1
I. Bible
Required readings:
A. Genesis 1-17, 35-50; Exodus 1-16; Deuteronomy 29-31; 1 Samuel 15-16; 2
Samuel 7; Psalms, Isaiah 5, 9, 11,14:1-21, 40-66; Jeremiah 9, 12, 23, 30-
31; Ezekiel 19-20, 39; Daniel 8-9; Hosea; Joel; Amos; Micah; Habakkuk;
B.
Malachi. Reading the rest of the Old Testament is optional but recommended.
Matthew; Mark; Luke; John; Acts; Romans; 1Corinthians; 2 Corinthians 1-
5; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; 1 Thessalonians; 1
Timothy; Titus; 1 Peter; 1 John; Revelation. Reading the rest of the New
Testament is optional but recommended.
Recommended Versions:
A. HarperCollins Study Bible (New Revised Standard Version)
B.
C.
Young’s Literal Translation
J. B. Phillips Translation (New Testament only)
II. Theology – Four (4) required
A.
Christian Universalism: God’s Good News for All People by Eric Stetson
B.
Destined for Salvation: God’s Promise to Save Everyone by Kalen Fristad
C.
Hope Beyond Hell by Gerard Beauchemin
D.
The Inescapable Love of God by Thomas Talbott
E.
The Golden Thread: God’s Promise of Universal Salvation by Ken R.
Vincent
F.
Raising Hell by Julie Ferwerda
G.
The Gospel of Inclusion by Carlton Pearson
You may acquire any one of these books directly from the CUA by making a $15 donation, or any four of them for a $50 donation. See http://www.christianuniversalist.org/books/.
III. History – Four (4) required
A.
Universalism: The Prevailing Doctrine of the Christian Church During Its
First Five Hundred Years by J. W. Hanson (required). If you do not wish to buy it, the full text of this book is available online at http://books.google.com/books?id=fzARAAAAYAAJ
B.
A Brief History of Christianity by Carter Lindberg (required).
C.
The History of Universalism by Eric Stetson (required)
D.
Choose one of these two (required):E

2 a.
The Larger Faith: A Short History of American Universalism by Charles
A. Howe b.
Universalism in America: A Documentary History of a Liberal Faith by
Ernest Cassara
Additional reading (optional): E.
a.
Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never
Knew by Bart D. Ehrman
IV. Ethics and Pastoral Care – Two (2) required
A.
Choose one of the following: a.
I Started to Be a Minister: from Fundamentalism to a Religion of
Ethics by Howard M. Teeple b.
The Minister as Moral Counselor by Gaylord Noyce c.
Preacher Behave: A Handbook of Ministerial Ethics by J. Clark Hensley
B.
Choose one of the following: a.
Basic Types of Pastoral Care and Counseling: Resources for the
Ministry of Healing and Growth by Howard Clinebell b.
Pastoral Care: An Essential Guide by John Patton
V. Living the Gospel – Required: two(2) from A through N and two(2) from O
A.
If God Is Love by Philip Gulley and James Mulholland
B.
Evolving in Monkeytown by Rachel Held Evans
C.
Reaching Out or The Return Of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen
D.
The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
E.
Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
F.
To Kiss the Joy by Robert Raines
G.
An Altar In the World by Barbara Brown Taylor
H.
Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault
I.
At the Heart of the Gospel by J. Ann Jervis
J.
Proverbs of Ashes by Rebecca Parker and Rita Nakashima Brock
K.
Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd
L.
The Imitation of Christ by Thomas ‘a Kempis
M.
The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
N.
Spiritual Terrorism by Boyd Purcell
O.
Packet of articles about divinization and discipleship. Read at least two articles, one must be by Stetson or Edwards. Download the whole packet online here: http://www.christianuniversalist.org/ordination/theosispacket.doc

3 or you may read the individual articles at these addresses: a.
“Born of God – Really?” by John Gavazzoni – http://www.christianuniversalist.org/resources/articles/born-of-god/ b.
“Theosis: The Fusion of Man/Woman and God?” by Ángel F. Sánchez
Escobar – http://www.christianuniversalist.org/resources/articles/theosisfusion/ c.
“The Divine Incarnation” by Jabez T. Sunderland – http://www.americanunitarian.org/sunderlandincarnation.htm d.
“The Body of Christ: A Universalist Perspective on Divine
Manifestation and Human Destiny” by Eric Stetson – http://www.christianuniversalist.org/resources/articles/body-ofchrist/ e.
“Born of the Spirit: The Offspring and Heirs of God” by Brad Edwards
– http://www.savioroftheworld.net/Born%20of%20the%20Spirit.htm