During Summer Session I of 2018, the Sankofa Institute for African American Pastoral Leadership is offering a course in Protestant Social Ethics/African American Christian Social Ethics taught by South African theologian, ordained Dutch Reform cleric, and anti-apartheid activist, Dr. Allan A. Boesak. This course is available for credit, audit, or enrichment.
About the Course
In this class on Protestant Christian Social Ethics we will not simply speak of social ethics in general, but of Christian Social Ethics “from the margins”, from “below.” Our reading of the Scriptures which are the foundation of Protestant ethics will be a reading the Scriptures “from below.” We will allow ourselves to be challenged by the Bible’s “powerless voices” as Dwight Hopkins calls them, who speak up in prophetic protest, calling ancient Israel to obedience to a God who is altogether just. These are the voices that are the measure of Israel’s moral conduct. Do we hear those “powerless voices” within our world today? Who are they and what are they saying? We will explore ethics, our ethical decisions, choices and behavior as a crucial manifestation of our prophetic witness in the world. And always we will have to confront the question: how do these decisions choices, and behaviors impact the lives of the most vulnerable? In the course of our explorations, we will be confronted by the fact that we live in an imperial reality that demands from us absolute obedience, absolute submission, and absolute loyalty. What does it mean to be the church of Jesus Christ in the face of empire? What do those challenges mean as preachers of the Word and ministers to God’s people? What is “prophetic” and “prophetic preaching”? Is prophetic preaching a “style” of preaching; a gift given only to some; a form of spiritual activism; a burden we would rather not have to bear; a calling we would hope to avoid if we can? What does it mean when we say that prophetic preaching is rooted in the biblical prophetic tradition of discernment, dissent, and commitment? What do we mean by speaking truth to power? Is the Bible simply a “tool” we use, an unambiguous, uncomplicated spiritual guide with unchallenged authority, a handy reference book, or is it a book too full of complexities and too far removed from the political and social realities of today to be of any use because it can be used by anybody to prove a point? And that brings us to the critical question: what does it mean “doing” Christian ethics today?
-Dr. Allan Boesak
Instructor
Dr. Allan A. Boesak grew up in Western Cape, South Africa. He studied at the University of Western Cape and earned his doctorate in theology from the Protestant Theological University in Kampen, Netherlands. Dr. Boesak is a theologian, humanitarian, prolific author and tireless advocate for social justice. His early activism and service led to international recognition as an influential leader in the fight against apartheid. During the 1980s and 1990s, he worked alongside Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela to lead efforts against apartheid and promote reconciliation.
A South African theologian, anti-apartheid activist, and ordained Dutch Reformed cleric, Dr. Boesak was the inaugural holder of the newly established Desmond Tutu Chair of Peace, Global Justice, and Reconciliation Studies from 2013 to 2017, held jointly at Christian Theological Seminary and Butler University. Dr. Boesak received an honorary Doctor of Theology and Justice from Oblate School of Theology in 2014.
This course is offered through the Sankofa Institute for African American Pastoral Leadership, an interdisciplinary, multi-dimensional academic formation and professional leadership process for developing and supporting pastoral leaders committed to ministry and proclamation. To learn more about the Sankofa Insitute, click here.
Course Details
Course Title: TS 7350 – Protestant Christian Social Ethics/African American Christian Social Ethics (3 credit hours)
Dates/Time: Summer Session I 2018 | June 4—15 | 6:30 pm—9:30 pm | Monday – Friday
Course Instructor: Professor Allan A. Boesak, PhD
Available for credit, audit, or enrichment.
Admission Requirements
Credit
- Submit a graduate level application
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended.
Audit
- Submit a graduate level application
- Official Transcript from degree-granting institution
Enrichment
Download form, fill out and return to Registrar’s office. Payment in full is required at time of registration.
Tuition and Fees
- Master’s level – $605 per credit hour
- Enrichement (face-to-face) – $345
- Application fee – $65 (one-time)
- Registration fee – $50 (per semester)
- Comprehensive fee – $220 ( 1-5 credit hrs) $335 (5 or more credit hrs)
Registrar
For admissions and tuition information regarding any program, please contact the Registrar.
(210) 341-1366 EXT 226 or registrar@ost.edu