HS650
CHURCH OF GOD HISTORY AND POLITY
3 hours Fall 2004 Thursday 6:20—9:10
Instructor: David G. Roebuck
First Class: September 2, 2004
Last Class: November 28, 2004
Final Exam: December 9, 2004
Office: 423-614-8576
Dixon Pentecostal Research Center
FAX:
423-614-8555
260 11th Street, NE
Home:
423-336-8111 Cleveland,
Tennessee 37311
droebuck@leeuniversity.edu
faculty.leeu.edu/~droebuck
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is a study of the background, beginning and development of the
Church of God. Sections of the course cover cultural influences on the
founders, historical roots of Pentecostalism, theological influences on the
denomination, the major disruption in 1923 and the church today. Also included
is a study of the organization and function of the Church of God at the local,
district, state, national and international levels. The aim of the course is to
give the seminarian an understanding of and an appreciation for the Church of
God.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The primary objectives of this course are:
1) Provide a broad, narrative account of the origin and development of the
Church of God movement (especially as it developed out of the Holiness
movement);
2) Acquaint students with the distinctive doctrine, practice and polity of the
Church of God;
3) Introduce various methods of historical inquiry (e.g. intellectual, social,
doctrinal, denominational, narrative, etc.);
4) Think and reflect historically, in order to better think theologically.
Upon completion of the
course the student should be able to do the following:
1) Trace in brief outline the Holiness-Pentecostal movement;
2) Discuss the early history of the Church of God, its place in church history,
its relationship to both the Baptist Landmark movement and the
Holiness-Pentecostal movement, and its significance in contemporary
Christianity;
3) Describe the governmental structures and operation of the Church of God;
4) Dialogue with the purpose and intent of the early leaders from the
perspective of the Church’s current mission and vision.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. LECTURE SESSIONS: The instructor and guests will offer a narrative account
of the course topics. Successful completion of this course will require
attendance at lecture sessions. Seminary policy requires that the instructor
must excuse any absence in excess of three hours of class time. Students who
miss more than three hours of class time will be required to complete and report
on additional readings or an alternative assignment.
2. ASSIGNED READINGS:
Reading selections are indicated on the course calendar and should be completed
prior to the class session for which they have been assigned. These selections
have been chosen for their historical value and with a view toward personal
theological reflection. Mastery of lecture material, participation in
discussion, and successful completion of the exams will require careful
attention to these readings. The required reading will be 20% of the
course grade. On the final exam the student will be asked to indicate what
percentage of the required readings that he/she read during the semester.
All readings are on reserve at Squires Library and available in the Dixon
Pentecostal Research Center. The required readings are:
A.
Conn, Charles W.
Like a Mighty Army: A History of the Church of
God. Definitive edition. Cleveland,
Tenn.: Pathway Press, 1996. (You must read the “definitive edition” of this
book. Earlier editions are not acceptable as substitutes.)
B. Spurling, R. G. The Lost Link.
Turtletown, Tenn.: By author, 1920. This text is out of print but is available
in the Pentecostal Resource Center and at
http://library.leeuniversity.edu/~drc/resources.htm.
C. Tomlinson, A. J.
The Last Great Conflict.
Cleveland, Tenn.: Press of W.E. Rogers, 1913. Revised, Cleveland, Tenn.:
White Wing Publishing House and Press, 1984.
D. Church of God. General Assembly
Minutes 1906-1914: Photographic Reproductions of the First Ten General Assembly
Minutes. Cleveland, Tenn.: White Wing Publishing House, 1992.
E. Church of God. Minutes of the 69th
General Assembly of the Church of God. Cleveland, Tenn.: Pathway Press,
2002. (Cited as 2002 Minutes in course calendar.)
F. Roebuck, David. “Perfect Liberty to
Preach the Gospel: Women Ministers in the Church of God.” Pneuma: The
Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies 17: 1 (Spring 1995):
25-32.
The following are
recommended but not required:
G. Crews, Mickey. The Church of God: A
Social History. Knoxville: The University of Tennessee Press, 1990.
H. Roebuck, David G. “Restorationism and a
Vision for World Harvest: A Brief History of the Church of God (Cleveland,
Tennessee).” Cyberjournal for Pentecostal-Charismatic Research Volume
5:
http://www.pctii.org/cyberj/index.html.
3. FIELD TRIP or ARTICLE
ANALYSIS: Students will participate in a field trip to early historical sites
including Barney Creek, W.F. Bryant’s home, the Shearer Schoolhouse and the
First Assembly House. The tour will depart from the Theological Seminary at
8:00 a.m. and will return at approximately 5:00 p.m. The date will be
announced.
