Anglican Ethics

FACULTY: Dr. Joshua Davis
COST: $300.00 for credit or $100 for audit
DATES: Tuesdays at 8PM

Welcome to the second half of the Stevenson School for Ministry’s introductory course in Christian ethics! At its best, the discipline of Christian ethics is nothing less than the adventure of discipleship, and I’m glad to join each of you this semester as we embark on it together. While this course draws on the work of a number of Anglican scholars, it is also intentionally ecumenical, bringing other voices to the table as well.

Over the next 10 weeks, we will explore a range of topics that address how Christians can think and live morally – in our own lives and in our common life together: in families, in communities, in our nation, and in creation.

Becoming the Beloved Community

FACULTY: Mr. Kevin Barron
COST: $300.00 for credit or $100 for audit
DATES: TBD

Using the framework of the Episcopal Church’s “Becoming a Beloved Community” this course on antiracism will lead participants through four pillars rooted in the Baptismal Covenant; Telling the Truth about the Church and Race; Proclaiming the Dream of Beloved Community; Practicing the Way of Love; and Repairing the Breach in Society and Institutions. Among other resources addressing systemic racism, privilege, and justice, the principal texts for the course are The Sin of White Supremacy: Christianity, Racism, and Religious Diversity in America by Jeannine Fletcher and Yet With A Steady Beat: The African American Struggle for Recognition in the Episcopal Church. The course is designed to provide future and current leaders of the church with the knowledge and background to combat the sin of racism, particularly focusing on dismantling systemic racism within and outside of the institution of the Church.

Christian-Muslim Relations

FACULTY: Dr. Salih Sayilgan
COST: $300.00 for credit or $100 for audit
DATES: Wednesdays at 8PM

This course explores the history of Christian-Muslim relations and theological/practical issues between the two traditions. While the first part examines the historical encounters between the adherents of two faiths, the second part shed lights on theological and practical issues such as sacred text and tradition, God, prophethood, authority, worship and rituals, ethics, culture, as well as the relationships with political order in both religions. The third part of the course concentrates on some contemporary perspectives on Christian-Muslim relations as well as the current state of dialogue between Christians and Muslims in the United States

Church History II

FACULTY: The Rev. Dr. Mark Scheneman
COST: $300.00 for credit or $100 for audit
DATES: Mondays at 7PM

This is a course in the basic history of the Episcopal Church. We will begin with a consideration of the planting of colonial Anglican churches and the struggle for stability and identity, especially in the wake of the American Revolution. Each week, in a linear sequence, we will read from Richard Prichard’s “A History of the Episcopal Church”, (Morehouse, 1991) which will be used as the principle text. The course will conclude with a decade of renewal (1980-90) and some reflection on directions and developments, which continue to shape our church of the present.

Community Listening as Evangelism

FACULTY: Deacon Marsha Roscoe & Pastor Richard Jorgensen
COST: $75.00
DATES: Mondays at 7:00 PM beginning March 30

This five-week course helps students develop skills for focused listening and explores how to assess needs and possibilities for mission.  Students will be equipped to map their immediate mission field and to identify individuals and organizations with whom they might be in relationship.  Students reclaim the classic understanding of a parish being intimately connected with the community. This course is pass/fail.

Designing Dynamic Liturgies

FACULTY: The Rev. Shawn Strout & Ellen Johnston
COST: $300.00 for credit or $100 for audit
DATES: Tuesdays at 7:00 PM

This ten-week course will explore principles and best practices for designing dynamic liturgies. The full breadth of the Book of Common Prayer, Enriching Our Worship, The Hymnal 1982, Lift Every Voice and Sing II, Wonder, Love, and Praise, and other liturgical and musical supplements will be discussed. The topics covered include the liturgical year, the Daily Office, the Eucharist, Baptism, Lent and Holy Week services, and special services. Special attention will be paid to smaller-resourced parishes.

Episcopal Church Management 2

FACULTY: Mark A. Scheneman
COST: $75.00 per person or $150.00 for a parish of two or more people. No cost if using Diocese of Central PA Shaped by Faith voucher.
DATES: Thursdays at 7:00 PM

This five-week course follows Episcopal Church Management 1 and addresses church administration leadership, human resource management, as well as organizing and supporting pastoral ministry teams. Using case studies, participants engage what they’ve learned by developing action plans.

Episcopal Church Management 3

FACULTY: Rev. Canon Mark Scheneman & Rev. Canon Stephen Casey
COST: $75.00
DATES: Thursdays at 7:00 PM beginning March 26

Through examining case studies, students will learn about strategic planning, dealing with conflict, managing change, exercising humble authority, and healthy self-care.

Ethics I

FACULTY: Dr. Joshua Davis
COST: $300.00 for credit or $100 for audit
DATES: Tuesdays at 7PM

At its best, the discipline of Christian ethics is nothing less than the adventure of learning about the nuances and contours of Christian discipleship. We will explore the sources of authority for ethical reflection, the relationship between ethics and doctrinal (or dogmatic) theology, and the history of ethics as a discipline. Then, we will explore ethical thought in ways that reflect the catholic and evangelical character of Anglicanism at its best.

Introduction to New Testament

FACULTY: Dr. Deirdre Good
COST: $300.00 for credit or $100 for audit
DATES: Mondays at 6:00 PM beginning February 24

This ten week on line course is designed to lead you to read the New Testament itself, New Testament Survey provides essential historical and cultural background information and carefully examines the content of each book in the New Testament

The Message of Mission

FACULTY: Deacon Marsha Roscoe
COST: $300.00 for credit or $100 for audit
DATES: Mondays at 6PM

The apostolic witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ is at the heart of the church’s mission. The church has the critically important task of communicating the message of Jesus Christ to the world. Reflecting on scripture and God’s call for us, we use the Book of Acts as a model for contemporary ministry in the communities in which God has planted us.

Reading the Gospel of Matthew, Year A

FACULTY: Dr. Deirdre Good
COST: $75.00
DATES: Tuesdays at 6:00 PM beginning March 24

An exploration of the Gospel of Matthew, this five-week learning opportunity is designed for discovering mission exploration, deepening the spiritual life of your community, and for those who preach and teach.

Shaped by Faith Basics

FACULTY: Rev. Canon Chris Streeter & Rev. Canon Dan Morrow
COST: Free for Diocese of Central PA
DATES: 10-week course, Thursdays at 6:00 PM

This ten-week course is part of the Diocesan-wide Shaped by Faith initiative and is designed to help church leadership respond to the challenge of ministry.

Theology II

FACULTY: Dr. Joshua Davis
COST: $300.00 for credit or $100 for audit
DATES: Wednesdays at 7PM

“If someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.” Systematic theology is the theological discipline that seeks to give an answer for the hope that lies within us. In this course, we will continue our exploration of systematic theology. We will pick up with discussions on the topics of Creation, the Fall, Redemption, Sacraments, Ecclesiology, and Eschatology.

Vestry Leadership

FACULTY: The Rev. Canon David Lovelace
COST: $75.00
DATES: Wednesdays at 8:00 PM

This five-week course is a practical learning opportunity addressing the fulfilling work and common challenges of building your vestry leadership team.  Through this Shaped by Faith opportunity, better understand the roles and duties of collaborative vestry leadership while learning best practices for integrating spiritual and community development through these in-person gatherings, online webinars and discussion forum resources.  This course is especially relevant for new vestry members.