THEO 615 Theological Foundations for Humanitarian Action and Human Rights

This course examines Scripture to understand the relationship between evangelism and those serving in helping ministries. Special attention will be given to those who desire to minister to the hurting and oppressed in their own communities and around the world.

Because men and women are made in the image of God, every person, regardless of race, religion, color, culture, socio-economic status, or age, has dignity. This biblical understanding of dignity provides the theological underpinning for engaging, serving, and advocating for those in need.   

No details available.

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions are a collaborative learning experience. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt. The thread must be at least 400 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 200 words. Students are required to provide two citations to support their discussion thread and one citation for their replies. (CLO: A, C, D)

The Compare and Contrast Paper provides an opportunity to demonstrate analytical thinking and apply the biblical concepts of engaging the poor from this course. This assignment will compare and contrast two assigned textbooks from the course: Under the Overpass: A Journey of Faith on the Streets of America and Dignity: Seeking Respect in Back Row America. The project will also provide students with an opportunity to reflect on their personal and church experiences. The assignment should be 1500-3000 words, include a title and bibliography page, and contain at least 8 citations. (CLO: A, C, D)

In this course, the student will submit two experiential learning Portfolio Projects, which will guide them to reflect on the topics of this course. Using a local mercy ministry as a base for experiential learning, the student will engage both those that provide and receive services. Each Portfolio Projects assignment will be 1000 to 1500 words and require a minimum of 8 citations from the course and scholarly materials. The Portfolio Project assignments will provide an opportunity for the student to see God at work in their community and learn skills of engaging those from a different socio-economic group or culture. (CLO: A, B, C)

The Theological Foundations Video Assignment provides an opportunity to apply the learning from God’s Word with the experiential learning gained through this course. Through the creation of a devotional video, the student will gain confidence in advocating for those in need and mobilizing others to take action. The student should focus on communicating effectively and should practice good oral communication skills (presentation, intonation, clarity of speech, etc.). Creativity in presentation is encouraged, but only to the extent that it enhances and does not distract from the content. The video should be 5-10 minutes in length. (CLO: A, B, D)