West Texas Clergy Education: Courses

Biblical theology attempts to summarize and synthesize the main strands of the diverse theological assumptions and affirmations of the Bible. The Bible is not a systematic theology. Nevertheless, Wesleyans share the Protestant conviction that Scripture must provide the foundational source for all theological reflection that is truly Christian. Authentically Christian preaching must also arise responsibly from the biblical text.

The goal of this module is to help students think about the Bible as more than an anthology of the classic literature of ancient Israel and the Early Church. It is this. But it is also an essential resource for defining what should characterize contemporary Christian faith and practice.

From its very beginning the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition has emphasized the moral implications of the gospel. This theme is not unique to the Holiness tradition since all Christians understand that healthy Christianity bears fruit. The purpose of this module is to call attention to this reality by pointing toward the multiple sources and resources for Christian character found in the Scripture as it has been handed on to each new generation. Special attention will be given to the unique way in which moral reflection has characterized the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition.

Another trajectory for this module is Christian character. Such things as integrity, fidelity, consistence, and generosity speak to the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Part of the importance of this module is to be found in calling attention to the crucial sense in which embodying the faith should be understood as a material outgrowth of the preaching of the gospel. In other words, to preach the gospel without the intention to live it out is unthinkable in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition.

To survey the grand heritage and great tradition of orthodox Christian theology. Our survey will touch on biblical foundations, selected historical developments, and some contemporary problems and restatements.

To continue in the survey of the grand heritage and great tradition of orthodox Christian theology. Our survey will touch on biblical foundations, selected historical developments, and some contemporary problems and restatements.

The very nature of the Bible as the message of God is communication and thus it must be interpreted. The question is not whether to interpret Scripture but whether it is interpreted well or poorly. The module is designed for believers who are called into a ministry of communicating the Word. The primary context of their ministry is the Church, which is nurtured by the Holy Spirit’s application of Scripture to its life and work. To grow in this, ministry students need to learn the appropriate tools and processes of interpretation and to practice the use of such tools and processes. Beyond knowing, students must become lovers of Scripture, seekers after God, and joyfully committed to adopting the message into their own lives and to their contemporary contexts.

Students should have completed Telling the Old Testament Story of God and Telling the New Testament Story of God (or their equivalent) before beginning this module.

Our understanding of holiness should never be divorced from Wesley’s theology more broadly defined. This is crucial as we move into the 21st century, when a fundamentalist absolutism on the one hand or religious relativism on the other seem to be the only options. “Holiness of heart and life” is important to every generation. It is extremely important that those preparing for ordained ministry in the Church of the Nazarene catch, hold, and utilize the dynamism of the Wesleyan theological paradigm. This course is designed with the future denominational identity of Nazarenes firmly in mind.

This module is designed for those persons who have received a call from God to full-time Christian ministry and for those who wish to explore the foundation and scope of the Christian ministry. During the module, learners will have the opportunity to examine the scriptures that provide a foundation for Christian ministry and the key components of ministry. The module content can be summarized as answers to three questions: What should the minister BE?, What should the minister KNOW?, and What should the minister be able to DO?

The structure of this module is not without an underlying support, namely, the Wesleyan quadrilateral. This is a methodology that holds to the primacy of Scripture. Yet, Wesley believed that the Scriptures should be interpreted dynamically: Scripture has been interpreted by tradition—a history of interpretation that requires some fidelity; it witnesses to an experience of Christ and the Christian gospel that is dynamic and communal in character; it should be understood, organized, and effectively communicated through the aid of reason. Thus, the lessons in this module will examine the theology of holiness from the perspective of: Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. It will also examine related doctrines that are intricately involved in a strong interpretation of holiness—the doctrines of humanity, sin, and salvation. It will deal with the realm of “holiness ethics” and finally make some recommendations for articulating the theology of holiness and the doctrine of entire sanctification in the present context. It is extremely important that those preparing for ordained ministry in the Church of the Nazarene catch, hold, and employ the dynamism of the Wesleyan-Holiness theological paradigm, particularly in its expression of the doctrine of sanctification. This module is designed with our future denominational identity firmly in mind.

It is strongly recommended that students complete the module Exploring the Theology of John Wesley before enrolling in this module.