3DM802: APPLIED THEOLOGY
Reformed Theological Seminary
Charlotte, North Carolina
July 30—August 3, 2012
Mark E. Ross, Ph.D.
Visiting Professor
Professor of Systematic Theology
Erskine Theological Seminary
Columbia, South Carolina
I. Catalog Description
A theological approach to moral problems and social issues in contemporary society
(social ethics) and/or to personal spiritual growth and renewal (personal ethics).
II. Course Overview
This course is an advanced seminar in ethics. Part of the course (about 20%) will
focus on issues in the philosophical and theological foundations of ethics. The
majority of the course will be spent in applying the Ten Commandments to specific
issues of our times. The principal aim of the course is to equip students to apply
Biblical truth to pressing, ethical concerns of individual and social life, and to give
advanced pastoral leadership to churches, denominations, and communities on ethical
issues. The course assumes that persons attaining a doctoral degree in ministry
should be able to provide advanced leadership in both church and community.
Hence, the requirements for this course will include presentations addressed to both
church and community. Successful completion of this course should enable the
student to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Love the law of God more deeply.
Become doers of the word and not hearers only.
Understand the confusion of morality that exists among people today.
Think more clearly about ethical issues.
Help others to see the necessary objectivity of moral values against the
background of society’s irrational relativism and subjectivism in moral thinking.
6. Relate Biblical principles to some pressing ethical issues of our day.
7. Communicate clearly the application of Biblical truth to these ethical issues.
III. Required Reading
The following books and article (c. 1750 pp. total) are required reading for the course.
You need not bring the books to class, but should have a Bible and the Larger
Catechism with you. A signed statement indicating that you have completed all the
assigned readings must be submitted by the final due date in order to receive credit
for this portion of the course. You should also reference these books in the written
assignments. An additional 250 pages of reading should also be completed in
connection with your research paper.
A. Books
1. J. Budziszewski, What We Can’t Not Know. Revised edition (Ignatius Press,
2011).
2. The Larger Catechism of the Westminster Assembly. Questions 91-196. Any
edition.
3. C. S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man. Any edition.
4. Patrick D. Miller, The Ten Commandments: Interpretation: Resources for the
Use of Scripture in the Church (Westminster John Knox Press, 2009).
5. John Murray, Principles of Conduct (Eerdmans, 1991).
6. David VanDrunen, Natural Law and the Two Kingdoms: A Study in the
Development of Reformed Social Thought (Eerdmans, 2009).
B. Articles
1. Arthur Allen Leff, “Unspeakable Ethics, Unnatural Law.” Duke Law Journal,
Volume 1979, pp. 1229-1249. Available online:
http://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3810&context=fs
s_papers
C. Additional research
1. For the research paper, you should complete an additional 250 pages of reading
on the topics of one or both of your papers.
IV. Assignments and Evaluation
1. Completion of all reading – 10% of final grade.
You must submit a signed statement that you have completed all the assigned
reading. A form is provided below. If you complete only a portion, please
indicate what you have read and the total pages completed. You will receive
partial credit for the work you have completed. Please complete the reading of
Budziszewski, Leff, and Lewis and prior to class. The remainder of the reading
may be completed by October 31, 2012.
2. Two short papers (3-5 pages written). Be prepared to read from these papers in
class if requested – 5% for each.
a. A short paper on the objectivity of moral laws. On the basis of your
reading in Budziszewski, Leff, and Lewis, prepare a three to five page paper
(not more!) on the objectivity of moral laws. This paper may be incorporated
into the longer paper dealing with the validity of the ten commandments for
today. The grading of this paper will be solely on the basis of completion. It
is due the first day of class.
b. A presentation on a specific ethical issue. Prepare a three to five page paper
(not more!) dealing with a specific ethical issue as it might arise in a pastoral
setting (e.g. a church member comes to you struggling with a decision over
divorce, in vitro fertilization utilizing an egg or sperm donor, homosexuality,
guilt from killing in war, or something else). Show how this issue should be
understood, evaluated, and addressed in the light of one or more of the ten
commandments. This paper may be incorporated into your longer paper
dealing with a specific ethical issue. The grading of this paper will be solely
on the basis of completion. It is due the first day of class.
