VOCARE September 2015
to call
SEPTEMBER 1: JOIN OUR ORIENTATION IMMERSION Berkeley: Campus and Downtown as Context Tuesday, September 1st 3:00pm-7:00pm
All new students will participate in this special local immersion as part of Orientation Week. Family, returning students, faculty, and staff are also welcome! Immersion participants will experience some of the organizing in Berkeley that addresses homelessness and poverty, migrant and refugee communities, as well as education and the arts. This immersion will begin at 3pm in the Badè and will include: Zaytuna College, UC Berkeley’s School of Journalism, the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, Berkeley Food and Housing Project, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, and the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. New Students are registered and will receive funds for dinner and a list of “Cheap Good Eats” downtown. Let’s explore PSR’s neighborhood together! Returning students, faculty and staff and families can register by emailing: contexted@psr.edu
Immersive Learning at PSR Includes:
• local, national and international immersion courses taught by PSR faculty and community partners; • classroom and online courses in every discipline that incorporate contextual immersion components; • learning from other students, faculty, staff, GTU schools and centers; • spiritual and leadership formation events with communities, denominational and multi faith networks; • self-designed immersion courses; • experiential research for course projects and papers; • Field Education placements for MDiv and MTS students; • semester long Social Change Field Work for MAST and Certificate of Spirituality and Social Change students.
a monthly newsletter with news and opportunities from Field Education and Contextual Learning for PSR students and community members
LIKE US, TAG US, TWEET US Field Education and Contextual Learning launched a Facebook page in order to facilitate news of interest to you. We will be posting Field Ed, leadership development and job opportunities as well as sharing PSR students’ immersive experiences. Like us on Facebook. Tag your PSR immersive moments, whether at a local Field Ed site, as part of a distance or classroom course, or an out of country Immersion, on Instagram with the hashtag #psrimmersion. It’s a great way to share and stay connected. See what has already been shared via Instagram and Twitter.
Contextual
LEARNING
SUMMER IMMERSIONS Bay Area-Ferguson #BlackLivesMatter Activism Immersive Experience July 29 – August 12
PSR’s #BlackLivesMatter Activism Immersion group just returned to Berkeley! After several days of reflection and meetings with Bay Area activists, Dr. Sharon Fennema led the immersion to Ferguson, MO where they were hosted, and joined, by students and faculty from Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. You can learn about the group’s experiences by reading their blog, such as:
“Got arrested. Shared a cell with Cornel West, Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou and other amazing folks and coulda just got out but instead I got free. Upon release I was received by my beautiful cohort from PSR in love and now feel equally loved by the virtual, spiritual and community outpouring. You are the beloved community of my dreams becoming flesh. I love how my blackness looks against your beauty. Thank you all.” – Marvin K. White, August 10, 2015
Engaging Communities of Liberation: Cuernavaca, Mexico Pilot Immersion August 10-20
A group of PSR students and Justin Tanis, Managing Director of PSR’s Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry (CLGS), were joined by Dr. Karen Oliveto, Pastor of Glide United Methodist Church, for a pilot immersive experience in Mexico. PSR and CLGS are piloting a partnership with CETLALIC, a language school with deep progressive roots and a passion for a liberating pedagogy which includes both language study for ministry, as well as learning from and with LGBTQ communities, liberation theologians, base communities, women’s groups, and social justice advocates. CETLALIC is uniquely suited to welcome LGBTQ people and our family members and allies, including homestays with genuinely welcoming families. We sent Nikira, Kerry, Ally, Vera, Karen and Justin with traveling mercies. If you want a glimpse of their journey and reflections, follow their blog! If you are interested in a contextual language immersion with CETLALIC of longer duration, let us know at contexted@psr.edu
IMMERSION REUNIONS!
