SCHEDULE AND CLASS INFORMATION FOR COURSES OFFERED IN THE 2022-2023 ACADEMIC YEAR
All times are Eastern Time
Biblical Interpretation - Dr. John Carroll
August 29-October 20, 2022 | Synchronous class meetings on Thursdays | 7-9 p.m. ET
Open to CRE, CE Certification, and Online Course Participants
Biweekly, synchronous class sessions on four Thursdays: 9/8, 9/22, 10/6, 10/20
Asynchronous class work and discussion through Blackboard on alternating weeks
This course has as its primary goal the equipping of Christian leaders to interpret biblical texts faithfully. The course provides an overview of the ways in which the church has approached the work of biblical interpretation and then offers a practical guide for close reading of passages, featuring peer discussion of the meaning and message of selected biblical texts. In a final course project, students write a paper in which they present their exegesis (interpretation) of a biblical passage.
Persons seeking certification as Christian educators in the Presbyterian Church (USA) also prepare a presentation in which they draw from the fruits of their exegetical study for a teaching-and-learning event.
The course is designed to meet the educational goals and expectations of persons seeking certification as lay leaders in congregations or as Christian educators, as well as persons with general interest in enhancing their ability to interpret Scripture.
Polity and Administration - Rev. Carson Rhyne
Tuesdays, September 13-November 1, 2022 | See times below
NEW FORMAT THIS YEAR! Open to CRE, CE Certification, and Online Course Participants
All groups will meet every week for 8 weeks.
On week one (9/13) and biweekly after, everyone will meet:
Dates: 9/13, 9/27, 10/11, 10/25
6:30-8:30 p.m. ET
On the other weeks, there will be two separate sections and participants will be assigned to a section that will meet at different times during the evening:
Dates: 9/20, 10/4, 10/18, 11/1
Section #1 will meet from 6:30-7:45 p.m. ET
Section #2 will meet from 8:00-9:15 p.m. ET
This course will engage the Presbyterian Church (USA) Book of Order, its underpinnings, and its implication for mission and ministry. As part of the course, participants will review administrative tasks which grow out of the Book of Order (e.g., session meetings, committee meetings, stewardship season, personnel matters and policies, financial matters, presbytery meetings, annual statistical reports).
This course will be suitable for CRE in training, as well as for Educators seeking certification for Presbyterian Polity and Mission.
Teaching the Bible - Dr. Cindy Kissel-Ito
Thursdays, October 27-December 8, 2022 | 7-9 p.m. ET | Class will not meet on November 24
This interdisciplinary course examines selected approaches to Bible teaching from the perspectives of biblical scholarship and Christian education. The purpose of this course is to equip participants to develop planning, implementation, and evaluation skills for teaching the Bible.
Reformed Theology - Dr. Rachel Baard
Mondays, November 7-December 12, 2022 | 7-9 p.m. ET
This course is designed to provide students with knowledge of and appreciation for the Reformed theological tradition in which the PC(USA) is rooted. The course will explore the central tenets of the Reformed tradition, its contemporary significance for the life of the church, and its relationship to the broader ecclesial and social contexts.
Church History - Dr. Christine Luckritz-Marquis
Tuesdays, January 10-February 14, 2023 | 7-9 p.m. ET
This course is designed to provide an overview of and an appreciation for the history of Christian traditions, the broader contexts in which they are developed, and their continued significance for the life of the church. Participants will study select crucial historical moments (e.g., early Christian movements, church councils, Reformation, Christianity in America).
Worship and Sacraments - Dr. Paul Galbreath
Thursdays, January 12-February 16, 2023 | 7-9 p.m. ET
Worship is the central act of the people of God and the community of faith. The sacraments provide a tangible witness to God's ongoing grace and presence in the world and in our lives. Together they enrich and enliven the life of faith for all God's people. We will explore the meaning and practice of Worship, Baptism, and Communion as means and experiences of grace and commission.
Introduction to Pastoral Care - Rubén Arjona
Thursdays, February 23-March 30, 2023 | 7-9 p.m. ET
An introduction to the theories of pastoral care and counseling. The course offers various theological and psychological perspectives and tools to help participants develop confidence in responding to circumstances of pastoral care and counseling in the context of parish ministry and other institutional settings. Topics include the art of listening, loss and grief, pastoral care with couples and families, and the pastoral function of worship and the sacraments.
The Christian Life - Dr. Cindy Kissel-Ito
Tuesdays, February 28-April 4, 2023 | 7-9 p.m. ET | Class will not meet April 4
This course is designed to provide knowledge of Protestant perspectives on the Christian life. Participants will explore biblical and theological foundations that shape an understanding of the Christian life. Reflection on focused experiences of spiritual practices will engage students in critical analysis of their own spiritual lives and nurture opportunities for congregational ministry and leadership. Through assignments, online discussion, and class lectures, participants will engage in vital components of the Christian life.
Mission and Evangelism - Rev. Dr. Aram Feinberg
Tuesdays, April 18-May 23, 2023 | 7-9 p.m. ET
Though we frequently hear that the "church is missionary by its very nature," what exactly does this mean and how may we joyfully claim evangelism as part of our missional identity?
In this course, participants will go on a wonderful journey of discovery, inquiring into the staggeringly rich realm of mission and evangelism in order to embrace the challenges facing the rapidly changing church and world in the twenty-first century.
Preaching - Dr. Rich Voelz
Thursdays, April 27-June 1, 2023 | 7-9 p.m. ET
Participants will consider the "why" of preaching and learn the "how" of basic elements of sermon preparation and delivery. The learning will then be put into practice by developing, delivering, and receiving feedback on a sermon preached in the context.
