Youth Formation Continuing Education
Jun 01, 2009
Dr. Jana Struková
Youth formation from a Christian perspective
Register online for this program here
Dr. Jana Struková will offer a continuing education program about "Passing on the Faith - Practices of Spiritual Formation with Youth" June 1-5 on the seminary campus.
Designed for clergy, educators and lay leaders, the session will focus on "What are the practices that initiate our youth into a living relationship with God in Christ, and how can we as parents, families and congregations help nurture this relationship with our youth " said Dr. Struková, who is completing her first academic year at Southwest as assistant professor of Christian education and spiritual formation.
In order to answer the question, the course will examine current socio-cultural context of American families and their children. From home designs, communal eating, forms of family entertainment to congregational practices, we will analyze and determine both cultural and ecclesiastical practices of youth, said Dr. Struková, who writes articles and leads workshops on transformative practices of faith for youth and families.
When confronted with the question - What do you hope your children will grow up to be like - parents universally wish for their children to turn out happy, honest, kind and loving people, explains Dr. Struková . Career choices and role expectations for their children might differ from family to family, culture to culture or nation to nation; yet, the fundamental desire to raise up a child of whom a parent can be proud remains.
In the summer course, we will employ methodologies from the fields such as ethnography, narrative psychology, developmental psychology, sociology; assess virtual communities (e.g. Second Life, MySpace) vis-à-vis embodied communities, and kitchen interior designs. The participants will be asked to use some of these methodologies as their preparation for the course. The suggested tasks will be posted on the program's website.
Tuition for this five-day session is $325. On-campus housing and three meals a day is an additional $150.
Register and pay online or US mail your name, address, day phone, email address and a $50 deposit to Seminary of the Southwest - Nance Busbey - 501 E. 32nd Street - Austin, Texas 78705. Contact Nance with any questions.
The Diocese of Texas will award 12 CEUs (professional) to clergy who take part in this continuing education program. Persons from other dioceses should consult the appropriate person in their diocesan office.
Dr. Struková began teaching at Southwest last September. Earning her Ph.D. degree from Princeton Theological Seminary with focus on youth ministry, she continued to research the practices of spiritual formation with youth at Emory University. Out of her research has come a book titled Kitchen TableYouth Ministry. Calling Youth to the Patterns of Christian Life - slated for publication by Pilgrim Press in the fall 2010.
