On the Edge:
Towards a Biblical Theology for Today's Exiles

This course will help students develop a Biblical, theological and pastoral framework for a ministry of presence and proclamation to people on the margins of society and church.

People whose lives are marked by suffering, poverty and social exclusion often perceive that they are rejected by God. This assumption is based on a complex web of life experiences including poverty, misfortune, neglect or abuse from parents and/or exclusion from the dominant culture and from the church because of race, social class or antisocial behavior.

Bob Ekblad's primary experience comes out of over twenty years of reading the Bible with people who often consider themselves "damned" - Central American peasants, Mexican migrant farm workers, inmates in Washington State jails and immigration prisons, drug dealers, and gang members.

Immigrants, ex-offenders, gang members and other marginalized people will participate in the course in a ministry setting, sharing from their life experiences and ongoing struggles.

Popular, street-level images of God and life will first be explored through required reading and lectures. How do many inmates, immigrants, gang members, drug addicts and other contemporary exiles view God? What are the barriers that keep today's most obvious "sinners" from believing the gospel? After exploring the context of today's underclass, the following topics will be studied.

The course will explore the hermeneutical, theological and pastoral issues related to Scripture study and the celebration of the Word and Sacraments with people who feel excluded from the church and society and rejected by God.

The course will consist of lectures and discussion that will include a survey of the Biblical messages addressed to the marginalized (slaves, exiles, tax-collectors and sinners, etc.) throughout the scriptures, exegetical study of some of these key texts, and discussion of the specific content and function of Biblical and theological concepts and doctrines such as the Trinity, creation, fall, sin, redemption, call, covenant, judgment, exile, salvation, liberation, healing; unclean/clean-cleansing; demon-possession expulsion; landlessness-landedness; this life-the afterlife and others.

The course will also include practical teaching on effective ways to lead Bible studies, worship and other spiritual direction to marginalized people.

Course Outline

Session 1
The challenge to develop a grace-filled theology: Responding to contemporary street-level images of God with life-tried "Good News."

Session 2
Hermeneutical issues related to Scripture study at the margins

Session 3
New beginnings require new readings: new approaches to creation, fall & redemption in Gen.1-4

Session 4
Salvation as liberation from oppression in Exodus and in today's world.

Session 5
Sin as sickness and God as doctor/healer in the Bible

Session 6
Proclamation to power & to the exiles: judgment, revelation and redemptive suffering in Isaiah

Session 7
Worship as truth telling before God: Reading and praying the Psalms in exile

Session 8
Jesus' mode of liberation: salvation, healing, cleansing, touching, expelling and forgiveness in the NT

Session 9
Understanding the place of law and judgment in the Scriptures & world

Session 10
Awaiting the Coming One: Apocalyptic hope and Eschatological expectation

Session 11
Towards a Biblical theology for today's exiles

Information

Please contact Rob Mercatante at 360.755.9062 or courses@peoplesseminary.org