Content

Students will focus on the place of the Lutheran Confessions in the church today and reflect on the implications of that for their own leadership role. In particular students will examine the historical background to the Formula of Concord; study the controversies that led to the different articles being included; develop an understanding of the role played by the main formulators of the Formula; research and analyse some of the twelve articles in detail and participate in peer discussion of those articles; and explore the implications of the Formula for the life of the church today.

Unit code: CT8006L

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational

Unit discipline: Systematic Theology

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Australian Lutheran College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Discuss the controversies that lead to the inclusion of different articles and explain the theological response of the Formula of Concord to those controversies

2.

Assess the Formula of Concord as a summary of God's Word

3.

Evaluate the continuing relevance of the Formula of Concord for the church today

4.

Integrate vocational applications of the Formula for contemporary pastoral practice

Unit sequence

At least 24 points in CT is desirable

Pedagogy

This unit uses a combination of interactive lectures and tutorial style discussion on the basis of content and questions defined both by the lecturer and the students. Online students will be engaged in synchronous and asychronous activitities

Indicative Bibliography

  • Arand, Charles P., James A. Nestingen, and Robert Kolb. The Lutheran Confessions: history and theology of the Book of Concord. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2012.
  • Bente, F. Historical introduction to the Lutheran Confessions as contained in the Book of Concord of 1580. 2nd ed. St Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2005.
  • Hebart, Friedemann. One in the gospel: the Formula of Concord for our day. 3rd ed. Clovelly Park, SA: Australian Church Resources, 2015.
  • Kolb, Robert, and James Nestingen, eds. Sources and contexts of the Book of Concord. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2001.
  • Kolb, Robert, and Timothy J. Wengert, eds. The Book of Concord: the confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2000.
  • ———, eds. Book of Concord on CD-ROM. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2002.
  • Moorhead, W.G. The Formula of Concord: study guide. Lutheran Confessions series. St Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1999.
  • Stahlke, Otto F., and Eugene F. Klug. Getting into the Formula of Concord: a history and digest of the Formula: historical notes and discussion questions. St Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1977.
  • Preus, Robert D., and Wilbert H. Rosin. A contemporary look at the Formula of Concord. St Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1978.
  • Wengert, Timothy. A formula for parish practice: using the Formula of Concord in congregations. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2006.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

Essay 4500 words

4500 75.0
Report

Report 1500 words

1500 25.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 26 Sep, 2019

Unit record last updated: 2021-06-07 08:43:51 +1000