JACKSON, February 29-- Union University's department of Christian studies, formerly the department of religion and philosophy, has undergone both a name and curriculum change.
In an effort to freshen the curriculum and better equip young ministers, the department has revamped existing majors and added several new courses of study.
The department's name change represents a twofold purpose," George Guthrie, chair of Union's department of Christian studies, said. First, the new name is more descriptive of what we teach. While religion and philosophy are worthy disciplines, the specific topics we teach are addressed from a Christian world view."
Second, 'Christian studies' is more user-friendly to new students; it does not sound as intimidating on the front end."
The curriculum changes, the department's first extensive revisions since 1970, offer more diverse and specialized options for Christian studies majors.
In the past three years, the number of religion majors at Union has grown from 75 to 150," Guthrie said. In addition, the number of students involved in Greek studies has risen from 30 to 80 in that same period of time."
In order to better equip these students in their Christian lives and ministries, we made the department's majors more directive."
The majors, which now focus on more specialized fields of study, include Christian studies, philosophy and Christian theology, biblical studies (with or without language emphasis), and Christian ministries.
Lower-level courses also received a boost, with new courses added in Hebrew, biblical theology, Bible study/interpretation and biblical background.
With the new Christian studies format, we hope to stress two key areas: to be cutting-edge academically and to help our students grow in Christ," Guthrie said.
Recent additions to the Christian studies faculty bolster the department's efforts. President-elect David Dockery, editor of the Broadman Press' forthcoming Holman Bible Handbook and a contributing editor for Christianity Today, will serve on the faculty as professor of Christian studies. Dockery comes to Union from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he served as vice president of academic administration and dean of the School of Theology.
In addition, David Gushee, acting associate dean of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's School of Theology and assistant professor of Christian ethics, will join Union's faculty in the fall, strengthening the University's Christian ethics curriculum. Prior to joining the seminary's faculty, Gushee served as managing editor of ESA Advocate, the journal of Evangelicals for Social Action. He is the author of The Righteous Gentiles of the Holocaust: A Christian Interpretation, and a second book, Preparing for Christian Ministry, is forthcoming.
One of the great strengths of this department is a faculty that combines excellent teaching with a devotion both to Christ and to students," Guthrie said. As we continue to upgrade, the sky's the limit."
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Last updated on March 5, 1996.
