and diversity in the New Testament, continuity between New Testament Theology and Old Testament Theology as well as alternative approaches to theological interpretation of New Testament writings. It aims at facilitating students understanding of the role of Christ in clarifying the connection between the two Testaments. By the end of the course students will understand the relevance of New Testament theology as consummating Old Testament Revelation.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDB 505: Prophetic Literature                                                                  3 credit hours

Objective

By the end of this course, the students will understand the broad theological contributions of prophets in the OT, examine the significance of the chronological development of prophecy and appreciate a much broader and clearer understanding of the profound ministry of prophecy. 

Content

This course focuses on both the institution of prophecy and how the prophetic literature reveals the functions of prophets in ancient Israel. The canonical shape of the prophetic literature, vocation, social location, messages of the prophets in the monarchical, exilic and post-exilic periods of the Old Testament times will be analyzed. It will also deal with the implications of prophecy for contemporary African Christianity to stimulate a critical appreciation of the phenomenon in social activity. 

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDB 506: Old Testament and African Life and Thought                       3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course, students will be able to apply Old Testament life and thoughts to the African context.

Content

Students are enabled to make a comparison of some Old Testament practices such as marriage ceremonies, funerals, festivals, kingship, naming of children, worship with the African life and thought to help them appreciate the relevance of the African life and thought to the study of the Old Testament.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and group presentations

MDB 507: Theology of the Old Testament                                    3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of this course, the student will be able to explain the basic approaches to the study of OT theology and appreciate how OT Theology relates to God, individual life, and the church and society.

Content

This course provides students with various methods that have been used in the study of OT Theology. It is designed to give a systematic account of the covenant relationship between God and his creation as presented in the OT. It will focus on God, humankind, grace, commitment and reconciliation within the theme of covenant as the centre of OT theology. By the end of the course students will be able apply their understanding of the main theological themes in the OT to contemporary mission in ministry.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and group presentations

MDB 508: New Testament Text in English                                                3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course, students will be able to write a full exegesis paper on any passage selected from the set book.

Content

This course is an introduction to exegesis and interpretation of related set books in the New Testament. It is aimed at grounding students firmly in the principles of interpretation. It will deal with issues of authorship, date, audience and provenance. The course will also focus on the theological implications of the exegetical study of the selected books. Master of Divinity students will study a set book to be determined from time to time.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

ELECTIVE COURSES (Bible)

MDB 509: The Gospels                                                                                3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to explain the main message of the individual Gospels for ministry in church.

Content

This course deals with the fundamental issues involved in the interpretation of the Gospels. These include origin, place, authorship, audience and message of individual Gospels. The aim is to help students to know the culture behind the Gospels, and how they have influenced and shaped the message of the Gospels as literary genre. The discussion of the Synoptic Problem will help students evaluate the Gospels as four perspectives of a single story.

Mode of Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDB 510: Old Testament Exegesis                                                3 credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course student will be able to write a full exegesis paper on any passage selected from the set book.

Content

This course is an introduction to exegesis and interpretation of related set-books in the Old Testament and is aimed at grounding the student firmly in interpretative principles. As an exegetical study, it also examines the history, literature and theology of the selected book.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDB 511: New Testament Exegesis –                                            3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to explain and interpret the set book for ministry in church.

Content

This course is an introduction to exegesis and interpretation of related set-books in the New Testament. It is aimed at grounding the student firmly in interpretative principles. As an exegetical study, it also examines the history, literature and theology of the selected book. Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDB 512: Advanced Biblical Greek                                                          3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course, students will be able to read the Greek New Testament, do syntactical and morphological analyses of some texts and translate them.

Content

Critical reading and intensive translation of selected New Testament books and passages from other texts with emphasis on Exegesis is the aim of the course. It will deal with advanced issues of syntax, morphology, exegesis and translation of selected biblical texts. By the end of the course students will be able to read, exegete, and interpret selected texts of NT Greek texts.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and peer group teaching

MDB 513: Advanced Biblical Hebrew                                                       3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of this course, the student will be able to read the Hebrew Bible, identify Hebrew words in the syntactical forms and translate Hebrew texts and offer their theological significance.

Content

This course is a continuation of the study of Biblical Hebrew and focuses on vocabulary, hollow verbs in grammar and syntax. The aim is that the course would assist students read, exegete and translate and selected prose and poetic texts of the Hebrew Bible. By the end of the course students will be well-grounded to be able to read, exegete and interpret the Hebrew Bible for mission and ministry.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and peer group teaching

MDB 514: Wisdom Literature                                                                    3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to handle Wisdom Literature with educated care so as to interpret the text correctly for ministry in church.

