Academy Course Descriptions 2008

Third Term: January- February 2008

• Living Spiritually: Spiritual Practices and Disciplines that Deepen Faith

• Left, Right, Down the Middle: Who is Jesus?

• Building a Stronger Marriage

Fourth  Term: February - April 2008

• From Dust to Dust: A theology of Suffering, Death and Things to Come

• Christian Martyrs

• Women of Genesis

Fifth  Term:  April - May  2008

• Reading Philippians Missionally: What it means to be a Church today

• 1 Corinthians

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Third Term 2008

"Living Spiritually: Spiritual Practices and Disciplines that Deepen Faith

Facilitator: Rev. Gary ArnTessoni
Dates: Sunday Nights; January 6, 2008 - February 10, 2008 6 weeks.
Time:   6:30-8:00 PM 

Description:  Christians over the centuries have learned that certain disciplines and practices help them keep their hearts turned toward God. A spiritual discipline is, when practiced faithfully and regularly, a habit or regular pattern in your life that repeatedly brings you back to God and opens you up to what God is saying to you. And so spiritual disciplines are, "a means of receiving God's grace… They allow us to place ourselves before God so God can transform us." Richard Foster in Celebration of Discipline. This course will introduce students to the knowledge and practice of Christian spiritual disciplines such as solitude, silence, service, spiritual Bible reading and meditation, centering prayer, and being in community (to name a few). Suggested reading will include: Adele Ahlberg Calhoun’s book: Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform us. Course fee for individual $20 or $30 per couple.

Location:  Westminster - Spellman Hall Break-out room

Left, Right, Down the Middle: Who is Jesus?

Facilitator: Rev. Gary ArnTessoni
Dates: Wednesday Mornings; January 9, 2008 - January 30, 2008,   4 weeks.
Time:   noon – 1:00

Description:  Ever feel like Jesus has been kidnapped byt he Christian Right or the Secular Left?  In this course we will look at leading religious  voices of our day ( specifically Marcus Borg and N.T. Wright who have co-authored a book entitled, The Meaning of Jesus; Two Versions)  to explore the relevancy of Jesus Christ for our day and age. Weekly classes will include conversation, video segments, and guidd discussion addressing the major theological view points. Course Fee is $10 for an individual and $15 for a couple.

This course is also being offered on-line!

Location:  Westminster

Building Stronger Marriages

Facilitator: Rev. Katie and Tony Sundermeier
Dates: Tuesday Nights ; January 8, 2008 - January 29, 2008,   4 weeks.
Time:   7:00 – 8:30 PM

Description:  This course is designed for marriage veterans, rookies and anywhere in between. Course fee for individual $10 or $15 per couple.

Location:  Westminster

Fourth Term 2008 

“From Dust to Dust: A Theology of Suffering, Death, and Things to Come”

This six week Lenten seminar will wrestle with and struggle with one of the most difficult questions we face in our spiritual journey: If God is good why is there so much suffering and death? This experience will help facilitate meaningful dialogue and conversation around the topics of suffering, the crucifixion, the perceived absence of God, and the deep longings of hope for a new day and a new life. Course fee for individual $20 or $30 per couple.

Location: Westminster - Spellman Hall break out room

Christian Martyrs

Facilitator: Dr. Claude Foster
Date: Tuesday evenings, February 26 - April 1,  6 weeks.
Time: 7:00-8:30 pm

Description: Beginning with the first Christian martyrs, the course will trace the history of Christian martyrdom through two millennia.   Attention will be given to the peculiar religious and political historical context in which men and women were executed because of their Christian witness.  Course fee for individual $20 or $30 per couple.

Location: Westminster - Choir Room

Foundations: Women of Genesis

Facilitator: Rev. Dr. Deborah J. Spink
Date: Tuesday evenings, February 26 - April 1,  6 weeks.
Time: 7:00-8:30 pm

Description: This course is designed for students who are interested in looking at what the biblical and extra-biblical literature teaches us about:  1) Eve, or Lilith, who came first?   2) Sarah and Hagar, slave and free?  3) The dysfunctional families of Lot and Rebecca.   4) Leah and Rachel, sisters who shared everything!
5) Dinah and Tamar, righteous prostitutes? 6) The wives of Potipher and Joseph.  Course fee for individual $20 or $30 per couple.

Fifth Term 2008

Reading Philippians Missionally: What it Means to Be the Church Today

Facilitator: Rev. Tony Sundermeier
Date: Tuesday evenings;  April 8 - May 13, 6 weeks.
Time: 7:00-8:30 pm

Description: Using Paul’s inspiring letter to the church at Philippi, we will take a six week look around the themes of what it means to be the church today.  More than a “traditional Bible study” we will seek out not only knowledge from the text, but also seek out a transformation under the text that equips us and helps form us to be sent by God into the world. Course fee for individual $20 or $30 per couple.

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