PSR Contextual Learning holds five-year reunions for Immersion Courses in order to assess the impact of these learning journeys on lives and ministry. Reunions rekindle bonds forged on Holy Hill and across neighborhood and nations and strengthen networks of spiritual leadership for social transformation. Read these brief words of testimony from two reunions held this week:
How has this experience changed your spiritual leadership and ministry over the past five years? 2010 National Capitol Immersion Dr. Mary Donovan Turner, faculty: “New language for faith-based advocacy changed my teaching at PSR, a new book was informed by the conversations we had there …” Paula Sohl, associate Pastor in Ashland, OR: “I became aware of how to do this kind of work, political advocacy on a national and local level, to connect to UCC national offices. I returned to DC re: Pipeline, U.S./Cuba Relations, Climate Change.” MacArthur Henry Flournoy, Director for Faith Partnerships and Mobilization, Human Rights Campaign (HRC): “Transformative! This immersion was the defining moment for me. I knew then that I wanted to work in public policy. I was hired by HRC before I graduated!”
2010 Tel Akko Immersion Dr. Aaron Brody, faculty: “I enjoyed watching how we as a team came together under circumstances of hard work, living together, and experiencing other cultures together; a bond was formed, and we all rose according to our own strengths, playing roles to our own capacities, making community, and ultimately lasting connections and relationships.” Jason Guy, chaplain at Heart of Hospice in Hood River, OR: “The thing I valued most about this Immersion was that it added complexity and reality to our religious history, and it further introduced us to social dynamics that we really are only able to scratch the surface of.” Cynthia Leonard, enrolled in MFA program at St. Mary’s College, Moraga, CA: “This Immersion Course took place at the end of my coursework. It really tied together all of my Old Testament courses. I loved the opportunity to experience the culture, and couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my education at PSR.”
2015-2016 IMMERSIONS
MINISTRY IN THE CITY
REFUGE IN THE CITY
Led by Bishop Yvette Flunder
Oakland, CA
January 4-14
Bishop Yvette Flunder provides opportunities for participants to get on the ground with theology through experiences of practical, pastoral and non-profit leadership. Bishop Flunder founded the City of Refuge (UCC) in 1991 in order to unite a gospel ministry with a social ministry. City of Refuge and the international Fellowship of Affirming Ministries are thriving urban ministries that celebrate the radically inclusive love of Jesus Christ. Registration in November; stay tuned for more information.
HOLY PLACES & DISPLACEMENTS: AN IMMERSION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Led by Dr. Yii-Jan Lin, faculty and Dr. Peter Makari, UCC/DOC Global Ministries Jordan, Israel, & Palestine January 11-23 This immersion course challenges participants to engage holy places, divine inheritance, exile, and displacement both in biblical times and in today’s Middle East. Before travel, participants will survey current and biblical, political, and religious tensions in the region through readings and two class meetings. Students will also prepare to be a learning cohort of spiritual leaders. During the trip, we will have the opportunity to interact with and learn from refugees, political and aid activists, and religious leaders. Visits to important sites will focus on their historical significance as sites of homeland, and exile. Participants will learn about Christianity in the Middle East through Global Ministries UCC/DOC and diverse partnerships. The course will include travel to Jordan, Israel and Palestine. *Interest Meeting will be held September 17th, 12:45pm. Email contexted@psr.edu
Led by Jim Lobdell, PLTS, & CETLALIC Los Angeles, CA January 7-23 Ministry in the City is a 3-week Cross-Cultural & Spanish Language Immersion to begin or continue the process of learning Spanish and Latin American culture, along with experiencing the reality of Latino and African descent families who live in Los Angeles. It begins with a 5-day immersion Ministry in the City module hosted by and engaging community leaders across Los Angeles, including: SAJE: Strategic Action for a Just Economy; FCCEJ: Figueroa Corridor Coalition for Economic Justice; T.R.U.S.T. South L.A.: Tenemos que Reclamar y Unidos Salvar la Tierra-South LA; UNIDAD: United Neighbors in Defense Against Displacement; Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity; New City Parish; and DramaStage Qumran. Next, participants will learn from a two-week Spanish language immersion with homestays and a variety of multicultural experiences with churches and communities. They will study and reflect on relevant Biblical themes and train in the Spanish language for ministry in small groups with professional teachers from CETLALIC, Cuernavaca, Mexico.
2016 CHANGEMAKER FELLOWS IMMERSION
Led by Dr. Boyung Lee, faculty, and Dr. David Vásquez-Levy, president TBA YOUR IMMERSION AT PSR? • Begin a process of discernment regarding your immersive learning at PSR. • Explore opportunities. Attend interest meetings. • Know that immersion courses are provided with significant financial support from PSR and studentled fundraising opportunities. We look forward to being conversation partners with you in discernment and decisions regarding Contextual Learning at PSR.
