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NT 501 READING THE NT MISSIONALLY

TUESDAYS, 4/28-5/26, 6:30-10 PM, AND SATURDAY 5/16

SPRING, 2020

Last revised: 4/20/2019

Missio Seminary exists to produce missional Christian leaders- men and women who incarnate the story of Jesus with humility and authenticity and who communicate the story with fidelity to Scripture, appreciation of the Christian tradition,

and sensitivity to the needs and aspirations of postmodern culture.

INSTRUCTOR

Name Stephen Taylor

Phone Numbers 215-368-5000 ext. 132 (office); 215-782-8794 (Home)

Email staylor@missio.edu or stephen.sherwood.taylor@gmail.com

Office Hours Due to the current virus-related realities, please arrange a time to consult with the instructor. Every

effort will be made to accommodate your needs either by phone, email, or Zoom meeting.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Evangelical biblical scholarship is gradually coming to realize that it is not so much that the Bible gives, among

many other things, a “biblical basis” for missional activities, but rather that the basis of the Bible is missional from

the get go. God has crafted the Bible to serve his mission of redeeming a lost creation in Jesus Christ. Failure to read

the Bible in that light is to misread it and ultimately to misapply it. In this course students will learn to approach the

NT from a missional perspective which appreciates its rootedness in and relevance to first-century culture, its complex story-like unity with the Old Testament, and its multifaceted witness to the surprising and climactic nature

of Jesus and his work. Students will discover in the New Testament a God whose missional hallmark is creative and

costly faithfulness and who calls us to embody that same trait.

PERSONAL NOTE FROM THE PROFESSOR

Growing up in a denominational missionary community, I struggled to achieve and hold on to a sense of the unity of

the Bible—a unity that arose out of an honest reading of the text rather than a wholesale imposition of a

prepackaged theology, a unity that rooted the costly gospel witness that my parents were committed to in the very

structure of the Bible rather than in a handful of odd proof texts, a unity that did not flatten and tame the text but

which unleashed it to call forth greater praise and discipleship. It slowly dawned on me that, by God’s design, the

unity I was looking for was not to be found in the monotonous repetition of certain propositions in the text, but in the dynamic witness of the text to the story of God’s purposes ultimately and fully revealed in Jesus Christ. Reading

the New Testament “Christotelicly” in this way, uncovered for me the missional unity of the Bible and the proper

role of the New Testament. This spring, I hope we can explore this kind of reading together as we focus on the New

Testament witness to Jesus.

--Stephen S. Taylor

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SYLLABUS

This syllabus provides an overview of the course and course requirements. Students are responsible to know the

content of the syllabus and follow the course schedule. Questions about the syllabus or schedule should be emailed

to the professor promptly and will generally be answered in an email to the entire class so that everyone is informed.

This syllabus is intended to give the student guidance in what may be covered during the term and will be followed as closely as possible. However, the professor reserves the right to modify, supplement, and make changes as course

needs arise.

PROGRAM GOALS AND COURSE OBJECTIVES

PROGRAM GOALS COURSE OBJECTIVES: TO ENABLE STUDENTS TO . . .

Goal 1: Students will live grace-based lives increasingly characterized by wisdom, the fruit of the Spirit, and love for God and others.

5. Begin tracing missional and contextualizing trajectories from the

NT to the modern world,

6. Express a more heartfelt passion for participation in God’s

mission to the world.

Goal 3: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the Bible & its missional perspective and their ability to humbly interpret and apply it in light of history, culture, and genre.

1. Describe how the OT envisioned God’s post-exilic mission on behalf of God’s people.

2. Articulate specific expectations, generated by the OT, held by

Jewish peoples in the Second Temple period.

3. Describe the missions of Jesus, the early church, and Paul as they

are both products of and challenges to their first century Jewish and

Greco-Roman contexts.

4. Articulate a missional biblical theology that traces both the

powerful continuities and the surprising discontinuities between the

Old and New Testaments.

