"The establishing of a theological curriculum is an act of faith. It seeks to give order and substance to the acquiring of a deeper knowledge of the meaning of the Word of God for man. It expresses faith in the community of worship and scholarship as the nurturing body for a continuing minstry. And it depends upon faith that knowledge and insight can be wedded to growth in practical adequacy for the church's ministry." [Quote p.111]
The common core is identified and accords with descriptions in other sources -"Certain studies have always fromed the foundation of the course because they stem from the Scripture and tradition of the Christian faith. Study of the Bible the history of doctrine the history of Church are established elements in all theological education. ... The disciplines related to pastoral responsibilities homiletics pastoral care church administration and religious education are somewhat less sharply defined." [Quote pp.78-79]
In a chapter on 'The Course of Study' the authors tackle the question of the common core and a fragmentation of the curriculum which they detected during the prewar years but which had reversed during the fifties. They make this statement about order and unity in clergy formation which they say is ultimately the student's own business -"Because the Christian faith has at its center a personal response to the reality of the creative redeeming and inspiring God the unity in our faith must be found through personal discovery of the ultimate reality that shapes the whole of life. ... The question of unity and direction in the curriculum involves the response of students to the personal demand implicit in their education ... [It] means more than logical unity though that is a value to be prized. It is a matter of the interconnection of all topics in the curriculum and their being bound up with life experience in such a way that the student discovers exciting new possibilities through that central reality in his faith which gives beaning to the whole." [Quote pp82-3]