Field
EDUCATION
WHERE ARE 2015 FIELD EDUCATION STUDENTS HEADED? 35 MDiv and MTS students will be in diverse Field Ed placements for the next nine months. Just a few… • • • •
David Fowler’s placement includes prayer and prison ministry, writing and Planting Justice at San Quentin… Gyu Hyun Kim is solo pastor of a UM Church in Fresno… Winford Horsley is Chaplain at San Leandro Community Hospital… Students will be learning and serving in congregations, universities and justice and change organizations in Berkeley, Oakland, Sacramento, San Mateo, San Francisco, Davis, Orinda, Richmond, Silicon Valley, El Cerrito, San Jose, Campbell….
22 CSSC and MAST students will be engaged in Social Change Field Work around the country and world.
WELCOME & WELCOME BACK TO UNITED METHODIST STUDENTS, STAFF & FACULTY First day of school gifts are avilable for every UM who comes by the United Methodist table in D’Autremont on the first day of class, Tuesday, September 8th, between noon and 1pm following chapel. Come and learn about ways you can connect with UMs on campus and with the wider UM network. Our monthly Brown Bag Lunch schedule begins in October. Make plans to join us at noon in Mudd 100 on Tuesday, October 13th when Conference Staffer Cate Noellert will be our guest and on Tuesday, November 10th when Brenda Vaca will join us.
September 8th 12pm-1pm D’Autremont
ALL MDIV, MAST, & CSSC STUDENTS All MDiv, MAST, and CSSC students need to schedule an interview with Director of Field Education, Odette Lockwood-Stewart, within the first two months of the academic term. You may do so by requesting an appointment via Setmore.
UPCOMING FIELD EDUCATION EVENTS September 29 9am-4pm Field Education Office
October 7 1:30-3:30pm CDSP
FRANK THOMAS ON CAMPUS: INTERVIEWING FOR TRANSITION INTO MINISTRY
Transition into Ministry is a Lilly Endowment program that provides leadership development resources for your first two years of pastoral ministry. Congregation-Based Residency Programs throughout the country immerse graduates in pastoral ministry, including full pastoral status, salary and benefits, collaborative environments, mentored/supervised ministry with the goal of nurturing excellence in ministry. Frank Thomas, Program Coordinator at Plymouth UCC in Des Moines, Iowa, will be on the PSR campus on Tuesday, September 29th in Holbrook 125B (Field Ed office) to conduct interviews. UCC, DOC and PC-USA students are eligible. Sign up for a time here
GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL UNION CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION (CPE) DAY
Meet CPE supervisors, ask questions, and learn about possible sites. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is interfaith professional education for ministry. It brings theological students and ministers of all faiths (pastors, priests, rabbis, imams and others) into supervised encounter with persons in crisis. Some denominations also require CPE, for students preparing for ordination.
October 13 11:10am PSR Chapel
CHAPEL SERVICE: BLESSING OF FIELD EDUCATION PARTICIPANTS
October 15-19 Salt Lake City, Utah
PARLIAMENT OF WORLD RELIGIONS
All Students, Mentors, and Communities are invited.
LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS/OPPORTUNITIES
September 19 10am-12pm Berkeley Bowl West September December CARE Doug Adams Gallery October 15-17 PSR Campus
The Parliament is the oldest, the largest, and the most inclusive gathering of people of all faith and traditions. The first Parliament took place in 1893. Since, this historic event has taken place in Chicago, USA; Cape Town, South Africa; Barcelona, Spain; Melbourne, Australia—and now in Salt Lake City, Utah! Register here. Some financial assistance is available for student attendees.
BERKELEY EMERGENCY RESPONSE
You are cordially invited to attend a Getting Ready Together event sponsored by Berkeley Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to prepare with other neighborhood, business, community, and faith leaders for the October 17th Berkeley Citywide Emergency Exercise. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Mary McBride at mmcbride@ci.berkeley.ca.us
THE EROSION OF MEMORY—WORKS BY ANNE TAIT
The Center for the Arts, Religion, and Education presents an exhibition featuring Works by Anne Tait. Tait’s work draws from vernacular 19th-century memorials and the influence of industrialized printmaking on images of memory and domesticity. Prints, paintings, glass etchings, and embroidery pieces combine cemetery grave imagery with monograms.