Content

This course will focus on the world of Wisdom. It will investigate the Wisdom Tradition, theology of the Wisdom books in Old Testament (Proverbs Job, Ecclesiastes) and identify the principles they teach as well as outline the implications of the Wisdom literature to the contemporary world.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDB 515: Prophecy in Ancient Israel                                                        3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to compare their understanding of Biblical Prophecy with contemporary manifestations of the prophetic in African Christianity.

Content

This course concentrates on the origin and development of prophecy, theories used to describe prophets in ancient Israel and Judah and the character of their prophecies. Prophecy and its relationship to worship, social and political life, eschatology, covenant, social justice and righteousness will also be discussed based on selected books of the latter Prophets.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

Objective

By the end of the course students should be able to address issues in Pauline studies within their right contexts and apply them appropriately to our current situation.  

Content

The course covers an in-depth study of Paul’s life and work with particular emphasis on the major theological themes in his writings, his missionary strategy and pastoral traits. Emphasis will be placed on Paul’s influence in shaping the direction of the Early Church. The aim is to help students to understand Paul in his environment and appreciate his relevance to contemporary church life and work. By the end of the course students will be able to interpret Paul contextually and find the appropriate significance for contemporary ministry.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDB 517: Issues in Pauline Theology                                                        3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to handle Pauline theological themes satisfactorily.

Content

This course will guide students to appreciate the complexity of Paul’s theological background and to develop a balanced position in their evaluation of his writings.  Major theological themes in Paul’s writings will be critically examined and attempts will be made to assess their relevance for present-day church and society. The aim is to help students acquire the theological sophistication needed to understand and teach Paul’s theology in Christian ministry.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDB 518: Old Testament text in English                                      3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able the apply the message of the book (s) they study to do mission and ministry.

Content

This course is an introduction to exegesis and interpretation of related set books in the Old Testament. It is aimed at grounding students firmly in the principles of interpretation. It will deal with issues of authorship, date, audience, provenance and message of the set book (s). The theological implications of the exegetical study of the selected books will also be explored. Master of Divinity students will study a set books to be determined from time to time.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

Category C (History and Missions); 12 credits

CORE COURSES

MDC 501: Early Church History                                                   3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to draw lessons from the study for contemporary mission and ministry.

Content

This is a course designed to give students a comprehensive view of the history of the Christian Church from its very beginnings. It begins with a study of the activities of the church as narrated in the Acts of the Apostles and other New Testament Books and moves on to consider the post apostolic period stretching to the Constantinian era and beyond. Attention will be given to the period of the persecutions, the role of the Church Fathers and other outstanding people of the period. The various controversies and their impact on the church will also examined in the light of the various Church councils that sought to give direction to the church.

MDC 502: Principles of Mission & Evangelism                            3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to apply the biblical and theological principles in evangelization.

Content

This is a foundational course to introduce students to the fundamental principles underlying Christian mission and evangelism. The study will include an examination of biblical and theological principles with a concentration on the missionary practice of the early church. Contemporary strategies of church planting and church growth including the various methods adopted by the newer churches and the challenges they pose to the older established churches will be analyzed. Some major challenges facing the Church in Africa generally and Ghana in particular will also be dealt with. Specific case studies from Ghana churches will be used. Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDC 503: History of Christianity in West Africa                        3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to apply principles they have learnt to avoid mistakes of the past in order to help enhance the ministry of the contemporary Church.

Content

The course is designed to enable students to chart the course and planting of Christianity in West Africa.  It seeks to introduce students to various mission bodies in West Africa, as well as the role played by Africans in the missionary enterprise in the sub-region. It will also include a survey the current state of the older churches and the challenges posed by the newer churches.  It is aimed at helping students to learn from the history of the Church in West Africa.

MDC 504: The Reformation                                                            3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will understand the impact of the Reformation on the Church and thereby apply the lessons learnt in contemporary times.

Content

The course introduces the student to events that shaped the course of Christianity in the 16^th century. It will concentrate on the background and causes of the Reformation, the consequences of the Reformation as well as a study of important persons of the period. It will also touch on the emergence of Protestant churches and the Roman Catholic counter-Reformation.

ELECTIVES FOR HISTORY AND MISSIONS

MDC 505: The African Church Fathers                                        3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to apply the lessons learnt from the lives and work of the Church Fathers to their own contemporary ministries.

