Class Offerings and Interest Groups
Workshops
1:45-3:15 Tuesday and Wednesday
Being the Church in a Facebook World
Laura Amstutz, EMS Communications Coordinator
In a world of instant electronic communication, what does it mean to gather face to face for worship? Face to face communication is becoming rarer in most of our culture. So what does it mean that we still use that as the primary mode of being the church? This presentation will explore how instant communication technology has changed what we expect when we’re face to face for worship.
Faith Identity Mediated through Lenses of Race and Gender
Regina Shands Stoltzfus, keynote speaker
Convergences of people, place and history help create specific understandings of Christian identity that are in turn nuanced by the categories of race and gender, among others. This workshop will present an examination of the history of African American women in Mennonite congregations before and during the Civil Rights era, the development of their theological and ethical thought, and the subsequent effect of their presence upon their congregations and the denomination.
God’s People: God’s Priests for the World
Lawrence Yoder, Eastern Mennonite Seminary Professor of Missiology
Taking a deep, long biblical look at the people of God as light for the world, this workshop will look at Old Testament vision for the people of Israel, the inclusiveness of non-Israelites in those who were being saved, and the missional vision for God’s people in our time. Our calling is for something greater than our own privileged position as God’s people.
Healing the Nations: Revelation’s Take on Church and World
Ted Grimsrud, Eastern Mennonite University Professor of Bible & Religion
Hear theological reflections on the way Revelation presents both a sharp critique of “ Babylon” and a hope that the “nations” will be healed. A model for how to preach these concepts, growing out of a 12-sermon series, will be shared.
Finding a Healthy Balance within the Sports Culture
David King, Eastern Mennonite University Director of Athletics
The explosion of the youth sports movement in the past ten years may be causing more problems than it is providing positive growth experiences. Promoting good health, character development, sportsmanship, teamwork and social interaction have been replaced with a sports culture that emphasizes early specialization, extrinsic rewards, overhyped media coverage, and obsessive pursuit of scholarships. We will examine the impact of this cultural phenomenon on individuals, families and congregations. In addition we will explore healthy ways to participate in sports at all ages without allowing it to control our lives.
Salvation in an Age of “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism”
Mark Thiessen Nation, Eastern Mennonite Seminary Associate Professor of Theology
Happiness, morality, God: How might the Apostle Paul help us reflect on grace, justice and compassion in a suffering world defined by what sociologists of religion, Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton, describe as “moralistic therapeutic deism”?
Seeing Power as God Sees It: A Study on the Upside-down Kingdom from Matthew
Dorothy Jean Weaver, Eastern Mennonite Seminary Professor of New Testament
Using an interactive Bible study working with Matthew texts on questions of “power” and “powerlessness”, participants will be invited to reflect on the upside-down viewpoint even while living in a post 9/11 world amidst 21 st century powers.
Third Way Revival
Shane Hipps, keynote speaker
We live in a country polarized politically and religiously between right and left, liberal or conservative, red and blue. Mennonites carry wisdom to heal these divisions. The Anabaptist tradition is rooted in a third way. This is a way beyond, not between. This is not a mediating position, but an utterly alternative path that resonates deeply with a world longing for reconciliation. This workshop seeks to revive and reimagine this heritage in the new categories of contemporary culture.
Interest Groups
From 3:45-5:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday you are invited to attend an Interest Group. A discussion leader will be prepared to ask some opening questions or present information, and input from the group will be invited. No additional registration is necessary for interest groups.
Tuesday Interest Groups 3:45-5:00
1. Eastern Mennonite Seminary Alumni Reunion – led by Laura Amstutz, EMS Communications Director
2. MLI (Ministerial Leadership Information) Discussion – led by Mennonite Conference Minister Linford King and EMS Field Placement Coordinator Don Yoder
3. Effective Youth Mentoring – led by (Marvin Lorenzana, Jason Gerlach?)
4. Best Practices in Pastoring: Sharing our Successes – led by Ervin Stutzman, Dean of EMS
Wednesday Interest Groups 3:45-5:00
1. Navigating the Path as Women in Ministry – led by Sara Wenger Shenk
2. Distance Learning through EMS: life-long possibilities – led by Don Yoder, EMS Director of Admissions and Lonnie Yoder, EMS online professor
3. Changing the Way the Seminary Prepares Ministers: Curriculum Revision Update – led by Ervin Stutzman, Dean of EMS
