A program of the Institute for Applied Theology
Institute Events
Roots and Wings for Ministry Courses
Media in Ministry Certificate: Fall courses now in session
Advent Spiritual Practices: November 10 and December 1, 2008
From Pastor to District Superintendent: It’s Still Ministry: January 6-8, 2009
Transforming the Rough Places: Principles and Practice of Supervision: January 12-16, 2009
Excellence in Preaching Workshop: January 23, 2009
Media Serving Theology: Traditional Worship in a Digital Culture: February 3, 2009
Excellence in Preaching Workshop: April 24, 2009
Institute Events 2008-09 Brochure (PDF)
See United’s calendar for other seminary events
Preaching Apocalyptic
Sixth annual retreat/seminar for continuing education, master’s and doctoral students
Apocalyptic is a type of literature that is largely unfamiliar to modern congregations. Represented by Daniel in the Old Testament and Revelation in the New Testament, it is filled with confusing and often violent images. How can we interpret it? Should we preach it as documenting the past, reflecting the present, or predicting the future? This workshop will help participants answer these and other questions, and suggest strategies for preaching apocalyptic images and themes.
Dates / Location
Dates: August 4-6, 2008
Times: 9:00 a.m. Monday through 12 noon Wednesday (retreat)
Location: Bergamo Conference Center, 4400 Shakertown Road, Dayton, Ohio
Instructors / Leaders
Featured Speaker
Dr. Ed McNulty graduated from Butler University and McCormick Theological Seminary before earning his D.Min. degree from United Theological Seminary in 1992. His thesis was entitled From the Catacombs to the Silver Screen: the Changing Images of Christ. He has served both small and large churches, with film and art being an important part of his exploring the gospel. In 1990 McNulty founded the monthly journal Visual Parables to help educators and pastors find and use good films in their ministry.
Retreat Leaders
Dr. Richard L. Eslinger is Vice President for Academic Affairs / Dean and Professor of Homiletics and Worship at United Theological Seminary. He received his S.T.B. degree
from Boston University School of Theology (1965) and his Ph.D. from Boston University (1970). His teaching and research interests include preaching, homiletics, and the role of scripture and worship in spiritual formation. Dick is the founding Director of the Center for Worship, Preaching and the Arts.
Rev. Lynn M. Labs is the Coordinator of the Center for Worship, Preaching and the Arts, an adjunct instructor of Hebrew at United Theological Seminary as well as Minister of Adult Faith Formation at First United Church of Christ in Troy, Ohio. Lynn received her M.Div. degree from United Theological Seminary in 2005 and her M.A.T.S. in 2006 with a concentration in Biblical Studies. She works broadly on a variety of subjects that include preaching from a process perspective and biblical intertextuality.
Worship Leaders
Dr. Donna Cox is chair of the Department of Music at the University of Dayton. She is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri where she received both the Ph.D. and M.M. degrees in Performance Practices: Choral Conducting; and the University of Dayton where she received the M.A. in Theological Studies. She is an active scholar, teacher, author, performer, lecturer, and choral adjudicator. Donna is a licensed Baptist minister, and with her husband leads the Marriage Builders Ministry at Omega Baptist Church.
Elise Eslinger is the founding Director of the Institute for Applied Theology. Her ministry settings have include national, annual conference and local church settings with special vocation in leadership of worship and church music, and development of discipleship and spiritual formation. She is compiler and editor of the new Upper Room Worshipbook (Upper Room Books, 2006).
Roots or Wings Area
Wings (Specialty: Preaching and Worship)
Academic Credit and CEUs
Academic Credit: Students may enroll for one semester hour of academic credit or three semester hours of academic credit. Both options require full participation in the three-day seminar/retreat. The three-credit option requires additional academic work. Registration for academic credit should be through the office of Martha Anderson, Registrar. Additional payment for room and board during the retreat is payable directly to the Center for Worship, Preaching and the Arts.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs): Participants may receive 1.5 CEUs for full participation in the retreat seminar. See brochure below for registration information.
Cost and Registration
Brochure, Schedule, and Registration (PDF)
Syllabus and Books
Syllabus (PDF)
Jones, Larry Paul and Jerry L. Sumney. Preaching Apocalyptic Texts. Chalice Press, 1999.
Farmer, Ronald. Revelation. Chalice Press, 2005.
Lischer, Richard. The End of Words: The Language of Reconciliation in a Culture of Violence. Eerdmans, 2005.
View all books for this class at Barnes and Noble
Each book title links to Barnes and Noble.com. You may also buy books through United's online Cokesbury store. Purchasing books through these links supports student scholarships at United.
