Continuing Education Opportunities

The latest newsletter of the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership is now available. http://www.brethrenseminary.edu/academy.htm Click here to go to the website. It contains information about upcoming courses, book reviews, and an update on the Advanced Foundations of Church Leadership Celebration.

1. Biblical Studies

Study of the Psalms Instructor Rev. Dr. Robert Neff will present a video teleconference event on April 9, 2005 (Saturday) at Juniata College and Elizabethtown College, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The teleconference event will take place at Juniata College with video conferencing at Elizabethtown College. Required Text: Walter Brueggemann, Psalms and the Life of Faith, Fortress Press, 1995, ISBN 0-8006-2733-4. Cost: for the event is $100. plus a $10. CEU documentation fee. Cost includes continental breakfast and lunch. Pre-registration is required by March 25. For attendance and reading by Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center, .7 CEU credits will be provided. For a registration form contact the District Center at 814-643-0601, or Donna Rhodes at 814-643-6002.

Seminar in Genesis Instructor: Eugene Roop Faculty, Bethany Theological Seminary May 16 - 27; 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monday - Friday Focuses on the creations saga of Genesis. The class will explore the text using analytical tools appropriate to biblical narrative. A course project will be identified by each student according to their interest and circumstances. This project will be designed to interpret a Genesis text to congregation, academic, or wider public community. Prerequisite: B/BIST-101 Academy students or those taking the course for non-credit, personal enrichment call the Academy office at 800-287-8822, or E-mail Academy@bethanyseminary.edu for more information.

The Books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes: A Study of Contrasts Instructor: Bob Neff, Adjunct Faculty, Bethany Theological Seminary September 10-11, October 1-2, October 22-23, November 5 - 6. Friday 7:00 - 9:30 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Location: Elizabethtown College, Elizabeth, PA The student will explore biblical wisdom for the young and the old and for times of certainty and uncertainty. The course will discuss the role of religious wisdom in the canon and in an increasingly secular North America. Academy students or those taking the course for non-credit, personal enrichment call the Academy office at 800-287-8822, or E-mail Academy@bethanyseminary.edu for more information.

2. Spiritual Hardiness

3. Pastoral Leadership

Clergy Clinic in Family Emotional Process, November 8-10, January 31-Feb. 2, 2005, and May 2-4, 2005. Sponsored by Lombard Mennonite Peace Center. The Clergy Clinic in Family Emotional Process is designed to enhance the ability of participants to function as self-differentiated leaders within their own ministry setting. It will provide a safe forum for processing challenging situations in one's ministry, while also facilitating reflection on a way of thinking about the human condition which has implications for all aspects of life. Cost is $775.00 for the entire series with early registration - before Septmeber 20. The fee after that date is $875.00. For more information contact Admin@LMPeaceCenter.org Web site: www.LMPeaceCenter.org

Work of the Pastor II Instructor: Phil Baisley Faculty, Earlham School of Religion May 16-27; 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. This course emphasizes the day-to-day ministry of pastoring. Primary foci are: the candidating process, visitation, ministry, weddings and pre-marital counseling and funerals and grief care. 3 semester hours. Academy students or those taking the course for non-credit, personal enrichment call the Academy office at 800-287-8822, or E-mail Academy@bethanyseminary.edu for more information.

4. Preaching and Worship

5. Evangelism and Church Growth

6. Pastoral Care

7. General Enrichment

The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership is sponsoring, "From Jesus to Reformation: The History of Christianity," to be held at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, IN on the weekends of Feb. 19-20 and March 5-6, 2005. The course instructor will be Joshua Brockway, a 2004 graduate of Bethany Theological Seminary. This course is open to anyone who wishes to develop their knowledge of Christian History. TRIM students will earn one CEQ/ISU. Pastors will earn two CEU's. Lay people are also welcome to attend. The course fee is $150. Registration and brochures are available at www.bethanyseminary.edu/academy.html or by calling 1-800-287-8822 ext. 1824.

Process Theology Instructor: Lonnie Valentine, Faculty, Earlham School of Religion August 27 - 28, October 1 -2, November 19 -20. 3:30 - 9:30 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturday A literary and theological study of John's gospel. John's most distinctive theological concepts and formulations will be considered, including realized eschatology, the incarnation of the Word, and Jesus as the life and the light of the world. Prerequisite: B/BST 102. Academy students or those taking the course for non-credit, personal enrichment call the Academy office at 800-287-8822, or E-mail Academy@bethanyseminary.edu for more information.

