Online School Spring Term 2010
Feb 08, 2010
What do Revitalizing Our Church, the Celtic Saints and Harry Potter have in common?
All are course topics in the 2010 Spring Term of the Online School for Spirituality and Mission at Seminary of the Southwest.
Registration is open now for the three courses that begin February 8 and conclude March 26. Tuition for each course is $170 and continuing education credits are available. Full course descriptions, biographies of teachers and a registration link are here. Questions? Contact Madelyn Snodgrass, director of the Online School for Spirituality and Mission at Southwest, by email or phone 512.472.4133 ext. 344. A certificate of completion of each course will be given for 20 hours of CEUs. Each diocese or institution decides how many CEUs to award.
Is the mainline church a dinosaur? Are we relevant in a secular and consumer age? The Rev. Barkley Thompson, a Southwest graduate who has led revitalization of two churches since his graduation, offers "Communities of Memory, Communities of Expectation: How to renew the liturgical church so the liturgical church can revitalize Christianity." After reflecting on the role of the ordained leader in today's church, the course considers how we "do church" and what practices will open congregations to the energy of God's Spirit for growth and renewal.
The Rev. Mary Earle, Southwest graduate, prolific author and retreat leader who has taught at the seminary for more than two decades, explores "Holy Companions: Spiritual Practices from the Celtic Saints." The lives and stories of the Celtic saints offer us suggestions for living the Christian faith with utter confidence that this good world is God's and we are partners with Christ in all our living and doing. The course details the variety of Celtic spiritual practices.
The Rev. Dr. Donald Keeney, director of the seminary's Booher Library, leads a journey into "Modern Myth, Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia." His course examines these two popular fantasy series in light of longstanding Christian themes and images. Persons enrolling in the course should have read the books - not just watched the films. Short articles will be provided to enhance the class discussion.
The Online School for Spirituality and Mission is a part of and helps fulfill a goal of the seminary's Center for Christian Ministry and Vocation - the Center provides educational opportunities in which Christians of any denomination can extend and deepen their knowledge of theology, scripture and ethics.