Content

This course examines the contribution of some early African Church Fathers in the history and growth of the Early Church. It will offer the student an understanding of the place of African church leaders in the formative years of the Christian church and the importance and significance of their contributions to the development of theology and church administration. The main emphasis will be on Clement, Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian and Augustine whose writings and other activities will be examined. Attention will also be paid to the impact of the African Church Fathers on the Church in Africa today.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDC 506: Introduction to Missiology                                                        3 credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to discern and deal with obstacles in mission practice.

Content

This course will examine the meaning and biblical and theological foundations of Mission. It looks at the early period from Pentecost to the Middle Ages, the Medieval period to the 19^th century and the modern period. Missionary activities in West Africa, new trends in Mission, ministry and evangelization, current problems, e.g. Missions and the cultural revolution in Ghana are also discussed. The aim is to help students to define the best approaches in mission and ministry for contemporary times.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDC 507: Introduction to Ecumenism in Ghana                         3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will understand the biblical and theological bases for ecumenism, analyse why some individuals and churches oppose it and identify what they can contribute to the process.

Content

This course is a study of ecumenism and the Church’s search for an appropriate expression of unity. Specific focus will be made on the Ghanaian Church’s search for unity in the past and in the present. Attention will be given to Church Union talks in Ghana. There is an examination of the concept of ecumenism as well as the major models of unity.  It also makes a survey of the ecumenical movements.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentation

MDC 508: Issues in Contemporary Missiology                             3 credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to apply Christian resources to respond to thorny issues of concern in the 21^st century.

Content

This course will focus on issues confronting the Church’s practice of mission and evangelism, including a biblical and theological vision of mission and paradigms shaping current understandings of mission, both historic and emergent. Selected issues, such as inculturation, liberation, contextualisation and ecumenism will be discussed. Gender, pluralism and globalisation, poverty, culture and ethnicity, economics and politics will also be examined. Terrorism, the environment, science and technology, the rise of the charismatic movement and the new morality (including homosexuality, abortion, etc). In all cases, attention will be given to the task of Christian mission in Africa today.

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to chart a God-honouring course for mission in the face of diversity and pluralism of ideas and theories.

MDC 509:      Christian Worship                                                                3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to construct theologically-accurate order of Christian worship and explain all the elements of worship.

Content

This course seeks to examine the historical roots of Christian Worship and to develop an understanding of worship and its theological and historical norms. An investigation will be made of worship forms in the Old and New Testaments together with the use of these forms and emergent worship patterns from the ancient Church through the Reformation to the present. Special consideration will be given to the sacraments, symbolism, worship materials, the construction of an order of worship, architectural structure and the place of the Arts in Christian worship.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

Category D (Systematic Theology)

CORE COURSES

MDD 501 Basic Christian Doctrine                                                3 credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will have a solid foundation for further study in Systematic Theology.

Content

The aim of this course is to introduce the ministerial student to basic Christian Beliefs as contained in the Apostles’ Creed. The course will give a general introduction to such major Christian doctrines as Revelation, God, the Human Being, Jesus Christ, Salvation, The Holy Spirit, The Church and Eschatology.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and group discussion

MDD 502: Jesus the Christ                                                              3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to evaluate the centrality of Jesus to biblical region.

Content

The course is intended to provide a general biblical and theological background to the study of Christology.  Attention will be given to the theological interpretation of the virgin birth, message, works, death, resurrection and exaltation of Jesus. The eschatological event of salvation associated with the advent of Christ, the New Testament confession of Jesus as the Lord, the Messiah, Saviour, Prophet, Son of Man and Son of God will also be considered to enable students gain a general knowledge of Jesus, the Christ and a firm theological foundation for further Christological studies.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and group discussions

MDD 503:  Eschatology                                                                               3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to interpret end time teachings of the Bible for contemporary Christian ministry.

Content

In this course, a special attempt will be made to expose, explore and explicate traditional African, Jewish, Traditional Christian and contemporary understandings of Eschatology. The purpose of this course is to help students to understand and appreciate the nature and power of hope in general and of the Christian hope in particular in Christian mission and ministry. Mode of Delivery

Lectures and group presentations

MDD 504: African Christian Theology                                                      3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to analyse various theologies in the light of Biblical Revelation.

