Adult Education
At St. Stephen’s, we value questions as we seek to unite head and heart in a growing journey of exploration and conversation about the Christian life. We offer a variety of adult learning groups, on Sunday morning and during the week.
Class members choose their own curriculum, and topics range from social issues to contemporary progressive theology to spiritual formation.
Sixteen years ago, St. Stephen's kicked off its first lay seminary, inviting our community to covenant to participate in seminarly-like curriculum with quality and depth that broadened experience, deepened faith and better linked faith and practice. We call our intentional journey of growth together "Seminary for Life."
Seminary for Life courses for Fall 2012
(Check the bulletin board in the loggia for information and registration or contact kay@coxinet.net for more information.)
- Living the Questions: “The Journey,” Sessions 1-7, with Rev. Amy Venable on Tuesday evening, from 7:00 – 8:30 in Room 12, September 11- Oct. 23. Using the metaphor of journey for life in the Spirit, these first seven sessions of LTQ are a general overview of progressive Christianity. Some of the questions explored are: What does it mean “to live the questions?” What are the questions of faith you’ve always wanted to ask but have been afraid to voice?
- Living the Questions: “Reconciliation,” Sessions 8-14, with Kay Antinoro on Wednesday evening, from 7:00 – 8:30 in Room 12, September 12- Oct. 24. Reconciliation concerns the healing of relationships between God and self, humanity, and our relationship with the earth.
- Living the Questions Reading and Discussion Group. Read the new book, Living the Questions: The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity, co-authored by David M. Felten and Jeff Procter-Murphy, which is based on the bestselling DVD course, covering all 21 of its themes. The book group will be facilitated by Kay Antinoro and include an email community for sharing insights and questions.
- Justice for the Poor -- A core Seminary for Life offering that introduces the face of poverty in America today and builds understandings of poverty based on the reality of injustice toward the poor throughout history. Led by Glen Roberson, the class will meet on Tuesday evenings from September 11 through October 16 in Room 12 at the church.
The Fall Roundtable on Veteran's Day, Nov. 11, will focus on issues facing veterans returning from deployment in Afghanistan. Other Roundtable events throughout the year include the annual Peace Roundtable in January and the Earthday Roundtable in April.
If you like to read, you might enjoy the monthly Fiction Club or one of the Summer Reading Groups. Special roundtable seminars are offered on timely topics like science, religion and environmental issues. A recent focus was “Civil Communication in an Uncivil Time.”
On Wednesday afternoons, a wonderful group of retired persons meet to share their “Sacred Journey.”
Other opportunities for you to connect with others with similar interests include our choir, Top of the Hill monthly luncheon for seniors, and the Men’s Group.