CERTIFICATE IN THEOLOGY & PEACE STUDIES

Certificate in
Theology & Peace Studies

EARN A CERTIFICATE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THEOLOGY AND PEACE STUDIES THAT PROVIDES THE THEOLOGICAL LANGUAGE FOR SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER IN A WORLD OF OPPRESSION AND INJUSTICE.

PROGRAMS / THEOLOGY & PEACE STUDIES

Speaking truth to power through a theological lens.

Peace activist, Daniel Berrigan, once remarked, “If you want to follow Jesus, you had better look good on wood.” The Certificate in Theology & Peace Studies equips students to speak truth to power by meaningfully engaging the truth of the gospel of peace and transmitting it through a life of kenotic co-suffering love in the midst of oppression and injustice.

The program consists of one semester of Theology & Culture (11 c/h) and one semester of the Jim Forest Institute courses (9 c/h) for a total of 20 credit hours. While this configuration allows students to complete the program in eight months, students are given the freedom to take any Theology & Culture courses that add up to at least 11 c/h and any Peace & Justice courses that add up to at least 9 c/h. The program can be completed entirely online, with the option of a short one-week collegium at St. Stephen's University.

Course Sequencing

THEOLOGY & CULTURE

The successful completion of the Certificate in Theology & Peace Studies requires a total of 20 credit hours. Students therefore need to complete one of the three Theology & Culture semesters and three Peace & Justice courses to complete their CertTPS. Students also have the opportunity to study either full time or part time and at their own pace.

Theology & Culture semesters are 11-credit hours and include courses in church history & theology, biblical studies, Christian counselling & spiritual formation, and philosophy & culture. While Certificate students complete only one Theology & Culture semester, the three semesters that we offer rotate between the fall and spring during the academic year, and CertTPS students can choose which one of these three semesters they would like to complete as part of their program. These semesters are offered through a hybrid-distance delivery method, wherein courses run online throughout the semester (Sept. – Dec. and Jan. – Apr.), with a short one-week in-person collegium and retreat on-site at SSU to give students the opportunity for face-to-face interactions with their fellow students and professors.

Students may start with any semester and may choose to complete the courses in each semester at a slower pace and in any order. Click on the tabs below to view the available courses in each semester of this program.

CHOOSE ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SEMESTERS AS PART OF YOUR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM:

11 CREDIT HOURS

BIB 5120

CUL 5172

SF 5150

HIST 5141

CUL 5170

Advanced Hermeneutics (3 c/h)

DR. BRADLEY JERSAK

Justice for All: Race and Gender Issues Today (3 c/h)

DR. DAVID MOORE, DR. L.A. HENRY, LISA SHARON HARPER, STEL RAVEN

Contemplative Spiritual Formation I (1 c/h)

RACHAEL BARHAM

Ancient Insights for Today I (3 c/h)

DR. PETER FITCH

Beyond Spectrum Ideology and the Culture Wars (1 c/h)

LAURENS VAN ESCH

THE CertTC AT A GLANCE

DURATION — 8 MONTHS (FULL TIME)

CREDIT HOURS — 22

DELIVERY MODE — ONLINE COURSES, SHORT 7-DAY COLLEGIUM (OPTIONAL)

EMPHASES — THEOLOGY & CULTURE, SPIRITUAL FORMATION, COUNSELLING, HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY, MINISTRY PREPARATION

11 CREDIT HOURS

BIB 5221

COUN 5230

SF 5250

HIST 5241

CUL 5270

Paul's Epistles in Patristic Theology (3 c/h)

DR. CHERITH FEE NORDLING, DR. BRADLEY JERSAK, JESSICA WILLIAMS

Self-Awareness and Counselling (3 c/h)

DR. WALTER THIESSEN

Contemplative Spiritual Formation II (1 c/h)

RACHAEL BARHAM

Ancient Insights for Today II (3 c/h)

DR. PETER FITCH

In Quest of 'the Good': Charles Taylor & Hannah Arendt (1 c/h)

LAURENS VAN ESCH

THE CertTC AT A GLANCE

DURATION — 8 MONTHS (FULL TIME)

CREDIT HOURS — 22

DELIVERY MODE — ONLINE COURSES, SHORT 7-DAY RESIDENCY (OPTIONAL)

