Christians are life-long learners. Our adult education classes are a place to ask, to seek, to connect, to discuss, and to wonder about things that matter. All classes begin at 9:15 AM.
Adult Education Fall Term | Setpember 24 – November 19 | 9:15 AM
Pressure Points: Religious Violence | Choir Room
Fall Term | During the fall, we examine how misreadings of Biblical passages have been used to rationalize and even promote religious violence. Midrashic reading of Genesis stories foundational to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam help us gain new insight to sibling rivalry, dualism, scapegoats and more. “All the major figures of the first book of the Hebrew Bible are complex characters…Dividing the world into saints and sinners, the saved and the damned, the children of God and the children of the devil, is the first step down the road to violence in the name of God” according to Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, author of Not in God’s Name: Confronting Religious Violence which will inform the study although reading it is not required for the weekly discussions.
Facilitators | Keaton Hill and Denise Snodgrass
This class explores thorny issues and new ideas that challenge us, the 21st century church, where we live— at the intersection of our faith and the world. We discuss weighty and important topics with an interactive, non-judgmental approach, which fosters a safe environment where no question is trivial or too “dumb” to ask. In fact, different viewpoints and life experiences enhance our spirited conversations.
The Improv: Boundaries | Jerusalem Room
Fall Term | The Boundaries class will explore how to establish healthy boundaries with friends, parents, children, coworkers, self, and God. We will discuss when to say no and how to say yes, how to respond to individuals who don’t recognize or respect personal boundaries, and why it is important to respect other people’s boundaries without resentment. The reference for the class will be the Boundaries book by Dr Henry Cloud and Dr John Townsend. Although it is not required reading, books will be available for those interested. Reviews of the book’s content include “this is THE most life-changing book I have ever read, apart from the Bible” and “provides a doorway of understanding and freedom for those of us who have allowed ourselves to be buried in the inability to say no.” Join us for an interactive discussion on how to incorporate boundaries into your life.
Facilitators | Paul Rogers and Christi Mobley
A static faith can be unhelpful in addressing a dynamic and changing world. The Improv class looks at scripture, life, and practice through various theological lenses, seeking to discover credible and promising ground for faithful improvisation in our lives.
Digging In: Creation Care and Scripture | Atrium
Fall Term | Over the nine weeks of this course we will look at Scripture in relation to contemporary concern for Creation Care. We will begin with a look at some ways Scripture has been said to be an obstacle for Creation Care, suggesting alternative readings of such “problematic” parts of the Bible. Then we will look at the implications of Scripture’s accounts of creation, covenant, redemption for humanity’s calling to care for creation. The class will conclude with a look at Scripture’s hints about the relation of humans to other animals and about God’s good future for all creation.
Facilitator | Cam Murchison
This class reads the Bible, as well as other works that engage the Bible, with the expectation that – whether we come to the text with trust or skepticism, find it comforting or disturbing, have been reading it our whole lives or are cracking it open for the first time – the Bible has something to say about who God is and who we are, both of which are deeply important for how we live.
Richard Coble will serve as a guest teacher for all three classes this fall. Contact Richard Coble with questions or for more information.
Resource Documents from End of Life Class: Foregoing CPR; Medical Futility and CPR; Advance Directive for NC; How Doctors Die ; Why I Hope to Die at 75; The Best Possible Day;