Bethany Theological Seminary adds new graduate certificates

Bethany Theological Seminary announced the addition of three (3) new graduate certificates— Biblical Interpretation, Conflict Transformation, and Theopoetics and Theological Imagination.

Biblical Interpretation

Purpose
This specialized certificate provides a focus on the sacred texts of the Christian faith and methods of interpretation. The importance of rigorous and reflective engagement with scripture is stressed. A student will learn with scholars of both Testaments, who bring an expertise to the life, times, culture, and context in which the Bible was written with conversation for today’s application. This is suitable for anyone seeking to enhance their knowledge to be used for writing, teaching, preaching, and personal devotion.

Objective
The Certificate in Biblical Interpretation provides a means to deepen one’s understanding of the Bible and methods of interpretation. The importance of rigorous and reflective engagement with scripture is stressed. Graduates with a Certificate in Biblical Interpretation will

1. skillfully interpret texts from both the Old and New Testaments using various scholarly data and methods, including historical, literary, and readercentered approaches;
2. articulate their own hermeneutical approaches to scripture in conversation with the Anabaptist- Pietist heritage, global realities, and their own particular context.

Conflict Transformation

Purpose
A Certificate in Conflict Transformation will be useful for persons interested in gaining knowledge and skill regarding their own and others’ conflicts on a personal and/or vocational level. Conflict transformation goes beyond conflict resolution and conflict management to an understanding of the journey involved in engaging conflict. This approach emphasizes the spiritual disciplines of prayer, meditation, waiting, and deep listening as well as an openness to the oftentimes serendipitous nature of a transformative process, which then guides us toward the relational nature of healthy conflict engagement.

Objective
The Certificate in Conflict Transformation provides a means of focusing on the work of reconciliation and conflict transformation. Along with theoretical approaches, the skills needed for constructive work in this area are practiced both individually and in groups. Graduates with a Certificate in Conflict Transformation will

1. develop an understanding of the nature of conflict and multiple models of engagement, especially from the Anabaptist-Pietest heritage;
2. demonstrate knowledge of and sensitivity to the social, spiritual, emotional, and contextual factors that influence the ability to engage in a creative process of conflict transformation;
3. practice skills that promote a healthy conflict transformation process responding to diverse settings and participants, whether among individuals or groups.

Theopoetics and Theological Imagination

Purpose
Many on a spiritual quest are now turning from theo-logics to theopoetics in an attempt to name themselves and render God’s name in history. God may be the poet of the world, but the world itself does not speak. We therefore look to poets and preachers, artists and intellectuals, scientists and gardeners, young mystics and old saints to artfully manifest spiritual truth, goodness and beauty.

Theopoetics suggests that religion’s nearest analogue is art and therefore practices theology as a poiesis: an inspired, inventive, intuitive and imaginative act of composition performed by authors. Theological imagination opens up the mind, heart, and soul of the individual for the church and world. These explorations bring new themes and understandings into conversation with where we’ve come from for where we are going.

Objective
The Certificate in Theopoetics & Theological Imagination provides a means to deepen one’s understanding of theology, especially as it is articulated in public venues and in wider cultural contexts that bring theology into conversation with the whole of life. Supplementing the required courses, additional coursework may come from a variety of theological areas, including classical and contemporary approaches, ecological theology, public theology, theology and culture, and ministry of writing. Graduates with a Certificate in Theopoetics & Theological Imagination will

1. engage in constructive understandings of the nature of theology, with attention to its function in the public sphere and connections to wider cultural contexts;
2. demonstrate knowledge of the diversity of approaches in theological thinking and writing, including familiarity with terminology, categories, and methods;
3. express their own theological imagination informed by theological investigation.