IPS/SP500 – Spiritual Formation in Communities This course explores spiritual formation in three religious traditions: Indigenous, Judaism, and Christianity. Taught over three weekends, each of which will be dedicated to one of the traditions, the course will focus on the specific form of spirituality brought by the instructor. Study of approaches to spirituality and specific spiritual practices will develop the student's skills in understanding spirituality in general and the particular forms and ways of spirituality for each tradition. Students will read a resource bibliography, cultivate experiential learning by interaction with contemporary practitioners, and document their learning in modalities not restricted to academic-paper formats. Weekend One: Fri/Sat Feb. 8/9 – Christian Spirituality (Rev. Dr. Wendy Fletcher) Weekend Two: Fri/Sat Mar. 1/2 – Indigenous Spirituality (Ms. Samaya Jardey) Weekend Three: Thur/Fri Mar. 21/22 - Jewish Spirituality (Rabbi Dr. Laura Duhan-Kaplan) PT/SP/HIS6/713 – Healing In and Across the Spirituality of Christian Traditions (Rev. Dr. Wendy Fletcher) From early beginning places, Christian communities have identified healing in a myriad of forms as a central discourse for expressing the content of faith. This course will explore the varieties of meaning implicit in the notion of healing as a theological and spiritual motif, as well as an applied praxis. Through a select consideration of moments in the Christian story which span our 2000 year history, we will explore the relationship between emphasis on healing in its varied forms and cultural context, as well as its critical appearance in periods of religious revival. Pre-requisite: HIS500 Spring Term VST Extension Site Course Offerings NT640E - Celebrating the Word made flesh in the Gospel of John, then and now (1.5) March 7-9, 2013 - Grace Presbyterian Church, Calgary (Dr. Harry O. Maier) This course invites participation in the theological, literary, and social world of the Gospel of John. Although John has had a monumental impact on the shape and content of Christian faith in Jesus, it remains at times a strange and bewildering Gospel. This course is an introduction to John's Gospel as a unique telling of the Jesus story. It will introduce participants to the literary devices it uses to describe the story of the Word made flesh in Jesus and how that story invited and challenged followers of Jesus to remain faithful in a world they experienced as hostile and dangerous. It will also explore how John's Gospel is used in the seasons and New Testament lessons of the Christian year to form contemporary faith and witness. In this Gospel we will meet a community and followers of Jesus who met the Word made flesh and were in turn invited to be the Word made flesh in the world as a community sent by the risen Christ. We will explore how this Gospel invites us to be the people of God in our own context and the life and witness it calls us to embody in our daily lives. PT519E - Bridges and Barriers to Graceful Leadership in New Times (1.5 or 3.0 credits) March 7-9, 2013 - Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria (Rev. Keith Howard) This course will explore key components of the Canadian context that prompt renovation of our understanding and practice of leadership within the church. Participants will identify and engage some key barriers that church leaders currently encounter and explore some practices and habits that allow leaders to survive and thrive with a sense of joy and grace.
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