Explore Cultural & Contextual Theology

About the Department

The Department of Cultural & Contextual Theology will take the student from the diversity of New Testament contexts, through the contextual and cultural achievements and mishaps of Christian history, to contemporary cultural reflection and missional action. The student will engage those who have followed the mission Dei in the early church, through the Roman Empire, Western Europe, and on to current expressions of global Christianity in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

A highly experienced international faculty will guide each student through this journey of greater cultural and contextual comprehension, personal transformation, and missional fruitfulness.

Areas of Study

The Department of Cultural & Contextual Theology offers students a variety of study options, including:

• Theology of Aesthetics: Through a study of biblical perspectives on beauty students explore a theological framework for understanding creation and artistic endeavors.

• Theology of Cultural Expression: Through a study of a theology of media and communication students explore the nature of communication and storytelling from biblical perspectives.

• Doing Theology: Student explore the relation between theology and cultural context and gain experience in methods of community-based theologizing

• Contextual Theologies: Students explore indigenous, non-European theological expressions from African, Black, Asian and Latin American perspectives.

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the Bachelor of Theological Studies with a Cultural & Contextual Theology Major will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of various philosophies, approaches, and methods in the field of cultural and contextual theology.
• Devise contextualized missional endeavors for a variety of cultural contexts.
• Analyze competing cultural and contextual theologies.
• Defend your personal missional approach to culture and context.
• Apply a missional theology in a context so that it is both Biblically faithful and practically relevant.

Students who complete the Master of Theological Studies with a Cultural & Contextual Theology Major will be able to:

• Compare and contrast various philosophies and approaches to contextual theology.
• Design and implement a variety of missional endeavors in different cultural contexts.
• Critique any number of competing contextual theologies and methodologies.
• Design and justify a personal approach to cultural and contextual theology.
• Implement a cultural and contextual theology that is both Biblically faithful and contextually relevant.

Gainful Employment

While all students will take some courses in Biblical Studies, students who take a program in the Department of Biblical Studies will be prepared to serve in a variety of functions and locations:

Sample Employment Positions

Missionary
Ministry Director
Pre-Seminary degree (Undergraduate)
Bible Teacher

Sample Employers

Saddleback Church
The Potter's House
Willow Creek Community Church
Thomas Road Baptist Church
International Mission Board
New Tribes Missions
ChristStar
Wycliffe Associates
Gospel for Asia
Samaritan's Purse
Local churches

Major Popular US Locations

Lake Forest, CA
Dallas, TX
Houston, TX
Chicago, IL
Oklahoma City, OK
New York, NY
Los Angeles, CA
Atlanta, GA
San Diego, CA
Lynchburg, VA
Richmond, VA

Major International Locations