3. A position paper of about ten pages (2500 words) – 30% of final grade.
You have been invited to address your local Rotary Club on the subject, “The Ten
Commandments: Are They Still Valid for Society Today?” This is your chance
to say something significant and thought-provoking to a mixed audience
(Christian and non-Christian) of leaders in your community. Using what you
have gained from the course and the readings, give an answer to the assigned
question. You need not discuss all ten commandments in the paper. You may, in
fact, choose just one if you please, and address a specific moral issue as it might
confront a community (for example, gay marriage), but the paper should provide
some argument for the objectivity of the moral law. If you do choose to address
one issue, it must be a different issue than is addressed in your research paper.
Additional research may be utilized but it is not required for this paper.
4. A research paper of about 15 pages (3500-4000 words) – 50% of final grade.
The paper is to deal with an ethical issue of your choosing. It should be done in
case study fashion, giving a brief (250 words maximum) presentation of the case
as it might arise in a pastoral setting, then arguing for a Biblical response,
interacting with the readings and discussions in this course, and the additional
research you have done. Give appropriate documentation for this interaction. Be
sure to identify one or more of the ten commandments which govern the situation,
show the application you are making, and justify that application as the one
demanded by the commandment(s). At least 5 additional sources beyond the
assigned readings should be consulted in your research, utilized and footnoted in
the paper, and included in the bibliography. Be sure to use scholarly sources.
Normally they would be available in print, though you may access the sources
online. Wikipedia is not an acceptable source (though it can be a useful guide to
scholarly sources).
5. Form and deadline for long papers. All papers must be submitted in hard copy.
They should be double-spaced, in 12 point font, using footnotes (not endnotes), in
a standard academic form. The two long papers must be turned in to Tari
Williamson in the D.Min. office at RTS by October 31, 2012. A penalty of $100
is applied to any work submitted late.
DMin* Student Learning Outcomes
In order to measure the success of the DMin curriculum, RTS has defined the
following as the intended outcomes of the student learning process. Each course
contributes to these overall outcomes. This rubric shows the contribution of this
course to the DMin outcomes.
Biblical/
Theological
Foundations:
Significant knowledge of biblical and theological
foundations for pastoral ministry. (This includes
interaction with Biblical texts, as well as
awareness of Reformed Theology.)
Historical/
Contemporary
Practices:
Significant knowledge of historical and
contemporary practices of pastoral ministry.
Integration:
Ability to reflect upon and integrate theology and
practice, as well as implementation in a
contemporary pastoral setting.
Sanctification:
Demonstrates a love for the Triune God that
aids in the student’s sanctification.
Rubric
Mini-Justification
Strong
Moderate
Minimal
None
Strong
Moderate
Strong
Moderate
1. Ten commandments and
related texts are carefully
studied.
2. Larger Catechism closely
examined.
1. Emphasis will be on
contemporary applications,
though there will be some
discussion of how the church
has applied the
commandments across its
history.
1. Major emphasis of the course
is providing a
Biblical/theological response
to the issues that are
commonly faced in pastoral
ministry
1. Each topic examined will
include some discussion of
the personal applications to
be made of the
commandments.
3DM802: APPLIED THEOLOGY
Reformed Theological Seminary
July 30—August 3, 2012
Completion of Reading Assignments
Name: (please print) _______________________________________________________
Date submitted: __________________________________________________________
Circle as appropriate:
I have completed all reading assignments:
Yes
No
If no, please indicate how much reading you have completed:
Assigned reading
Budziszewski, What We Can’t Not Know
Larger Catechism, Qs. 91-196
Leff, “Unspeakable Ethics, Unnatural Law”
Lewis, The Abolition of Man
Miller, The Ten Commandments
Murray, Principles of Conduct
VanDrunen, Natural Law and the Two Kingdoms
pages completed
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Additional research (abbreviate author, title – at least five are required*)
*1. _________________________________________
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Signed: __________________________________________________