Kerux: a portfolio of Calvin Theological Seminary - Volume 41.10 - 15 January 2007

Advantages of a semester scheduling system

by Micah Bruxvoort, Guest Writer

The process of curriculum revision at Calvin Seminary has been a slow one. I can still remember David DeBoer, former Admissions Counselor at Calvin Seminary, telling me about the turmoil surrounding the faculty’s decision to replace a church history course with a class on pastoral care in the core curriculum back in the day. Apparently some members of the faculty were concerned that the seminary was becoming “too soft.” Since that decision, the curriculum at Calvin Seminary has undergone further revision, with introductory Greek now taught at the seminary and Hebrew taught online. Most recently, the Systematics department reduced the number of core courses. With the exception of online Hebrew, I think that all of these changes have been positive. However, more change is needed.

Christian Bell suggested in an earlier editorial ("Quarter system not worth a dime," Kerux Volume 41.7, 4 December 2006) that the seminary switch to a semester system, and I think that it’s a good idea.

Calvin Seminary should switch to a semester system because first of all, a semester system would provide more time for those classes that need it. Prof. Weima’s class on the Pauline letters is a case in point. I left that class with the feeling that we hadn’t learned half of what Prof. Weima could teach us on the subject. We just scratched the surface of Romans. A semester would allow both Prof. Weima and students the time to dig deeper. Other classes that would benefit from a semester system are Philosophy of Religion and Intro to Christian Worship.

A second advantage of the semester system is that it would allow some classes to be combined. As the Systematics division realized, some classes have more time than they have material. Less class time means that professors have to focus on the main points of a particular head of doctrine and disregard peripheral, purely academic questions. The result is that the class is more potent. In the interest of potency, I think other classes at Calvin Seminary could be combined, such as Church Polity and Church Administration. You couldn’t possibly do justice to both of these subjects in the space of ten weeks, but with more time, you could.

With a fourteen-week semester, it would be possible to discuss the issues of racism, homosexuality, singleness and pastoral care of the poor (among others), currently the subjects of Pastoral Care 2, in Pastoral Care 1. That would allow Pastoral Care 2 to focus on honing student’s skills as pastoral counselors (currently the subject of an elective, PRTH 703). As I learned from my experience a clinician at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Hospital, pastoral care is an art that requires practice.

Furthermore, a term of fourteen weeks would make it possible to combine Ecumenical Creeds and Reformed Confessions and The Heidelberg Catechism. And I think that the class, call it “Concreedchisms,” should be required. I bet students will be a lot more inclined to preach on the Heidelberg Catechism, or quote the Canons of Dort in a sermon, if they’ve been properly shown the value of these documents.

A third advantage of the semester system is that it would facilitate greater interaction and cooperation between Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary. Indeed, some interaction already exists, with Calvin Seminary professors like Dr. Rylaarsdam teaching courses at Calvin College, and Calvin College professors like Dr. Whitekettle and Dr. Hardy teaching master’s and doctoral level classes, respectively, at Calvin Seminary. To the best of my knowledge, both institutions have benefited from this exchange of quality professors. The more college students become acquainted with the quality instruction offered at Calvin Seminary, whether by taking a course at the college taught by one of the seminary’s professors, or by taking an actual seminary class (Greek, perhaps?), the more open they’ll be to attending here. I’m already envisioning a class on Latin American Christianity, co-taught by Dr. Paul Freston and Dr. Mariano Avila, that would be offered to both college and seminary students. Switching to a semester system takes the seminary one step closer to making such a vision reality.

A fourth and final advantage of the semester system is that it would allow for a “J-term” or “interim.” For those unfamiliar with the concept, an interim is a three-week period in January in which students take only one class. Classes generally meet for three hours a day, and homework is kept to a minimum. Grading is limited to pass or fail. The idea is to provide a relaxed environment where students can enjoy learning. To use biblical language, interim is a “month of jubilee,” a period of rest and refreshment. As such, interim serves as an oasis between long and often grueling semesters.

At Calvin College, professors are encouraged to be creative in designing courses for interim. That creativity has resulted in courses on Latin American Cinema, the Geology of the National Parks and even Sailing. I can only imagine what courses Calvin Seminary professors might devise if given similar creative license. How about a class on “Echoes of the Gospel in Film” with Prof. Glassford? Or a class on “How to Speak to a Panentheist, If You Must” with Prof. Cooper? I’d love to see a class devoted entirely to studying the Contemporary Testimony, or a class that studies devotional literature, past and present, and helps students discern the wheat from the chaff in that field. How about a class on the Gnostic Gospels, or the Song of Songs?

Interim is an ideal time to study off-campus. Calvin College students have the opportunity to study international development in Honduras, engineering in the Netherlands and jazz in New York City. Again, I can only imagine what course Calvin Seminary professors might devise. How cool would it be to accompany Prof. Bosma to Brazil to study church planting and theological education? Wouldn’t you love to study Islam with Prof. Tuit, and then travel to Dearborn, Michigan to observe worship in a mosque, eat authentic Middle Eastern food, and interact with practicing Muslims? How about studying the spirituality of the desert fathers for two weeks with Prof. Rylaarsdam and then living in a monastery for a week? Professors Avila and Leder have connections in Latin America; Prof. Bierma, in West Africa; Prof. Nydam, in Colorado. I bet each of these professors would jump at the chance to teach a class in their former haunts, if only as a means of escaping the January snow. (Or, in Prof. Nydam’s case, in order to go skiing in it!)

An interim period would also facilitate visiting professors. In the current system, a visiting professor has to commit to ten weeks. With an interim period, that commitment would be only three weeks. Perhaps Dr. Alvin VanderGriend, author of The Praying Church Sourcebook and Learn to Love to Pray, would be willing to teach an interim course on prayer. Maybe Duane Visser and Norm Thomasma from the Pastor-Church Relations office of the Christian Reformed Church could teach a class on how family systems theory can help pastors understand and resolve conflicts within their churches. Maybe Rev. Reggie Smith, current pastor of Roosevelt Park Community Christian Reformed Church, could teach a class on the African-American style of preaching. Would Eugene Peterson or Charles Colson be willing to teach an interim?

The curriculum that we have inherited at Calvin Seminary has served us well. However, just as theology must be rearticulated in response to new challenges, so also must theological education. It’s time for faculty and students to start thinking about how the curriculum can be reworked to make the education at Calvin Seminary as potent as possible. I believe that a switch to a semester system is a step in the right direction. It makes good practical sense, and also opens up a world of possibilities with the introduction of an interim.

Let’s dream!