700

This course attends to the spiritual life of the student as a person. Students will engage spiritual autobiographies that provide context for how the means of grace have formed Christians over the ages and serve as a template for the development of a personal rule of life. Students will develop strategies for their own personal spiritual formation.

This seminar is a doctoral-level exploration of the formation of persons from the perspective of practical theology. Students will examine and deploy concepts related to soteriology, with special reference to the restoration and perfection of the imago Dei. Students will engage various biblical, historical, and contemporary voices for the sake of a deeper understanding. Special attention will be given to the practice of personal Sabbath keeping toward the appropriation of the graces of faith.

This seminar is a doctoral-level exploration of the formation of persons from the perspective of historical theology. Students will examine and deploy concepts related to soteriology, with special reference to Christian traditions of eremitic monasticism. Students will engage relevant texts within their original historical context, with a roughly equal emphasis being given to ancient, medieval and modern voices. Historic practices of selfawareness, such as the Ignatian Examen, will be woven into the course experience, with an eye toward cultivating the graces of faith.

This seminar is a doctoral-level exploration of the formation of communities from the perspective of practical theology. Students will examine and deploy concepts related to ecclesiology, with special reference to becoming and abiding-in the body of Christ. Students will engage various biblical, historical, and contemporary voices for the sake of a deeper understanding. Special attention will be given to the practice of communal Sabbath keeping toward the appropriation of the graces of love.

This seminar is a doctoral-level exploration of the formation of communities from the perspective of historical theology. Students will examine and deploy concepts related to ecclesiology, with special reference to Christian traditions of coenobitic monasticism. Students will engage relevant texts within their original historical context, with a roughly equal emphasis being given to ancient, medieval, and modern voices. Historic practices of discernment, such as Spiritual Direction, will be woven into the course experience, with an eye toward cultivating the graces of love.

This seminar is a doctoral-level exploration of the formation of societies from the perspective of practical theology. Students will examine and deploy concepts related to eschatology, with special reference to embracing and embodying the missio Dei. Students will engage various biblical, historical, and contemporary voices for the sake of a deeper understanding. Special attention will be given to the practice of social Sabbath keeping toward the appropriation of the graces of hope.

This seminar is a doctoral-level exploration of the formation of societies from the perspective of historical theology. Students will examine and deploy concepts related to eschatology, with special reference to Christian traditions of secular monasticism. Students will engage relevant texts within their original historical context, with a roughly equal emphasis being given to ancient, medieval, and modern voices. Historic practices of compassion, such as the Visitation and Hospitality, will be woven into the course experience, with an eye toward cultivating the graces of hope.

This course attends to the role of the Bible in the spiritual life of the person. Students will consider the biblical text for its contributions to their understanding of the processes and practices of personal spiritual formation. Prerequisites: SPIR-700

This course attends to the spiritual life of the student in the context of Christian community. Drawing upon John Wesley's approach to discipleship, "band meetings" will serve as the locus of group spiritual formation in the cohort. Students will work together in their band to develop a communal rule of life. Prerequisites: SPIR-700, SPIR-720

This course attends to the role of the historic Christian tradition in the spiritual life. Students will investigate historical precedents, such as monastic movements, and explore how these might inform their own spiritual formation in community today. Prerequisites: SPIR-700, SPIR-720, SPIR-740

This course attends to the spiritual life of the student in the context of society. Students will consider the liberating nature of God's grace for all aspects of society, with special attention to the marginalized, disadvantaged, and impoverished as they exist in ecclesial, societal, and political realms. Prerequisites: SPIR-700, SPIR-720, SPIR-740, SPIR-760.

In this course, students will attend to a particular area of societal spiritual formation needed in their context and develop a strategic response that is biblically, theologically, and contextually appropriate. Opportunity will be given for reflection and revision of the Personal Rule of Life developed in SPIR-700 with a focus on continued personal, communal, and societal spiritual growth. Prerequisites: SPIR-700, SPIR-720, SPIR-740, SPIR-760, SPIR-770.