Doctrines and Discipline of the Free Methodist Church of North America - 1939 Edition

CHAPTER I

COURSE OF STUDY FOR TRAVELING PREACHERS HOME STUDY COURSE

PRELIMINARY

     ¶ 350. 1. A four-years’ high school course or its equivalent.

     2. Theological Compend—Binney. 

          Collateral reading:

          How We Got Our Bible—J. Paterson Smyth.

     3. Plain Account of Christian Perfection—Wesley. 

          Collateral reading:

          The Way to Pentecost—Chadwick.

     4. Free Methodist Discipline.

          Collateral reading:

          The Story of Our Church—Howland.

          Hymns That Are Immortal—Hogue.

FIRST YEAR

     ¶ 351. 1. Biblical Geography—Hurlburt.

     2. Elements of Divinity—Ralston. Doctrines of Christianity, Books I and II, pages 9 to 191, inclusive.

          Collateral reading:

          The Christian Faith—Curtis. Chapters I-VIII.

          Perfect Love—Wood.

          Possibilities of Grace—Lowery.

     3. Homiletics—Hogue, Part I. Written sermon.

          Collateral reading:

          Wesley’s Sermons, 1-30 inclusive.

          Roberts’ Fishers of Men.

          Primer in Evangelism—Fairbairn. 

          Digest of Free Methodist Law—Watson.

SECOND YEAR

     ¶ 352. 1. Old Testament History—Smith. 

          Collateral reading:

          The Deciding Voice of the Monuments in Biblical Criticism—Kyle.

     2. Elements of Divinity—Ralston. Doctrines of Christianity, Books 3 and 4, pages 193-472, inclusive.

          Collateral reading:

          The Christian Faith—Curtis, Chapters IX-XVII.

     3. Homiletics—Hogue, Part II, or Pastoral Theo logy. Written sermon.

          Collateral reading:

          Wesley’s Sermons, 31-53 inclusive.

          Class Meeting as a Means of Grace—Hogue.

          Extemporaneous Oratory—Buckley.

          Ministerial Ethics—Harmon.

     4. Psychology and Self-Development—Bennett. 

          Collateral reading:

          Youth Speaks—Marston.

     5. Modern Times and the Living Past—Elson. To the period of the Reformation, page 316.

THIRD YEAR

     ¶ 353. 1. New Testament History—Smith. 

     Books to be read:

          Collateral reading:

          Life of Christ—Farrar.

          A Brief Life of Paul—Olmstead.

     2. Elements of Divinity—Ralston. Evidences of Christianity, pages 545-731 inclusive. 

          Collateral reading:

          The Christian Faith—Curtis. Chapters XVIII - XXIX.

     3. Sociology: Textbook, Social Living—Landis.

          Collateral reading:

          Secret Societies—Brown.

     4. Modern Times and the Living Past—Elson. From the period of the Reformation to the World War.

     5. Church history—Fisher. First 448 pages. 

          Collateral reading:

          History of the Reformation—D’Aubigne 5 volumes.

FOURTH YEAR

     ¶ 354. 1. Elements of Divinity—Ralston. Morals and Institutions of Christianity, pages 733-1016 inclusive.

          Collateral reading:

          The Christian Faith—Curtis. Chapters XXX-XXXVI.

     2. The Day—Martin. Introduction to Philosophy—Brightman.

     3. Elements of Logic—Jevon. 

          Collateral reading:

          Unrealized Logic of Religion—Fitchett.

     4. Church History—Fisher: second half.

          Collateral reading:

          Wesley and His Century—Fitchett.

          The Story of Methodism—Hutchinson.

          History of the Free Methodist Church—Hogue: 2 volumes. Master Workmen—Blews.

     In all subjects throughout the course, requiring examinations, credit for passing shall be withheld until the candidate has met the reading requirements.

COURSE OF STUDY FOR PREACHERS ATTENDING CHURCH SCHOOLS

     ¶ 354 1/2. A four-year course to be known as the “Standard Four-year Theological Curriculum, graduation from which will carry the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in religion. Completion of the first two years of this course will satisfy in full the disciplinary educational requirements for ordination as deacon. Graduation from the entire course will satisfy in full the disciplinary educational requirements for ordination as elder.

     The actual course in any school to be approved by the commission as satisfying the requirements of this curriculum must include the following core of subject matter:

I. Standard Four-Year Theological Curriculum


A. FIRST YEAR  CREDITS
     Bible Study (New Testament) 
3
     Bible History and Bible Geography 
2
     Speech 
2
     English Composition 
6
     History (including Medieval) 
3
     Foreign Language (preferably Greek) 
6
     Personal Evangelism 
1
     Science 
5
     Electives 
4
B. SECOND YEAR CREDITS
      Bible Study (Old Testament) 
 3
      Church History 
 3
      Homiletics 
 3
      Psychology 
 3
      Systematic Theology 
 3
      Religious Education 
 4
      Hymnology and Conducting 
 2
      Philosophy 
 3
      Electives 
 8
C. THIRD YEAR CREDITS
     Bible Study (Upper Division) 
 3
     Biblical Theology 
 3
     Bible Doctrine of Holiness 
 2
     Mental Health 
 2
     Comparative Religions 
 2
     Social Science 
 3
     Electives 
 17
D. FOURTH YEAR CREDITS
     Bible Study (Upper Division) 
 3
     Modern Cults 
 2
     Pastoral Ethics and Church 
           Administration 
 1
      Modern Church History (including 
           Free Methodist Church) 
 3
      Social Science 
 3
      Philosophy 
 4
      Contemporary Religious Thought 
 2
      Electives 
 14
   

     In addition to the Four-Year Standard Theological Curriculum, our schools are also authorized to offer a shorter theological course to be known as the “Special Two-Year Curriculum for Ministers” which shall he correlated closely with the home study course listed in the Discipline. Those completing the first year of this curriculum shall be reported to any conference committee on course of study as having completed the equivalent of the first two years in the disciplinary home study course and thus satisfying the minimum educational requirements for ordination as deacon. Those completing this Special Two-Year Course shall be re ported to any conference committee on course of study as having completed the equivalent of the four years in the disciplinary home study course and thus satisfying the minimum educational requirements for ordination as elder.

     The actual course in any school to be approved by the commission as satisfying this curriculum must include the following core of subject matter:

II. Special Two-Year Curriculum for Ministers
A. FIRST YEAR  CREDITS
     Bible Study 
 6
     Christian Evidences 
 3
     Bible Geography and Bible History 
 2
     Homiletics 
 3
     English Composition 
 6
     Speech 
 2
     Psychology 
 3
     Electives 
 7
 B. SECOND YEAR CREDITS
     Bible Study 
 6
      Church History 
 6
      Theology 
 3
      Religious Education 
 4
      Elementary Logic 
 2
      Electives 
 14