COURSE ASSESSMENTS AND HOMEWORK HOURS

Assessments are graded assignments that measure a student’s mastery of the course content. Homework is course

work in addition to the instruction listed above.

ASSIGNMENT OR ASSESSMENT RELATED

OBJECTIVES

PERCENT OF

GRADE

ESTIMATED

TIME IN

HOURS

1. Reading/Listening Quizzes (4) 1-6 40% 20

2. Neusner Major Response Paper 1, 2, 3, 4 20% 15

3. Final Exam 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 30% 10

4. Class Participation 1-6 10% n/a

5. General Reading (apart from quiz reading above) 1-6 n/a 35

Total estimated time for the above assignments.

80 hrs for a

three credit

course

Note: All assignments must be submitted by the due date listed in the syllabus and no later than the final due date

for the course listed in this syllabus by permission of the instructor. After the final due date, faculty cannot grant

students permission to submit late work. See “Completion of Course Work” below.

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INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITY IN ADDITION TO

CLASS SESSIONS*

Michael W. Goheen, “A Missional Reading of

Scripture and Preaching”

(http://www.calvinseminary.edu/wp-

content/uploads/audio/2013-11-20-

MROS-PM-Plenary-MikeGoheen.mp3)

1,2,3,4,5 1.5 hrs.

N.T. Wright , “A Missional Reading of the New

Testament”

(http://www.calvinseminary.edu/wp-

content/uploads/audio/2013-11-21-

MROS-AM-Plenary-TomWright.mp3 )

1.5 hrs.

“The “Salvation History’ Framework of Biblical

Authors” (by Stephen Taylor, Narrated PowerPoint in

two parts)

1,2,3,4 2 hrs.

1.5 hrs. 1,2,3,4,5 1.5 hrs. 1,2,3 1.5 hrs. 1,2,3,4,5 1.5 hrs.

Total Should = 16.5 hrs

*These required assignments involve instruction comparable to what occurs in the classroom (lectures, presentations,

and instructor-led activities such as discussions, debates, and collaborative work. They should be completed on the

due dates listed in this syllabus. NOTE: the instructor reserves the right to replace any of these with other more

effective presentations.

Note: All assignments must be submitted by the due date listed in the syllabus. Frequently they are tied to a certain

phase of the course and class discussions rely on completion of the assignment. All assignments are absolutely due no later than the final due date for the course listed in this syllabus by permission of the instructor. After the final

due date, faculty cannot grant students permission to submit late work. See “Completion of Course Work” below.

REQUIRED READING AND MATERIALS Links for the required books to Amazon are provided, but feel free to shop around for cheaper prices. Feel free also to buy books in electronic formats, if you are comfortable reading on electronic devices. Please note that three of

the required texts are available for free through our library.

Beers, Holly. A Week in the Life of a Greco-Roman Woman. IVP Academic, 2019. This book can be checked

out from the library in an electronic format:

https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/dtl/detail.action?docID=5975696

Flemming, Dean. Contextualization in the New Testament: Patterns for Theology and Mission. Downers Grove:

InterVarsity, 2005. This book can be checked out from the library in an electronic format:

https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/dtl/detail.action?docID=2089242

Longenecker, Bruce W. The Lost Letters of Pergamum: A Story from the New Testament World. Baker

Academic, 2002. Neusner, Jacob. A Rabbi Talks with Jesus. Montreal, Quebec: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2000.

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During this week (the 2 days before the Tuesday night class) read:

This book can be checked out from the library in an electronic format:

https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/dtl/detail.action?docID=3331559

English Bible (preferably NRSV or ESV with Apochrypha—bring to class). You may also bring a Bible in your

mother tongue.

Photocopy in library and on E-Campus:

Stephen S. Taylor, “Faith, Faithfulness,” in New Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Exploring the Unity & Diversity

of Scripture, ed. Brian S. Rosner and T. Desmond Alexander (Leicester, U.K., Downers Grove, IL:

InterVarsity Press, 2000), 487-93.

