Lifelong Learning Events

January Seminars January 28–30

Blurring the Boundaries: Preaching as Testimony

Explore the interplay of your life and God’s Word, with acclaimed author and preacher Anna Carter Florence during January Seminars on the seminary campus, January 28-30, 2008.

“Testimony, one of the oldest forms of Christian witness, contains both a narration of events and a confession of belief,” Carter Florence says. “We tell what we have seen and heard and confess what we believe about it.  Testimony can’t be proven true or false, only believed or rejected. It raises the question, ‘Does testimony blur the boundaries of what a sermon is and who may preach it?’”

Carter Florence is associate professor of preaching and author of the book Preaching as Testimony.

“The plenary sessions, workshops and worship may energize your preaching, as you engage the tradition of testimony for today,” says Sarah Erickson, associate director in Lifelong Learning. Workshop leaders from five denominations and diverse ministries will assist Carter Florence with worship and workshop leadership. To view a complete schedule of the event, including schedule and registration information: www.ctsnet.edu. Also, see calendar, page 19.

Note: January Seminars participants may want to extend their stay, to attend “Preaching in the Light of the Resurrection: The Lectionary Texts for Eastertide” led by Distinguished Professor of New Testament David Bartlett. The seminar begins Thursday evening, January 31 and concludes at noon Friday, February 2. (See calendar, page 19).

January 31–February 2

Preaching in the Light of the Resurrection:

The Lectionary Texts for Eastertide

Join New Testament scholar David Bartlett January 31-February 2 for a study of the lectionary texts from Easter Sunday and several Sundays of Eastertide. Designed primarily as preparation for preaching, this seminar is open to all. The discussion will focus on the Gospel of John and on 1 Peter.

The seminar begins Thursday evening and concludes Friday at noon. Participants in January Seminars—earlier the same week—may want to stay an extra day to attend this course.

The program fee is $60 (lodging and meals extra).

February 7–10

Other Traditions’ Spirituality: Broadening Our Horizons

In the coming year, the Spirituality Program will offer two courses aimed to broaden understandings of spirituality by including less familiar traditions.

“The Spirituality of the Eastern Christian Church,” led by V. Bruce Rigdon, meets February 7-10, 2008.

A Presbyterian pastor, Rigdon is a noted scholar in church history and an expert on the Orthodox Church—especially in Russia.

“Eastern Orthodox Christianity includes those churches whose ancient roots extend back to the Eastern Roman Empire and the very beginnings of Christian history,” Rigdon says. “Influenced by Greek language and culture and the development of the Byzantine civilization, …these churches developed rich liturgical and theological traditions, forming the foundations for a spirituality of enormous beauty, vitality and strength.”

In this course, participants will engage elements of Eastern Christian spirituality —an embodied spirituality that must be learned in and from community, says Tom Lewis, director of the Spirituality Program. “Seeking to see the life of our Orthodox friends, we will explore various spiritual practices; such as the ‘Jesus prayer’; the way Easter is celebrated; ‘reading’ icons; singing Orthodox prayers; comparing theological themes, and the ways that biblical stories are interpreted.

“We will experience Sunday morning worship and liturgy with a local Orthodox community, then look again at our own traditions, in the light of what we have discovered.”

“Islam Explored: Selected Stories and Spiritualities in a Living Faith” will be facilitated by Carlos Cardoza-Orlandi, September 7-12. Bringing teachers and scholars from the Muslim community in Atlanta, Cardoza-Orlandi will weave together a comparative view of Christian and Muslim spirituality.

On Thursday September 11, 2008, the larger community will be invited to participate in an interreligious dialogue at Columbia Seminary.

For more information about the program, contact Tom Lewis 404-687-4592, or LewisT@CTSnet.edu