EMPHASES — THEOLOGY & CULTURE, SPIRITUAL FORMATION, COUNSELLING, HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY, MINISTRY PREPARATION

11 CREDIT HOURS

BIB 5320

COUN 5330

SF 5350

HIST 5341

CUL 5372

Gospel Christology: A More Christlike God (3 c/h)

DR. BRADLEY JERSAK

Healing Through Symbol and Story (3 c/h)

DR. WALTER THIESSEN

Contemplative Spiritual Formation III (1 c/h)

RACHAEL BARHAM

Ancient Insights for Today III (3 c/h)

DR. PETER FITCH

Listening as a Spiritual and Political Discipline (1 c/h)

DR. LAURENS VAN ESCH

THE CertTC AT A GLANCE

DURATION — 8 MONTHS (FULL TIME)

CREDIT HOURS — 22

DELIVERY MODE — ONLINE COURSES, SHORT 7-DAY RESIDENCY (OPTIONAL)

EMPHASES — THEOLOGY & CULTURE, SPIRITUAL FORMATION, COUNSELLING, HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY, MINISTRY PREPARATION

UPCOMING SEMESTER ROTATION

FALL 2023

Semester 1

SPRING 2024

Semester 2

FALL 2024

Semester 3

SPRING 2025

Semester 1

FALL 2025

Semester 2

SPRING 2026

Semester 3

FALL 2026

Semester 1

SPRING 2027

Semester 2

FALL 2027

Semester 3

CLICK HERE FOR CALENDAR OF IMPORTANT DATES FOR SCHEDULING PURPOSES:

IMPORTANT DATES >>

CLICK HERE FOR FULL DESCRIPTIONS OF THEOLOGY & CULTURE COURSES:

COURSE LIST >>

Course Sequencing

PEACE & JUSTICE

Along with the completion of one of the three Theology & Culture semesters, students need to take three Peace & Justice courses to complete their CertTPS.

The fall and spring semesters each consist of three online Peace & Justice courses (total: 9 c/h) through the Jim Forest Institute (JFI). Students can take one full JFI semester as part of their Certificate in Theology & Peace Studies if they want to complete the program in eight months, or take any combination of three courses in both semesters to complete the program at a more gradual pace.

PJST/SF 5482 – THE INNER TRANSFORMATION OF A PEACEMAKER | DR. ANDREW PHILLIP KLAGER
PJST/THEO 5882 – RELIGION, PEACE AND CONFLICT | FR. JOASH THOMAS / DARNELL BARKMAN / DR. ANDREW KLAGER
PJST/BIB 5180 – PEACE AND VIOLENCE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT | DR. JESSE NICKEL

PJST/CUL 5583 – PRACTICAL NONVIOLENCE AND PEACEBUILDING | DR. EMILY STANTON & DR. HEDLEY ABERNETHY
PJST/CUL 5583 – FAITH-ROOTED, COMMUNITY-BASED PEACEBUILDING | LISA SHARON HARPER
PJST/THEO 5380 – THEOLOGY OF PEACE AND JUSTICE | DR. ANDREW PHILLIP KLAGER
PJST/BIB 5182 – PEACE AND VIOLENCE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT | DR. BRADLEY JERSAK

FALL SEMESTER

SPRING SEMESTER

Please click on the tabs in the semesters below for more information and full course descriptions.

FALL SEMESTER (SEPT. – DEC.)

PJST 5482

THE INNER TRANSFORMATION OF A PEACEMAKER

3 cr/hrs

Sept. – Dec.

Graduate or Undergraduate

TUITION:

$1,185 (credit)

$600 (audit)

Course Description — The inner transformation of a peacemaker gives the interior foundation for being a genuine rather than contrived and inauthentic agent of peace. This course will explore issues of ego, pride, anger, a sense of failure, and other impulses that can be transformed into patience, self-control, compassion, and other virtues—especially humility to overcome 'epistemological hubris'—in circumstances ranging from violent forms of communication to the chaos and trauma of violent conflict. We will therefore explore historical ascetic, spiritual, and contemplative disciplines and exercises that induce our transformation as peacemakers and are directly transferable into real-life situations.