History of the Church of the Brethren AND Varieties of Christian Peace Witness (Open to Connections students only) Instructors: Jeff Bach and Scott Holland Faculty, Bethany Theological Seminar September 17-18, October 22-23, November 12-13. 3:30 - 9:00 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturday History of the Church of the Brethren investigates the history of the Brethren from their beginning as a movement amidst German Pietism to their transplantation and spread in America, major divisions, mission work, and interactions with wider Christianity and surrounding cultures, attending to their development from a rather homogeneous to a somewhat more ethnically diverse group. Varieties of Christian Peace Witness introduces students to varieties of theologies and ways of practical peace in the Christian tradition, with a concentration on the historic peace churches, Brethren, Mennonites and Friends. Academy students or those taking the course for non-credit, personal enrichment call the Academy office at 800-287-8822, or E-mail Academy@bethanyseminary.edu for more information.

Ritual & Reflections in the Life of Faith Instructor: Dawn Wilhelm, Faculty, Bethany Theological Seminary January 3 - 14, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. Students will study the biblical, theological and anthropological bases for various rituals and ordinances of the church, focusing on such practices as child and parent dedication, baptism, Love Feast, communion, anointing, the laying on of hands, weddings, funerals/memorials, and ordination. Academy students or those taking the course for non-credit, personal enrichment call the Academy office at 800-287-8822, or E-mail Academy@bethanyseminary.edu for more information.

Young Adulthood in Development and Theological Perspectives Instructor: Russell Haitch Faculty, Bethany Theological Seminary January 3 - 14, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monday - Friday Probes issues of young adulthood, especially those of vocation and intimacy. Human science concepts will be put into conversation with biblical and theological ones, with a view toward understanding "spiritual maturity" and improving ministerial judgment. Academy students or those taking the course for non-credit, personal enrichment call the Academy office at 800-287-8822, or E-mail Academy@bethanyseminary.edu for more information.

Technology and Ministry Instructor: Steve Spyker Faculty, Earlham School of Religion May 16-27; 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monday - Friday Examines how information technology is changing the world, the church, and the way we do ministry. Students will become acquainted with the current state of the art, with the objective of developing a worldview that includes trends in technology. Academy students or those taking the course for non-credit, personal enrichment call the Academy office at 800-287-8822, or E-mail Academy@bethanyseminary.edu for more information.

Sociology of Religion Instructor: Theodore E. Long, Adjunct Faculty, Bethany Theology Seminary February 4-5, February 25-26, March 4-5, March 18-19 Friday 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Location: Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA Focuses on theories of sociological origin and basis of religion, evolution of religious forms of organization, religion as a force for social change or control. Academy students or those taking the course for non-credit, personal enrichment call the Academy office at 800-287-8822, or E-mail Academy@bethanyseminary.edu for more information.

Brethren in Mission Instructor: Mervin B. Keeney, Adjunct Faculty, Bethany Theological Seminary April 1 - 3, plus two weekend intensives. Times TBA. Locations: The Conference on Mission, Goshen College, Goshen, IN and the Carlisle Church of the Brethren, Carlisle, PA Gives an overview of significant endeavors in foreign mission by the Church of the Brethren, with some attention to the wider context of Christian missions. The course will also focus on inter-cultural issues. Students will work on developing theologies of mission and evangelism that are inter-culturally sensitive. Academy students or those taking the course for non-credit, personal enrichment call the Academy office at 800-287-8822, or E-mail Academy@bethanyseminary.edu for more information.

Introduction to Theological Reflection Instructor: Scott Holland, Faculty, Bethany Theological Seminary June 10-11, June 17-18, June 24-25, July 15-16. Friday 7:00 - 9:30 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Location: Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA An introduction to theology as language that reflects on the activity and presence of God in our lives. Using a variety of theological texts, the course will examine both classic expressions of the Christian faith as well as ones that treat contemporary questions and problems. Films and novels will also be considered as occasions for the theological reflection. Academy students or those taking the course for non-credit, personal enrichment call the Academy office at 800-287-8822, or E-mail Academy@bethanyseminary.edu for more information.

8. Electives

Travel Seminar to Nigeria Instructor: Scott Holland Faculty, Bethany Theological Seminary Dates TBA For more information, contact Bethany's admissions office at 800-287-8822 or E-mail enroll@bethanyseminary.edu.

NEW::: "Your Church's Web Presence" Creating/Updating Church Web Pages" February 21 and April 15, 2005, Dr. Susan Hagedom, Instructor. On line course. Student "text" will be a basic edition of "Dream Weaver" which is abailable in both PC and Mac editions. This cademy level course will earn TRIM students credit in Ministry Skills and pastors 2 continuing education units. Tuition: $150. Registration deadline: January 19, 2005. Registration brochures are available at http://www.bethanyseminary.edu/academyedopps.htm or by calling 1-800-287-8822 ext. 1824.