Content

This course is designed to examine the historical development of the new theological movements in Africa. Special attention will be given to Inculturation theology, Black theology, African Women’s theology, Evangelical theology, among others. The inter-working between culture and politics and the importance of this in understanding the African theological reality as well as the challenges posed by African Women and Evangelicals will also be tackled.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures of group presentations

MDD505:  Soteriology                                                                                  3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to analyse various salvation messages in the light of the meaning of the Bible.

Content

This course is aimed at exploring the meaning of Christian salvation as taught in the Bible. The content of this course includes the presentation and examination of the fundamental biblical teaching about the atonement, the understanding of the atonement in the history of the Church, contemporary Western assertions about the atonement and African Christian understandings of the atonement.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

ELECTIVE COURSES                                    

MDD 506: Theologies and Polities of the Various Communions 3 credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to analyse various theologies and polities from biblical perspective, including their own confession

Content

This course is designed to introduce the student to the theological thought of John and Charles Wesley as developed in their writings and hymns, John Calvin and his Institutes and various interpretations of the articles of the Augsburg Confession. Attention will be given to the following major themes in the various communions: Salvation, Justification, and Sanctification and the relevance of their thought for the contemporary Church and society will be explored.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDD 507: Christology                                                                                 3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will understand the centrality of Christ to God’s salvific plan and the relevance of the message of the plan for contemporary living.

Content

This course will examine the fundamental biblical teaching about the person of Christ, the development of this teaching in the history of the Church as well as contemporary assertions about the incarnation or the Christ-event. Attention will be given to African interpretations of the Christ and his work.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and group presentations

Category E (Christian Ethics and Philosophy)

MDE 501: Introduction to Christian Ethics                                              3 credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to make moral decisions and teach others to do so from Christian perspective.

Content

The aim of this course is to expose ministerial students to the subject matter of Christian ethics and to teach them how to make Christian moral decisions and how to do Christian ethics as African Christians. The course will give a general introduction to subject areas such as What ethics is, Major Ethical theories in Moral Philosophy (Deontological, Teleological Ethics and Utilitarianism), Determinants of African Traditional Ethics, What Christian Ethics is, the Ethics of the Early Church and some definite issues in our current African context such as wealth and poverty, gambling, polygamy and stewardship.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDE 502: Introduction to Philosophy                                                       3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to connect Philosophy with the study of Theology in a healthy way.

Content

The objective of this course is to introduce students to basic philosophy with the understanding of the importance of philosophy for the study of theology. Major Philosophers and their theories will be surveyed to give a broad background to students. Mode of Delivery

MDE 503:  Church and Society                                                                  3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to respond to societal concerns appropriately from theological perspective.

Content

This course is a study of the interaction between the Church and Society. Attention will be given to the Church’s role in the transformation of Society and emphasis is on Society as the milieu for personal growth and theological thinking. The economic, political and cultural life of society will be considered to help students gain an insight into the practical implications of the Christian faith in Society.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

ELECTIVES

MDE 504: The Problem of Evil                                                                   3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to articulate their own theodicies.

Content

The aim of this course is to give students an in-depth study of the problem of evil and to help them articulate theodicies. The logical and practical nature of the problem of evil, various attempts made at solving the problem such as the Augustinian, Irenaean processes and African theodicies will be critically evaluated and the class will attempt an African Christian solution to the problem of evil.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDE 505: Death and Immortality                                                  3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to analyse the various theories and views for their own contemporary ministry.

Content

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the various views on death and immortality, and the attendant issues raised by the various views. The course will deal with such issues as the origins of after-life and immortality beliefs, the changing of death, death in the contemporary philosophies of Martin Heidegger, Jean Paul Sarte, and D. Z. Phillips, death and Tillich, Wolfhart Pannennberg, Karl Rahner, and death and immortality in African thought.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDE 506: Christian Ethics and Economic Life                            3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to examine the suitability of various economic models for African and Ghana.

Content

This course introduces students to various economic theories and evaluates the theories from Christian perspective. Issues covered include the basic structure of economic life, Capitalism, Socialism and the Christian Faith, evaluation of the Structural Adjustment Programs (SAP) in some African countries (including Ghana) from the Christian perspective of Koinonia, love and justice. The current economic situation of the West Africa sub-region (particularly Ghana) will also be evaluated from a Christian perspective.

MDE 507: Environmental Christian Ethics                                               3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to contribute to the process of covenanting for justice in the environment.

Content

This course will introduce students to a study of the non-human environment from the perspective of the Christian doctrines of creation and redemption. It will cover what environmental ethics is, readings in the state of the earth’s resources, various Christian attempts at articulating the environment’s question in theology: eco-justice.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and group presentations

MDE 508: Ethical Issues in the Ghanaian (African) Context      3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to make ethical decisions in respect of current issues in the Ghanaian society.