Sheeley, Steven M. “From ‘Scripture’ to ‘Canon’ : The Development of the New Testament Canon.” Review &

Expositor 95, no. 4 (September 1, 1998): 513–522. (accessed January 7, 2014).

(http://biblical.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh

&AN=ATLA0000994104&site=ehost-live&scope=site)

Audio Lectures for Extra-Class Instruction (see chart above)

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

Bartholomew, Craig G., and Michael W. Goheen. The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story.

Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2004.

Hays, R.B. The Moral Vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New Creation: A Contemporary

Introduction to New Testament Ethics. (1st ed.) San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1996.

Neill, Stephen. Jesus Through Many Eyes: Introduction to the Theology of the New Testament. Philadelphia:

Fortress Press, 1976.

Wright, Christopher J. H. Salvation Belongs to Our God: Celebrating the Bible's Central Story. Downers Grove,

Ill: IVP Academic, 2008.

Introductions, Monographs, Other Resources

DeSilva, David A. An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods and Ministry Formation. Downers

Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press, 2004.

Hays, Richard B. The Moral Vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New Creation: A Contemporary

Introduction to New Testament Ethics. 1st ed. San Francisco: Harper SanFrancisco, 1996.

Nienhuis, D. R. Not by Paul Alone: The Formation of the Catholic Epistle Collection and the Christian Canon.

Baylor University Press, 2007.

COURSE PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS

Attendance Policy and Grades

It is important to arrive on time and be actively engage in every minute (literally, every minute) of class time. Class

time is valuable – to you, to your classmates, and to the professor. Class time is thoughtfully prepared by the

professor and crafted with intricacy for maximum learning effectiveness. Students are also expected to login to the E-campus course site regularly and participate in the course

activities in a timely manner. If you know you are going to be absent from the course site for more than three or four

days, please notify the instructor and group members (if applicable) in advance. Nevertheless, recognize that your

grade may be lowered for tardiness or absences at the discretion of the instructor.

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Attendance in this course constitutes both 1) coming to class and 2) logging in to the E-campus course site and

participating in the online or out-of-class activities assigned throughout the course. Students are responsible for

reading and familiarizing themselves with the material posted on the E-campus course site throughout the course.

Student usage of the course site is tracked by the E-campus software and monitored by the professor of the course.

Students who need to be absent from the course site for three or more days during a discussion forum activity or

required web conference should email the professor in advance of the absence (see Attendance Policy and Grades in

this syllabus). Students may email the instructor at any time if they have questions about the course.

Completion of Course Work

All course work is to be completed by the last day of classes for the term or by the date posted in the course

syllabus. Extensions to this time limit will be made only by the academic administration committee. The individual

faculty member does not have the authority to grant any extensions of time beyond the last class of the term.

Requests for extensions must be made in writing to the committee at least one week prior to the last day of classes.

Variance forms for this purpose are available in the academic office or on Missio’s E-Campus website. All requests

should specify the reasons for the extension and the length of the extension desired. Requests are not automatically

granted.

Policies and Procedures

Since each class period, in a five-week format course, represents more 2 week’s work in a typical semester-long

course, only one unexcused, unexplained absences is permitted in the course of a 5-week quarter. A second absence

will be granted if cleared with the professor. A third unexcused absence may result in failing the course. Be sure to

discuss your attendance problems with the professor early and often!

All out-of-class assignments must be submitted electronically, using E-Campus, by the time indicated on the

schedule below. Late assignments will be accepted but their grades may be docked. The assignments should

conform to a standard academic format as discussed in the Foundations course (Turabian or Chicago Manual

of Style) unless otherwise noted in the individual rubrics for each assignment (i.e., one inch margins all around,

double-spaced, Times New Roman font, 11 or 12 point, footnotes and bibliography in proper form). Note that

page requirements do not count the title or reference pages.

