Certificate in Scripture & Society

At The Seattle School, we believe that good theology should lead to beautiful, transformative change in both individuals and communities. But that’s so often not the case, and large gaps exist between belief and lived experience.

Listening Labs are designed to bridge that gap. These spaces invite students to slow down the automatic psychological patterns that shape everyday interactions. By doing so, students learn to listen more deeply—not only to others, but also to what’s unfolding within themselves. This intentional slowing creates sacred space for presence, discernment, and the movement of the Spirit, opening the door to connection and lasting transformation.

J. P. Kang, PhD
Affiliate Faculty
J. P. Kang (he/him), PhD, has taught Bible courses at The Seattle School since 2014 and serves as Affiliate Faculty and a member of the Intercultural Credibility Committee. He is also Pastor and Head of Staff at the Japanese Presbyterian Church of Seattle. J. P. holds an MDiv and ThM (Bible) from Princeton Theological Seminary and a PhD in Bible from Union Presbyterian Seminary, where his dissertation, “A Dictionary of Epigraphic Hebrew,” focused on the vocabulary of Iron Age Hebrew inscriptions. He loves helping students become more attentive readers of scripture, especially those healing from spiritually toxic backgrounds, and often brings biblical languages and imagery to life through everyday examples. J. P. lives in Seattle with his wife, Keren, and their three children. Learn more about J.P.

Ron Ruthruff, DMin
Professor of Theology & Culture
Dr. Ron Ruthruff has spent the past 30 years serving homeless and street-involved youth and their families through direct support, program design, and community education. His work is shaped by a commitment to empower individuals toward lives of significance, equip the church to love and serve neighbors, and engage communities in cross-cultural and global conversations. Ron holds a BA from Western Washington University, an MS from Pepperdine University, and a Doctor of Ministry in Complex Urban Settings from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; his doctoral work focused on relational and theologically grounded approaches to serving runaway and homeless adolescents. He is an associate with the Center for Transforming Mission, supports grassroots urban leaders globally, and regularly preaches at local churches. Ron lives in Seattle’s Rainier Valley with his wife, Linda, and their family nearby. Learn more about Ron.

Joel Kiekintveld, PhD
Affiliate Faculty, Listening Lab Leader, & Common Curriculum Coordinator
Joel Kiekintveld is Co-Director of the Anchorage Urban Training Collaborative, a Street Psalms Senior Fellow, pastor of Reclaim, host of The AnchorED City Podcast, and an affiliate professor at The Seattle School. He previously served for 17 years as Executive Director and Founding Director of Parachutes Teen Club and Resource Center in Anchorage, a drop-in center for high-risk and street-involved teens, and has served in pastoral and youth ministry roles in Michigan and Alaska. Joel holds a PhD in Practical Theology (University of Pretoria), an MA in Global Urban Ministry (Bakke Graduate University), a BRE (Reformed Bible College, now Kuyper College), and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management (The Foraker Group/University of Alaska Fairbanks); he was ordained as a Commissioned Pastor in the Christian Reformed Church in 2008. He lives in Anchorage with his wife Stacey and their family and is part of an intentional community in the Dimond Estates trailer park. Read more about Joel.

Course schedules can be found on the website here.

Certificate schedule

Our certificate programs are staggered, with one certificate offered at a time. This means you can apply for a specific certificate when that program is in cycle (typically every two years).

Cost

TBD

How much time do I need to dedicate to this certificate?

• We expect students to attend the dedicated class time, prepared to engage with the content and one another.
• For non-credit certificate students, completing assignments outside of class is optional.

Do I need to have previous theology experience or be a pastor to take this course?

No previous theology experience is required. We have participants from all different backgrounds, but this is also a great fit for pastors who have outdated theological training that would like a deeper dive into fresh and expansive theological frameworks. 

Can I receive Graduate Credit? + 

Yes – This certificate is eligible for 11 graduate credits. Please contact admissions@theseattleschool.edu for more information. You can find FAQs for Certificate Students here.

I did the Certificate in Living Theology. Do I take the Listening Lab again as part of this Certificate? 

Yes, Listening Lab is one of the places we invite you to put into practice what you are learning in the classroom. This is a small-group experience that comes alongside your learning and gives you the opportunity to practice new skills in real time.