MULTI-FAITH TRANSGENDER SUMMIT/HARKNESS LECTURE PSR’s Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry presents the Eighth Annual Multi-Faith Transgender Summit. This Summit will bring together religious activists, leaders, students, and practitioners from across a variety of faith traditions to explore intersectionalities of religion and trans* identities.
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES The office of Field Education continually updates both job announcements and Field Education opportunities. View recent listings
CONGREGATIONS
• Union Church of Hinsdale, IL – Director of Youth Ministries • First Christian Church, Junction City, OR – Part-time / Bivocational Minister • First Christian Church, Lebanon OR – Part-time / Bivocational Minister • Montclair Presbyterian Church, Oakland, California – Godly Play Teacher • Macalester Plymouth United Church, PCUSA, UCC, St. Paul, MN – Minister of Congregational Life • First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco, Young Religious Unitarian Universalist – Coordinator (part-time position)
COMMUNITY AGENCIES
• University of Southern California – Editor for Religious Dispatches’ “Remapping American Christianities” • St. Matthew’s Episcopal Day School, San Mateo – Religion Teacher & Director of Sunday School • Cal Aggie Christian Association Campus Ministry (CA House), UC Davis – Community Coordinator • Islamic Networks Group – Deputy Director, Programs Manager, and Development Associate
CPE OPPORTUNITIES
• Louis Stokes Veterans Administration Medical Center, 2nd Year CPE Opportunities – Community Inclusion for Veterans / Couples and Family Therapy (two positions)
DENOMINATIONAL CONNECTIONS CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) Contact: Rev. Clarence Johnson, Director DSF Northern California Montgomery Hall #212 105 Seminary Road San Anselmo, CA 94960 (415) 451-2870 cjohnson@dsf.edu
• Women’s Ministries Event, Fall Retreat at Mission Springs September 25-27 • Men’s Retreat, The Boy Crisis, First Christian Church of Vallejo October 16-17
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Contact: Rev. Kharma Amos revkharma@mccchurch.net Local contact: Rev. Terri Echelbarger revterri@peninsulamcc.org Further details concerning the below events and online courses of the Metropolitan Community Churches may be accessed here. • Southwestern US Network gathering September 12
• Virtual Readiness for Entering Vocational Ministry (REVM) September 21-25 • Online Sexuality & Spirituality Conference October 15-17 Courses: • Queer History: October 1-November 5 • MCC Polity: October 15-December 10 • Sexuality Studies: October 17-November 21
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DENOMINATIONAL CONNECTIONS Continued
SWEDENBORGIAN Contact: Jim Lawrence jlawrence@shs.psr.edu Francesca McCrossan fmccrossan@shs.psr.edu
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION Contact: Lisa Wiggins
lisaawiggins@gmail.com
PCD-UUMA 2015 Fall Retreat
the Institute of Noetic Sciences EarthRise Center, Petaluma, CA October 2 - October 4
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Contact: Rev. Ken Iha
ken@ncncucc.org
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Contact: Rev. Diana Bohn dbohn@psr.edu
Church Growth Workshops with Rev. Tracy Barnowe, First Congregational Church, San Rafael • Visitor Retention August 29 • Interpersonal Outreach September 26 Hispanic Ministries Communications Training September 19 Faith Extreme Youth Event Mt. Hermon Retreat Center, Santa Cruz September 25-27
• September 17, 12:45pm: Middle East Immersion Interest Meeting
OFFICES OF FIELD EDUCATION & CONTEXTUAL LEARNING
• October 7, 1:30-3:30pm: Graduate Theological Union CPE Day at CDSP
Odette Lockwood-Stewart Faculty Director
SAVE THE DATES
• October 13, 11:10am: Chapel Service Blessing Field Education Students, Mentors, Communities
Grace Gilliam Associate Director Marvin Lance Wiser Temporary Associate Director Latishia James Student Assistant
Holbrook 124/125 510/849-8287 fielded@psr.edu contexted@psr.edu