This online class introduces biblical Hebrew for the sake of Old Testament preaching, teaching, and personal study. Students will learn the Hebrew alphabet, essential Hebrew grammar, and important theological vocabulary, and they will become familiar with online tools and resources. The class will be fun, engaging, and enriching for all who desire a deeper understanding of Hebrew Scripture in its original language.

This course addresses the theological questions prompted by the experience of mental health
issues, as well as the practical pastoral concerns involved in addressing psychological disorder. It
will consider broad theological themes of embodiment, experience, language, healing, and the
church, deepening concepts of what it means to be human in order to better address the complex questions raised by mental health issues. These discussions will frame engagement with particular modes of suffering including depression, anxiety, psychosis, bipolar, addiction(s), and eating disorders. Readings will be drawn from leading theologians as well as clinical literature, and lectures will add a further level of reflection by introducing key philosophical concepts and questions from the field of phenomenological psychopathology.

This course fulfils either the theology or practical ministry elective for students in the Priesthood or Diaconate Certificate.

Join us for a 7-week course at the Stevenson School for Ministry that explores the theme of overcoming challenges and finding hope through the lens of the Biblical Wisdom tradition. In this course, we will delve into the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job to discover timeless wisdom that can help us navigate through life’s difficulties without succumbing to fear. Through an in-depth academic and spiritual exploration of these texts, participants will gain valuable insights and practical tools for finding growth, wisdom, and hope in the face of adversity. This course offers a unique opportunity to engage with the profound teachings of these ancient texts and apply their lessons to our modern lives.

An Evangelist is a lay person who presents the good news of Jesus Christ in such a way that people are led to receive Christ as savior and follow Christ as Lord in the fellowship of the Church. This 14-week Lay Evangelism Training is designed to equip lay Episcopalians to know and share this good news through lectures, discussions, and practicums. The training is co-taught by the Rev. Joyce Scherer-Hoock and the Rev. Becky Zartman. Participants will come away from the training with a deeper awareness of God’s story and practical skills for sharing this story.

Topics covered include:

• “Why” evangelism and baptismal ministry?
• Reading scripture for evangelism in the Episcopal Church
• Knowing your own spiritual autobiography
• Basic apologetics and articulating “why” Christianity

Participation in this training is also a pathway towards being licensed, at the bishop’s discretion, as a lay evangelist per the canons of the Episcopal Church (Title III, Canon 4, Section 9).

The training is held Tuesdays 5:30-6:30, August 27th – December 10th via Zoom

Register here!

What is happiness? And how, if at all, is it related to goodness? In this course, we examine classic and contemporary responses to these questions. Our approach will be guided by the three Anglican sources for theological reflection: scripture, tradition and reason. We begin with recent insights on the nature of happiness from positive psychology (Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman). Second, we turn to classic and contemporary philosophical texts on happiness and the good life (Aristotle, Seneca, and Julia Annas). Third, we will read classic and contemporary theologians on the nature of happiness in the Christian life (Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and Ellen Charry). Finally, we explore the theme of happiness in the Old and New Testaments. Based on the sources of scripture, tradition, and reason, students will be encouraged to answer for themselves the question: What is happiness?

This course is for all pastoral caregivers, for those who are fulfilling a call to tend to the sick, and those who make pastoral visitations in your congregation.

The New Testament is clear that the proclamation of God’s Reign (or Kingdom) is at the heart of the Good News. But what exactly did Jesus mean when he preached that message? And what connection (if any) is there between what Jesus preached and the communities of Jesus followers that Paul established? What can our study of this teaching mean for our churches today? These are the questions that we will explore in this class by reading key passages from the Gospels and Paul’s letters, as well as current scholarship related to these questions.

This ten-week course, taught by Dr. Joshua Davis, will be offered via Zoom on Mondays from 5:30 – 6:30 pm EST beginning June 3rd and ending August 5th. The enrollment fee is $150 to audit or $375 to receive course credit.

This course will explore concepts of race and ethnicity in the Hebrew Bible in three ways: 1. Analyzing concepts of race/ethnicity in biblical materials in the context of the ancient world. 2. Reading biblical interpreters who foreground ethnic identity in their interpretation of biblical texts. 3. Histories of how the Bible has been used in discussions of race in the US. Throughout the course, students will have opportunities to reflect theologically on how race impacts their own reading of the Bible and the theological resources of the Bible for racial reconciliation.