Students who are unable to
participate in the tour may complete a five-page reflection and analysis paper
on the instructor’s article: David Roebuck. “Perfect Liberty to Preach the
Gospel: Women Ministers in the Church of God.” Pneuma: The Journal of the
Society for Pentecostal Studies 17: 1 (Spring 1995): 25-32. Due 11
November 2004. A penalty of 1 point will be deducted for each day the
analysis is late (up to a total of 10 points).
4. EXAMINATIONS: Two exams
will be administered: a mid-term and a final. The mid-term will be
administered in class on 14 October 2004 and will cover topics and
readings dealt with in the first half of the course. Students should bring
to class a blue book for the mid-term exam. The final exam will be a
closed-book, take-home exam and will be due no later than 9:00 p.m. on 09
December 2004. The final exam will cover all topics and readings assigned
after the mid-term. Make-up exams will be given at the discretion of the
instructor and only in the case of an emergency.
5. DICTIONARY ARTICLE:
The student will write a 500 word dictionary article on a person or event in the
history of the Church of God for possible use on a Church of God web site.
Guidelines for writing the article will be distributed in class. The topic of
the article MUST be approved in writing by the instructor prior to submitting
the article. The article is due at the beginning of class on 7 October 2004.
A penalty of 1 point will be deducted for each day the article is late (up to a
total of 10 points). Articles are subject to revision by the instructor before
being included on the web site, but published articles will be credited to the
author.
6. LETTER TO INTERNATIONAL
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL: The student will write a 500 word letter suitable for
sending to the Church of God International Executive Council that argues for
making a specific change in some aspect of Church of God polity. Guidelines
will be distributed in class. The letter is due at the beginning of class on
28 October 2004. A penalty of 1 point will be deducted for each day the
letter is late (up to a total of 10 points).
7. ORAL HISTORY PROJECT:
The student will conduct a taped interview with a person of significance at the
local, regional or international level of the Church of God. The interview
should last between 45 and 90 minutes. The student will then submit a
transcript of the interview along with a one to two-page introduction that
describes why this subject was interviewed and her/his significance for the
history of the Church of God. Guidelines will be distributed in class. The
project is due 18 November 2004. A penalty of 1 point will be deducted
for each day the project is late (up to a total of 10 points).
INCOMPLETE POLICY
As stipulated in the Seminary catalog, any request for an Incomplete must be
made by Thursday, 18 November 2004. Incompletes will result in the
reduction of the course grade by one letter.
GRADING
The final grade for the course will be calculated as follows:
Required
Reading 20%
Field Trip or Article Analysis 10%
Dictionary Article 10%
Letter 10%
Oral History Project 20%
Mid-Term Examination
15%
Final Examination 15%
PROJECTED CALENDAR OF TOPICS AND READING
ASSIGNMENTS
Students are expected to read the
assigned pages prior to the class session.
9/02 1) Review of
Syllabus
2) The Search for Restoration
9/09 1) Special
Guest: Dr. Charles W. Conn
2) The Search for Restoration (Continued)
3) Discussion of The Lost Link
*Read for 9/09: Army, xxv-16; 2002 Minutes, 1-74; and The Lost
Link.
9/16 1) Richard, R.G.
Spurling and the Christian Union
2) The Search for Holiness
*Read for 9/16: Army, 17-55; and 2002 Minutes, 75-106.
9/23 1) Searching for
the Light: A. J. Tomlinson
2) Discussion of Local Church Polity
*Read for 9/23: Army, 57-67; and 2002 Minutes, 169-198.
9/30 1) The First
Assembly
2) Review of General Church Polity
*Read
for 9/30: Minutes 1906-1914, 1-19; Army, 69-81; and 2002
Minutes, 107-154.
10/07 1) Annual Assemblies
2) Executive Council Session
3) Exam Review
*Read for 10/07: Minutes 1906-1914, 20-337.
**Dictionary Article Due
10/14 1) MID-TERM EXAM
2) Introduction to the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center
10/18-20 Fall Break
10/21 1) Discussion
of The Last Great Conflict
2) The Pentecostal Movement
3) Emerging Leaders
*Read for 10/21: The Last Great Conflict; and Army, 95-162.
10/28 1) Publications and Education
2) Developing Doctrine
3) International Expansion
*Read for 10/28: Army,
162-277; and 2002 Minutes, 155-168, 199-266.
**Letter to International Executive Council due.
10/30
Heritage Tour
11/04 TBA
*Read for 11/04: Army, 279-381; and “Perfect Liberty to Preach the
Gospel.”
11/11 Trial by
Divorce
*Read for 11/11: Army, 383-537.
***Article Analysis Due (for those who did not participate on the Field Trip)
11/18 1) Exam
Review
2) General Assembly
***Oral History Project Due
11/25 Thanksgiving
Holiday
12/02 Reading Week
12/09 FINAL EXAM DUE
