WHO SHOULD CONSIDER THE GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN JUSTICE FORMATION?

The Graduate Certificate in Justice Formation (GCJF) is a program of study designed for students interested in what the Bible has to say about justice, and what relevance that has for people, particularly Christians, today. The program is ideal for people across all vocations who wish to point ways forward for everyone seeking to think and act in harmony with God–a community of equals pursuing Biblical justice in the world today. The GCJF is taught on the master’s level and is designed to be completed in two years part-time or one year full-time.

Graduate Certificate in Justice Formation

The Graduate Certificate in Justice Formation is a non-degree, master’s-level program of study designed for students interested in what the Bible has to say about justice, and what relevance that has for people, particularly Christians, today. The program is ideal for people across all vocations who wish to point ways forward for everyone seeking to think and act in harmony with God – a community of equals pursuing biblical justice in the world today. The program is taught on the master’s level and is designed to be completed in two years part-time or one year full-time. Like the other programs at the John Leland Center, courses are scheduled so that students who are working full-time may pursue their studies without significantly compromising their family life and employment.

Graduation requirements include successful completion of 18 semester credit hours in the prescribed curriculum, community event participation, and full payment of all tuition and fees. The program requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

What Will I Study?

18 Total credit hours*

Extended Course Descriptions

EH3205 – In Search of Biblical Justice (B/A)

This course is designed to guide the student’s search for biblical justice by appealing to explicit and implicit Scriptures about what God says He loves and what others have said about God’s loves. Based upon these disclosures, students will reflect upon embedded attitudes and behaviors and consider what God might say about justice prevalent in their environs. This course will equip students to practically express justice and righteousness through the routine of daily living.

MF4333 – Justice, Church, and Society (B/A) 

Prerequisite for GCJF Cohorts – EH 3205

This course will challenge students to bring the transformational potential of the biblical texts to bear on critical contemporary justice context as regarding the distribution of social benefits and penalties, the exercise of legitimate power; fairness and balance; and honoring the rights or entitlements of people made in the image of God. Reflecting upon and contrasting what we love and what God loves, students will critique ongoing Christian behaviors congruent or incongruent with biblical justice.

MF 4335-Critical Engagement with Biblical Justice (B/A)

Prerequisite for GCJF Cohorts – EH 3205, MF 4335

This course guides the student’s search for biblical justice through critical engagement with a contemporary justice theorist. Students will compare and contrast the ideology of a contemporary justice theorist with the course’s information. The successful student will demonstrate the capacity to synthesize salient principles from selected theorists while articulating a personal justice formation paradigm.

MF 4339 – Justice Formation Externship (B/A) 

Prerequisite for GCJF Cohorts – EH 3205, MF 4333, MF 4335

After completing the prerequisites, students will meet one of the following initiatives:

1. a) develop an inclusive worship service praising God for the responsibility to be agents of His justice and righteousness
2. b) conduct an education course to encourage communities and governments to do what is just and right; 3) or,
3. c) initiate or continue an advocative initiative intended to redress or dismantle a structural or systemic injustice incongruent with God’s love.