Content

The aim of this course is to deal with specific practical issues in the Ghanaian (and African) context, from Christian perspective. These include ethics of such critical African issues as wealth, poverty, work, racial matters, human rights, the natural environment, gambling, alcohol and drugs, violence, terrorism and war will be examined from Christian perspective. Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

Category F (Study of Religions)

MDF 501: Comparative Study of World Religions                                   3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to articulate the main beliefs of the major religions of the world.

Content

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the basic teachings of the major non-Christian religions with the view to examining how these religions impact on Inter-Faith relations. The non-Christian religions to be looked at in this course include Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Sikhism and Islam.  The main focus of the course will be on Islam as it is the non-Christian religion that impacts most on our situation.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDF 502: African Traditional Religions                                                   3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students would have gained considerable understanding of their traditional religion, and how this new knowledge can help them understand other religion.

Content

This course is intended to study African religion from the point of view of its practitioners themselves. It seeks to examine what religious ideas, practices and institutions that are peculiar to Africa, mean to her peoples. This course will cover the main features of the African Traditional religions, the concept of God in African belief, the ancestors, divinities, spirits, African conception of the human and moral values.

MDF 503: Pentecostalism and Neo-Pentecostalism                      3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to contribute to finding an appropriate response to the phenomenon of Pentecostalism.

Content

This course is designed to introduce students to the phenomenon of Pentecostalism and Neo-Pentecostalism as recent expressions of Christian faith both in Ghana and elsewhere. The course will examine the rise of classical Pentecostals and some of their unique theologies as well as the distinctive features of neo-Pentecostalism, popularly called charismatic churches in Ghana. Attempts will also be made to analyse why African Christianity is becoming increasingly Pentecostal in nature

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and group presentations

ELECTIVES FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS

MDE 504: The Church and New Religious Movements in Ghana 3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able understand the phenomenon of new religious movements and how they affect the Church of Jesus Christ.

Content

This course will study theories of origins and typologies, attraction, international and local influences in Ghana, of new religious movements. Detailed study will be made of selected international movements such as Nichiren Shoshu, Iskeon, Eckankar, and local/ indigenous movements like Afrikania Mission, Independent Churches, Charismatic Ministries and Charismatic Movements within the Mainline Churches.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDE 505: Psychology of Religion                                                   3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will understand how different people feel about religion and how such sentiments can affect Christian mission.

Content

This course will examine how classic psychologists have looked at religion from the perception of religion as pathological to religion as curative. The course will discuss the theories of Freud, James, Jung, Maslow and Fromm. It will also examine issues like religion and stress, religion and personal values, the religious individual and society as well as religious expression in the Ghanaian context.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

Category G (Practical Theology); 21 credits

CORE COURSES

MDG 506: Liturgics                                                                         3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will discover how the Ministry of the Word and the Eucharist developed with reference to classical Liturgies, the Reformation adaptations and contemporary liturgical revivals in the churches.

Content

The course will involve readings in the history of the Church and different liturgical orders with specific attention to the liturgies of historic mission churches represented in Ghana. Students will also be exposed to new informal liturgical traditions introduced by the African independent churches.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDG 507: Homiletics I & II (Theory and Practice)         3 Credit hours (1.5 + 1.5)

Objective

By the end of the course student will be able to prepare and deliver effectively different types of sermons.

Content

The course is intended to introduce the student to the art and science of preaching. Topics including, the meaning and purpose of preaching, the qualifications of a preacher, communication as a tool for preaching, types of sermons and basic biblical hermeneutics, sermon preparation and sermon delivery will be covered. Students will practice the art of preaching and receive class evaluation of their sermons. Students will also receive guidance in coping with criticism and feedback toward the improvement of sermon delivery, gestures and pulpit presence by the end of this course.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and practice of preaching

MDG 508: Pastoral care and Counselling                                      3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will have a basic understanding of the various theories of counselling and how these theories assist pastoral leaders in understanding the psychological dynamics at work in people lives.

Content

The course will introduce students to the theory and practice of pastoral care and counselling. Students will understand the differences between pastoral counselling and spiritual accompaniment. They will learn communication skills including active listening empathic understanding, discerning and referring. Students will be introduced to the theological, biblical and psychological underpinnings of Pastoral care and Counselling as well as pastoral care and counselling practices. The course examines also the church-based approach to pastoral care and counselling.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student observation sessions

MDG 509: Introduction to Christian Education                           3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to plan and execute appropriate and effective teaching programme for specific groups in the Church.