Guest Lecturers – Dr. Betty Pries, Phileena Nikole, Dr. Kim Franklin, Dr. Ron Dart,

Dr. Walter Thiessen

Course Questions — What do I do if (or how do I prepare myself for when) someone tries to harm me or people I love? How do I acquire the clarity of mind and inner fortitude to deal justly and peacefully with the Other? Into what do I put my efforts and energy in order to be an effective peacemaker? What spiritual and ascetic resources are available to peacemakers to assist in our transformation? How do I incorporate these spiritual and ascetic disciplines into my life? How do I use these spiritual and ascetic disciplines in real life circumstances?

Professor

Dr. ANDREW PHILLIP KLAGER

PJST 5180

PEACE & VIOLENCE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

3 cr/hrs

Sept. – Dec.

Graduate or Undergraduate

TUITION:

$1,185 (credit)

$600 (audit)

Course Description — This course will focus on peace as a major New Testament theme by examining the life, teachings, and cruciform enthronement of Christ as the Prince of Peace; exploring the content and implications of the gospel of peace (vis-à-vis atonement and reconciliation); and interpreting the Book of Revelation through a Lamb-centered cipher. While the gospels will figure prominently, the scope of this course includes the entire New Testament canon, including Acts of the Apostles, Pauline epistles, pastoral epistles, and the Book of Revelation.

Guest Lecturers – Dr. Cherith Fee Nordling, Brian Zahnd, Dr. Ted Grimsrud, Jonathan Martin, Cece-Jones Davis, Malika Cox

Course Questions — To what extent are the New Testament calls to peace realistic and normative vis-à-vis idealistic, rhetorical, and limited (with a focus on the practicability Sermon of the Mount)? What is ‘the gospel of peace’ and how is it fulfilled in the Cross? And what about the Christian relationship to the sword of the state (cf. Rom. 13)? What about the so-called "two swords" incident in Luke 22? What about when Jesus cleanses the temple and when Jesus says that he came to bring a sword rather than peace? And what do we do with the apparent apocalyptic violence in the Book of Revelation that Jesus seems to lead?

Professor

Dr. JESSE NICKEL

PJST 5882

RELIGION, PEACE & CONFLICT

3 cr/hrs

Sept. – Dec.

Graduate or Undergraduate

TUITION:

$1,185 (credit)

$600 (audit)

Instructor

Fr. JOASH THOMAS

Instructor

Rev. DARNELL BARKMAN

Instructor of Record

Dr. ANDREW PHILLIP KLAGER

Course Description — By drawing on sacred texts and experiences of the major world religions and the available studies on religious violence and peace, this course examines how religion can intersect with other political, economic, social and cultural forces to justify violent conflict and explores the many ways in which interfaith peacebuilders may appeal to religious values, teachings, rituals, and myths as resources for interreligious peacebuilding. This course also explores components and strategies of peacebuilding that are best suited to transforming sectarian conflict.

Guest Lecturers – Brian McLaren, Dr. Lisa Schirch, Fr. Richard Rene, Dr. Ron Dart, Dr. Bradley Jersak, Dr. Safi Kaskas

Course Questions — What is the role of religion in both peace and violence? What other factors does religion mix with to produce the desperation that views violence as an attractive option? How do religion and these other factors combine and play off of each other? What religious resources are available to help us build peace and transform conflict? How do we draw out these resources from religious traditions and make practical use of them?

SPRING SEMESTER (JAN. – APR.)

Students must choose one of the two courses listed below — PJST 5584 is for students whose interests and vocation are suited to local, everyday peacemaking, and PJST 5583 is for students whose interests and vocation are suited to addressing global violence and international conflict from a grassroots perspective.

PJST 5584

FAITH-ROOTED COMMUNITY-BASED PEACEBUILDING

3 cr/hrs

Jan. – Apr.

Graduate or Undergraduate

TUITION:

$1,185 (credit)

$600 (audit)

Course Description — Peacebuilding typically refers to the delicate work of knitting together relationships between disparate factions or nations in a way that enables durable peace. More often than not, the West views peacebuilding as an outward venture; one that takes place "over there." Yet, viewed through the lens of the oppressed, we understand that peacebuilding has been foundational to the struggle of decolonizing justice movements around the world, including in from the abolitionist movement to the women's suffrage movement through the Civil Rights and Black Lives Matter movements. This course will explore key elements of peacebuilding as applied in the context of North American faith-rooted community-based movements for change.

Instructor

LISA SHARON HARPER, PhD (ABD)

PJST 5583

PRACTICAL NONVIOLENCE AND PEACEBUILDING

3 cr/hrs

Jan. – Apr.