Students should name their assignments files, before uploading them to E-Campus, according to the following

pattern: <lastname>< firstname-->< assignment title>, where the assignment title matches the title given in the

syllabus. As an example, if I were to submit the Neusner Response described below, I would entitle my file: Taylor

Stephen—Neusner Response.

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS AND GRADING

1. Course Readings—At the graduate level, course readings are absolutely essential to learning and to a

rich and satisfying experience of the classroom lectures and discussions. For optimal learning and

engagement, all readings are to be done by the class meeting to which they are attached in the Course

Schedule Chart below. Lectures, discussions, and activities will assume knowledge of the reading

materials.

2. Reading/Listening Quizzes—There will be 4 quizzes on assigned readings (or listening materials).

These will be taken online or via some third party curating service (like EdPuzzle). They will all be short (no more than 5-10 objective questions) and will focus on the main theses, supporting arguments, and

obvious implications of the selected reading or audio assignment. Students who do the readings/listenings

conscientiously with minds engaged should do well. Cursory or hurried reading or listening will be

exposed, however!

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3. Neusner Response Paper—Students will write a well-organized and charitable, 3-4 pp. response to

Jacob Neusner, A Rabbi Talks with Jesus. As you read the book, be sensitive the following questions:

a. How is Neusner challenging my understanding of Torah and Jewish adherence to it?

b. Where does Jesus differ from the Law or at least from the Jewish understanding of the law?

c. Is the Jewish understanding of the law obviously wrong? How? Where? How can I respond from

the OT itself (i.e., without presupposing Jesus in my arguments)?

d. (MOST IMPORTANTLY) What does the discussion with Neusner tell me about the relationship

of Jesus and the NT to the OT (and to Judaism)? What does it reveal about a properly Christian

hermeneutics?

In your paper, be sure to explain what Neusner thinks that Jesus is doing in his teaching ministry, and why he decides to “say a polite no, and walk away.” In addition to answering this general question,

engage one or two of the particular arguments Neusner has with Jesus (e.g., over the Sabbath,

honoring parents, being perfect, etc.). In conclusion, include some general reflections: if Neusner has

made some valid points about how to read the Torah and how to read Jesus’ challenge to it, what does

that mean for our understanding of the person and work of Jesus AND of the Bible? (Remember,

this is a course on how to read [parts of] the Bible, not a course on apologetics!)

When you finish your paper, be sure to do the following to avoid a 4-point penalty:

Copy the Rubric table below and paste it to the end of your paper

Be sure to name your paper file: Lastname+Firstname + “Neusner Response” (e.g., Taylor

Stephen Neusner Response)—and save it either as a WORD doc file or as a PDF. Then upload it to E-Campus.

Grading Rubric for the Neusner Response:

Excellent Satisfactory Poor Care in presentation (typing, grammar and syntax, and use of proper form for academic papers

5 pts. 3-4 pts 2 or less

Charitable and self-critical interaction and tone 10 pts 7-8 pts 6 or less

Careful use of Neusner’s book, the Bible and any other sources used (though none others are required)

15 pts 11-13 pts 10 or less

Clarity and logical cohesion of your case or presentation 25 pts 20-22 pts 19 or less

Profundity and relevance of your points in the light of the themes of the course

25 pts 20-22 pts 19 or less

Thoughtful implications and applications for the reading

and understanding of the Bible and Jesus 20 pts 17-18 pts 16 or less

4. Final Exam—This will be a two part final exam. One part will be a very short objective exam (a mixture of multiple choice and true/false questions). This

part will be closed book could possibly be taken on the last day of class in class. The precise timing will be

decided later.

The other part of the exam will comprise 3-4 synthetic discussion questions which your professor will post

on the final day of class. You will have until the due date and time to type up your answers and to submit

them via E-Campus. One of the synthetic questions will to relate to both Bruce Longenecker’s Lost

Letters of Pergamum and Lynn Cohick’s . This book should be read before taking this portion of the exam

(since you won’t have time to read it during the exam), but use of the book will be allowed during the

exam. The file should be named “Your last name first name—LEAD613Synthesis” or “Your last and first

name—NT 501 Synthesis” (e.g., Steve Taylor— LEAD613/NT 501 Synthesis).

