Why a New Theology Ph.D. Program at ORU? Two
The program understands that every believer does theology. This “liberation of theology” (not “liberation theology”) denies the privilege of a traditional special class called “theologians.” This “democratization” in Christianity also applies to the ministry of every believer (Eph 4).
Theology in Context (or the “Contextual Theology” track) shifts the place of theologization from the library to the world. While the program is interested in the global (therefore, macro) context of what God is doing, the gospel engages with each local context allowing a unique theological process and outcome. When we take consideration of the dynamic work of the Holy Spirit in this engagement, the process gets very exciting. The theology that comes out at the end will be relevant, dynamic, and living. Each Ph.D. scholar, therefore, will be the master of his or her own contextual theology, serving local faith communities. For this reason, we are pleased that the first cohort of 15 scholars is highly multicultural. #ORUPhD#ORUTheology