Graduate or Undergraduate

TUITION:

$1,185 (credit)

$600 (audit)

Course Description — This course introduces students to the field of peace and conflict studies by exploring the prevention, analysis, and resolution of conflict and the many innovative and creative ways to build peace in fragmented societies. The course focuses on the components, theoretical paradigms, and methods of peacebuilding “from the ground up,” although attention will also be given to official high-level peace processes and negotiations, with an emphasis on how ground-level and high-level activities complement or otherwise impact each other.

Guest Lecturers – Dr. Lisa Schirch, Imbenzi George, Cherie Enns, Dr. Quixada Moore-Vissing, Rev. Andrew Connors

Course Questions — What effective nonviolent measures can be taken to build peace and transform conflict? How can we “make things right” after experiences of violence and trauma without resorting to retribution, vengeance, or otherwise more violence? What are the processes, initiatives, strategies, and actions for building peace at a grassroots level? How can we get involved in these processes and organize effective nonviolent initiatives?

Professor

Dr. EMILY STANTON

Professor

Dr. HEDLEY ABERNETHY

PJST 5182

PEACE & VIOLENCE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

3 cr/hrs

Jan. – Apr.

Graduate or Undergraduate

TUITION:

$1,185 (credit)

$600 (audit)

Professor

Dr. BRADLEY JERSAK

Course Description — This course will focus on peace and violence as Old Testament themes. It will examine and try to make sense of the apparent violence of God as recorded in the text, as well as the supposedly divine commands for human violence. We will further unpack the prophetic response to this violence, including the prophecies of the Prince of Peace and kingdom of peace. And we will examine how Christ, the apostles, and the early church responded to these Old Testament texts in a way that's more sophisticated and mature than some of the rigid literalist approaches.

Guest Lecturers – Dr. Peter Enns, Dr. Matthew Lynch, Derek Flood

Course Questions — What do we make of apparent acts of direct divine violence? (e.g., the flood narrative). What do we make of apparent commands to divinely-sanctioned human violence? (e.g., so-called genocide texts like 1 Sam. 15)? How does the Old Testament itself understand and critique the violence narratives? What do we (and the New Testament) make of the Messianic prophecies that include Messianic violence? How did Christ and Paul amend and adopt these? How might we understand the OT violence texts as revelations of God and humanity and embrace them as part of a grand narrative of redemption?

PJST 5380

THEOLOGY OF PEACE & JUSTICE

3 cr/hrs

Jan. – Apr.

Graduate or Undergraduate

TUITION:

$1,185 (credit)

$600 (audit)

Course Description — This course will explore a variety of perspectives on peace theology and justice by drawing on examples and lessons from the Scriptures, Christian history, and real life circumstances. We will explore themes such as pacifism and nonviolence, ‘just’ peacemaking vs. just war, love of enemies, reconciliation, and inner peace, among others as they appear in various theological categories. We will also look at peace through the lens of restorative rather than retributive justice, how peace and justice relate to one another, and its application in issues involving ethnicity, indigeneity, gender, sexual orientation, class, poverty, ecology, and food justice.

Guest Lecturers – Shane Claiborne, Dr. Mary Emily Duba, Lisa Sharon Harper, Dr. Ted Grimsrud, Dr. James Alison, Dr. Stephen Backhouse, Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis

Course Questions — What’s the connection between our theology (what we believe) and how we behave? How do the teachings, life, and example of Jesus exhibit nonviolence and what do they tell us about how we can be agents of peace? What is the peace import of Christology, Trinitarian theology, pneumatology, atonement, soteriology, ecclesiology, sacramentology, eschatology, and judgment and afterlife? How can peace and justice coexist? What is the peace import of the social justice considerations in this course? How can I incorporate a concern for social justice into my everyday life?

Professor

Dr. ANDREW PHILLIP KLAGER

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Multifaith Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care

ONE-COURSE CREDENTIAL

St. Stephen's University offers a course that prepares students for multi-faith pastoral and spiritual care in a variety of chaplaincy settings. This course can be completed as an add-on to a master's degree at SSU (i.e., not included in the total credit hours of a student's degree program) or as a stand-alone credential without a program. We offer a certificate of completion for the course that can be applied to a student's resume as an academic credential for ministry rather than a CPE/CPU clinical credential.

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