5. Class Attendance and Participation—because evening-format courses are compressed, attendance

for and engagement in every class meeting is important. See policy statement above under Attendance

Policy and Grades.

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COURSE SCHEDULE

DATE IN CLASS OUTSIDE-OF-CLASS OR

ONLINE

Tuesday, 4/28/2020 Topic: YOU MEAN IT’S NOT ABOUT ME?!

THE NEW TESTAMENT AND A MISSIONAL

HERMENEUTIC Assignment due: none

required; but it would be a great idea to

start reading some of the original sources—

parts of the Bible!—in particular Psalms 44

& 89 and some important witnesses to

Biblical history: Gen 11-12, 15, 17, 26:1-5;

Ezra 9; Nehemiah 9; Haggai 2. You can

also start reading A Rabbi Talks with Jesus

at your earliest convenience (paper due in

E-Campus in 2 weeks).

No activity at this time.

This week after class (in preparation for next

class):

Certainly finish any of the reading of

the biblical primary sources that you

did not do and continue reading

Neusner.

Add to those this extra biblical Jewish

readings: from the Apocrypha, 1

Maccabees 1-5.

You should also read carefully and

thoughtfully the Taylor article on

“Faith, Faithfulness”; there is a

reading quiz on it on E-Campus.

Obviously, continue to read Neusner.

In this class meeting, after introducing the

course and discussing the Syllabus, we will be discussing some of the ways Christians

approach the Bible that betray key and

obvious features of the Bible (a book of

timeless theological truths, a person manual

for living, etc.). We will be suggesting that

the Bible is primarily designed (by God!) to

help us find theological and personal

meaning in the story of God and his

mission

No activity at this time.

DATE IN CLASS OUTSIDE-OF-CLASS OR

ONLINE

Tuesday, 5/5/2020 Topic: HAS THE WORD OF GOD FAILED?

OT PROMISES AND POST-EXILIC REALITY Assignment due: Reading Quiz 1on the

Taylor article

None

During the rest of the week and in preparation

for the next class:

Continue to read Neusner and compose a Response to him (due before next class meeting)

Reading

NT: Matthew and James and the first

15 chapters of Acts.

Flemming, Contextualization in the New Testament, 13-24

After our reading quiz, we will devote our

time to discussing the intricate background

of the New Testament and of the early

Christian movement. In its broadest

outlines, that context is one of astounding

divine promises and expansive expectations

set against a background of prosaic

disappointments and tragic failure. Why does the NT not follow immediately

historically speaking) on the heels of the

last books of the Jewish scriptures (the

OT)? Why are the NT writers products of

hundreds of years of human reflection and

interpretation of the OT? What is God’s

wise purpose in all this?

No activity at this time.

DATE IN CLASS OUTSIDE-OF-CLASS OR

ONLINE

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Tuesday 5/12/2020 Topic: WHO IS GOD’S “BELOVED SON”?

THE HOPES OF ISRAEL AND THE MISSION

OF JESUS (GOSPELS)

Assignment due: Response to Neusner submitted to E campus by class time and

readings from Matthew and James and in

Flemming, Contextualization in the New

Testament, 13-24

During this week (before the next class):

NT: Acts 13-28, Romans, Galatians

Flemming, Contextualization in the

New Testament, 56-181 and preparation for a Reading Quiz on

this section

We will be discussing the cluster of events

in redemptive history which comprise the

turning point and climax of the entire

story: the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus and the gift of the Spirit on God’s

people. Why was this cluster of events so

surprising, with elements that seemed

unanticipated and even controversial?

Couldn’t God have been clearer? How is

what happened not only consistent with

God’s mission but also constitutive of it?

No activity at this time.