Content

This course is designed to examine the theoretical basis of Christian education, its historical, philosophical and psychological foundations. Attention will be given to human developmental stages and their significance for the teaching-learning process. Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDG 510: Youth Ministry                                                              3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to design effective education programmes for teaching Christian youth in the Church.

Content

This course is designed to examine Christian Ministry to the youth. The content and methods of education for the youth, affective and cognitive development, psychology of adolescence, youth and culture, intergenerational conflicts, identity, responsibility and vocational developments, etc. will be explored.  Special attention will be given to the character, organization and planning for Youth Ministry in the Church and among para-church and other Christian organizations such as YWCA, YMCA, S.U and the Brigade, among others. Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDG 511: Christian Marriage and Family Counselling              3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to plan and execute programme relating to pre-marital, marital and post-marital issues and concerns to help those who require them.

Content

This course will examine marriage and family within the Christian community. Biblical, theological and psychological reflections will be combined with family systems and interpersonal communications theory to provide a varied set of perspectives by which to think about pastoral care and counselling to married couples and to families in the contemporary society. Emphasis shall be placed on premarital pastoral care, marriage growth enrichment, handling conflict at various stages of the marital relationship; ministry to the single persons; pastoral care to the divorced and widowed, practicing non-violent communication, and also the dynamics of ministering to families.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and group presentations

MDG 512: Theology of Ministry                                                                 3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be familiar with the biblical principles of ministry as well as the origins and evolution of ministry up to contemporary times.

Content

This course is designed to introduce the student to the biblical and theological foundation of ministry. The course will focus on the biblical reflection on the ministry and who participates in it. Attention is also given to ministry within the historical changing context of the Church, the priesthood of all believers and the place of the ordained and laity in ministry within the context of the multiplicity of gifts in the Church. Those who take this course will be able to plan and apply programmes and interventions to facilitate believers’ understanding of Christian ministry and heal the often-unhealthy tension between clergy and laity in church.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

ELECTIVES

MDG 513: Issues in Christian Ministry                                                     3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to formulate their own responses to thorn issues that are ministry-related from Christian perspective.

Content

This course will provide an in-depth study of specific themes in Christian Ministry. It will also give students the opportunity to do an in-depth study of particular themes in ministry as a means to develop skills of researching into themes in theology.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and group presentations

MGD 514: Counselling the Aged & the Dying                              3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to manage local congregations as caring communities for the aging and understand and utilize the value of reminiscence (life review process) for the aged.

Content

This course explores the psychological, social, biblical, spiritual, and biomedical dimensions of aging. It will assess the relationship of the life and mission of the Church with special attention on the student’s role in relating to older persons in the congregations. The aim is to examine the phenomena and process of aging, develop “diagnostic” skills for problems facing the aging and to construct one’s own “theology of aging”, be acquainted with public policy and available community resources for assisting the aging.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDG 515: Issues in Pastoral Care and Counselling                                 3 Credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to apply their knowledge of these issues to enhance pastoral care and counselling in Christian ministry.

Content

This course presents an in-depth study of specific issues in pastoral care and counselling such as, confidentiality, multiple relationships, problem solving and assessment in counselling.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student presentations

MDG 516: Christian Marriage and the Challenges of Widowhood/Single Parenting  3 Credit hours

Objective

Students will be enabled through the course to be able to find strategies to and mechanisms by which the help solve the problem of singleness and widowhood.

Content

This course is intended to equip students with skills, mechanisms and strategies by which they could assist people who have been widowed and who have to cope with post-marital trauma and its associated challenges, such as single parenting and managing one’s post-marital life. It will also examine the issues of re-marriage and its challenges.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and student group presentations

MDG517: Counselling Alcoholics and Drug Addicts                    3 credit hours

Objective

By the end of the course students will be able to design programmes from pastoral perspectives to minister to alcoholics and drug addicts.

Content

This course will investigate the nature and dynamics of addiction of individual in the social system in the light of biblical, theological, psychological, social and pastoral considerations. The role of society in exacerbating addictive patterns, medical realities and preventive strategies will also be explored. Focus is on the pastoral perspectives and practical programmes for the church’s ministry to persons and families suffering from addiction and other forms of potentially addictive behaviour. The significance of spirituality and 12-step programmes in healing and restoration of the addict are also considered.

Mode of Delivery

Lectures and practical observation sessions