Spring, Christian Faith and Evolution Fall, Jesus of History/Christ of Faith
2011 Spring, Mysteries of Christ Fall, The Christian Mystical Tradition
2012 Spring, Christianity and Buddhism: Comparisons and Conversations
July 2010
Ecumenical Clergy Book Study: Craig
S. Keener, The Historical Jesus of the Gospels
At St. Margaret’s: 4 Tuesday mornings 10:30–11:45
July 6. 2010
July 13, 2010
July 20, 2010
July 27, 2010
Leaders: Chris Keller and Pat Murray
Reading:85 seminary-level pages per
week
This book is hot off the press, and
comes recommended to us from Professor John Koenig, who teaches New
Testament at General Theological Seminary.The book
compares Matthew, Mark and Luke-Acts to other genres of ancient writing,
and uses this comparison, together with other available historical
material, to make a compelling case that the gospel writers were very
interested in what Jesus actually said and did—and well-positioned to
have reliable information in that vein.Thus their
gospels, while certainly offering theological interpretations of Jesus,
are rich with historical information that is highly relevant to those
interpretations.The author builds his case in dialogue
with leading representatives of the Jesus Seminar, with whom he
disagrees on major points.
This class is offered especially for
clergy, of all backgrounds and denominations, as an opportunity to
review familiar theological questions from a fresh scholarly
perspective. Discussions can include practical questions about use of
the material in sermons and classroom settings.
The book is available from amazon.com, priced new
from $38 (hardcover).
To sign up: reply to chriskeller1@mac.com.
About the Institute
The Institute began in 2004.
The first offering was a lecture series titled The Mysteries of Christ, and the second, Darwin in Christian Perspective. Both series were advertised to the broader community and well attended with an average of 50 for each class.
The Institute also sponsored a study of a video series on Islam, and a seminar led by Dr. Donnal Walter, a research scientist active in the congregation of St. Margaret's, who has a strong interest in theology.
Our hope is that the Institute will be a weighty theological presence in Little Rock, and a resource for the intellectual and spiritual vitality of the Episcopal Church in Arkansas, the Mid-South, and throughout the United States of America.
We see this "theological presence" as deeply classical, with a little bit of cutting edge. By "classical" we mean that we intend to draw on the great learning of the church's long tradition for a spiritual wisdom and intellectual acuity that often transcends the modern liberal-fundamentalist theological divide. The average Christian can learn a lot from Augustine, Aquinas, the Caroline Divines, and Barth.
The "cutting edge" will have especially to do with the teaching we can do in theology and science, drawing upon resources such as the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences in Berkeley, and the writings of philosophical theologians such as Nancey Murphy, John Polkinghorne, and Keith Ward.
In connection with the House of Prayer (also located on the campus of St. Margaret's Church), another point of emphasis will be the Christian spiritual tradition including studies of such mystical theologians as the author of the Cloud of Unknowning, Julian of Norwich, John of the Cross, and Teresa of Avila.
The Institute will offer evening lecture series, day-time programs for mothers and retirees, weekend conferences, retreats, and seminars.
It will generate and distribute audio-visual, print, and web-productions.
It will emphasize good communications and marketing techniques to draw participation from an audience much broader than that typically seen in church adult education offerings.
Strong emphasis will be given to developing programs that appeal to the scientific and academic community.