DATE IN CLASS OUTSIDE-OF-CLASS OR

ONLINE

Saturday, 5/16/2020 Morning Topic: WHO ARE THE PEOPLE OF

GOD? WRESTLING IN THE SPIRIT WITH THE

ASTOUNDING MEANING OF JESUS (PARTS

OF ACTS) Assignment due: Readings from NT the

(Acts 1-12, 15; Galatians, Hebrews) and

Flemming, Contextualization in the New

Testament, 25-55

Afternoon Topic: CAN GOD BE TRUSTED

IF PAUL’S GOSPEL IS TRUE? THE JEWISH

COVENANT GOD ON A GLOBAL MISSION

(PAULINE EPISTLES)

Assignment due: Reading Quiz 2 on

Flemming, Contextualization in the New

Testament, 56-181

During this week (the 2 days before the

Tuesday night class) read:

Read the NT: 1 Corinthians-Philemon

Read Flemming, Contextualization in

the New Testament, 182-233 for the

third Reading Quiz (this includes the

two “Case Study” chapters in which

Flemming applies the points he has

made. Skim these.)

In the morning, our discussion will center

on the Apostle Paul’s powerful and

distinctive contribution to Christian faith.

Why does Paul’s message sound so

different from Jesus’? Did Paul

misunderstand Jesus, did he theologize

Jesus’ simple message of universal ethics?

Or was Paul simply the most perceptive of

all as an interpreter and contextualizer of

what Jesus said and did? Did he simply

grasp the full significance of Jesus for

God’s mission before most others did?

Listen to the N. T. Wright lecture and do

the Listening Quiz.

DATE IN CLASS OUTSIDE-OF-CLASS OR

ONLINE

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Tuesday, 5/19/2020 Topic: ISN’T THE GOSPEL CLEAR?

CONTEXTUALIZATION PAINS (PAULINE

EPISTLES [CONTINUED])

Assignment due: Reading Quiz 3 on

Flemming, Contextualization in the New

Testament, 182-233

During the rest of the week and if preparation

for the next class:

Read the NT: 1 Timothy-Titus, 1

Peter-Revelation

Read Flemming, Contextualization in

the New Testament, 234-322 in preparation for out 4th and last

Reading Quiz. (Note the quiz will

cover only pp. 266-322.)

Read Longenecker, The Lost Letters

of Pergamum

After our reading quiz, we will devote our

time to exploring the many and variegated

problems that arose with the cross-cultural,

worldwide expansion of the Gospel. To a

startling degree, much of the NT is devoted

to correcting misunderstandings,

misappropriations, and misunderstandings

within this new multiethnic/multicultural

entity called “the church.” But wasn’t the

gospel Paul, John and others preached

clear? Why did these miscarriages of

meaning happen when folks like Paul were

still alive, ministering and preaching? Why

were there disagreements at all, and how

did these serve the purposes of God’s

mission? What can the contemporary

church learn from them today?

No activity at this time.

DATE IN CLASS OUTSIDE-OF-CLASS OR

ONLINE

During the week this last week:

Read Steven Sheeley article on the

formations of the NT canon.

Read the remainder of Longenecker BEFORE taking the exam

Study your notes and slides for the

final. (Note: Objective portion will be

closed book!)

In this final session will discuss the unique

challenges (reflected in the later parts of the

NT itself) that arose when the Christian

movement came to be generally recognized

as a “religion” different from Judaism.

How did Christians, led by the Spirit,

respond to the increased and sometimes

hostile scrutiny of the broader world? How

did its mission sharpen? How did these

new pressures help shape the canon of the

NT that we read today? What lessons can

we learn from all this as the global church

seeks to embody the saving mission of God

in rich and complex global village?

Listen to the lecture by

Michael Goheen. The

final will have a question

in which his thoughts

will prove helpful.

Tuesday, 5/26/2020 Topic: EMBODYING THE GOSPEL IN THE

UNHOLY ROMAN EMPIRE (1 TIMOTHY-

TITUS, 1 PETER-REVELATION) Assignment due: Reading Quiz 4 on

Flemming, Contextualization in the New

Testament, 266-322

LAST DAY OF THE TERM: FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020—FINAL DUE DATE (12:00 MIDNIGHT)

Note: All assignments must be submitted by the due date listed in the syllabus and no later than the final due date for the

course listed in this syllabus by permission of the instructor. After the final due date, faculty cannot grant students

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permission to submit late work. See “Completion of Course Work” below for instructions on how to apply for an

extension using the Variance Form.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY AND ACADEMIC POLICIES Academic Policies: Students are fully responsible to know and follow all seminary rules, regulations, and deadlines published in Missio Seminary’s Academic Catalog, and all requirements concerning their degree programs. The catalog is found on Missio’s website. www.Missio.edu. Course Syllabus: Students are fully responsible to know and fulfill the requirements stated in the course syllabus. Students should speak with the professor about issues related to course work and deadlines during the course. See “Completion of Course Work” below for policies on course extensions.

E-campus Course Site: Students are fully responsible for course content and materials that are posted on the course site. Students are encouraged to check the course site frequently during the course. Student usage of the course site is tracked by the software and monitored by the professor of the course. Students who experience difficulty accessing or using the E-campus should email helpdesk@Missio.edu and include their student ID# in their correspondence.

Academic and General Integrity: As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to integrity and Christ-likeness in all areas of life. What this means in the academic realm is that the completion of all assignments and assessments are to reflect your own work. Students found guilty of cheating or plagiarism will receive a grade of zero on the assessment and will follow the process outlined in the Student Handbook. See Missio’s Academic Catalog for more information on plagiarism and Missio’s policies related to cheating and plagiarism.

ATTENDANCE POLICY AND GRADES Students are expected to arrive on time and attend all class sessions. Attendance is especially crucial in courses formatted in block scheduling with evening or all day Saturday class sessions. If you know you are going to miss a class or arrive late, contact the course instructor in advance via email. Nevertheless, your grade may be lowered for absences or lateness at the discretion of the instructor.

COMPLETION OF COURSE WORK – VARIANCE FORMS All course work is to be completed by the last day of classes for the term or by the date posted in the course syllabus. Extensions to this time limit will be made only by the academic affairs committee. The individual faculty member does not have the authority to grant any extensions of time beyond the last class of the term. Requests for extensions must be made in writing to the committee at least one week prior to the last day of classes. Variance forms for this purpose are available in the academic office or on Missio’s website. All requests should specify the reasons for the extension and the length of the extension desired. Requests are not automatically granted.

STUDENT COURSE EVALUATIONS Student course evaluations are an important part of Missio’s commitment to continuous improvement. Students are required to complete the course evaluation within one week of the final due date of the course.

STUDENT PC SECURITY STATEMENT Missio Seminary recognizes the need for computer use throughout the entire educational process today. Computers equipped with Internet access and applications that help deliver information and knowledge are vital. Students are

encouraged to bring their electronic computing devices to campus to facilitate their course work and supplemental

activities. Given the current climate of online dangers such as viruses, malware, phishing scams, and other related

risks it is critical to secure all such devices regardless if they're being used on campus or not. Please take the

appropriate steps to safeguard the security of your own electronic devices to protect the integrity of the student

network on campus and provide a safe computing environment for everyone to use.

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GRADING SYSTEM To remain in good academic standing, a student must maintain the grade point average designated for his or her program (see Missio’s Academic Catalog for details).

MISSIO SEMINARY GRADING SYSTEM

A 4.00 93.0 -100 Superior A- 3.67 90.0 – 92.9 B+ 3.33 87.0 – 89.9 B 3.00 83.0 – 86.9 Good B- 2.67 80.0 – 82.9 C+ 2.33 77.0 – 79.9 C 2.00 73.0 – 76.9 Fair C- 1.70 70.0 – 72.9 D+ 1.30 67.0 – 69.9 Poor D 1.00 63.0 – 66.9 D- .70 60.0 – 62.9 F 0.00 00. - 59.9 Failing