Adult Christian Education

Christian Formation Schedule

A Visit to India: A Rotary Friendship Exchange

Steven R. Studebaker Sept 19, 2010

Buddhism

Regan Burnham, M. A., World Religions Teacher Sept 26 and Oct 3, 2010

A Class on Justice and Mercy - Scripture and Theology of Ethical Decision Making

The Rt. Rev. William Folwell and the Rev. Dr. Jeff Batkin Oct 10- Nov 5, 2010

Jesus and Caesar

John Snodgrass Nov 14, 21, 28

The Birth Stories of Matthew and Luke as told by Ed Bleynat in his book “The Synoptic Gospels: A Journey Into the Kingdom.”

Charlie Moreland and Margaret Butler Dec 5 and 12

The fall session of Adult Christian Education begins Sunday, September 19. Please make plans to join us! Additional weekday classes are listed at the bottom of the page.

All classes meet in the St James Room on Sundays from 10:20 to 11:10

SUNDAY CHRISTIAN FORMATION CLASSES

A Visit to India: A Rotary Friendship Exchange
Steven R. Studebaker
September 19, 2010

WNC Rotary District 7670 and Gujarat Rotary District 3060 of India carry out joint projects for Health, Clean Water, and Education. Steven Studebaker and Elizabeth Tait visited these projects in January and were welcomed into the homes of local families in Gujarat. Share in their experiences of making lifelong friends while building local communities and bridging continents.

Steve Studebaker is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner. Steven earned his BA in Sociology from Goshen College and the Masters of Business Administration with concentration in Accounting and Finance from the University Of Chicago Graduate School Of Business. He resides in Hendersonville with his wife, Elizabeth Tait, who is within her dissertation of completing her Phd in Health Services Research from UNC Charlotte.

Elizabeth and Steven have three grown children and one grandchild. Steven serves his family and community by leadership in and through St. James Episcopal Church of Hendersonville. Steven has volunteered time and leadership to the Henderson County Dispute Settlement Center, WNC Group Home for Autistic Persons, and the Delinquency Prevention Commission. In the Boy Scouts, Steven earned the rank of Eagle Scout and membership in the Order of the Arrow and as Scout Master of Troop 602 Steven led many boys to do and be their best.

Most recently Steven and Elizabeth have provided academic and professional seminars on topics of Health and Long Term Care, and recent Health Care legislation to Academy Health, Southern Gerontological Society, and Gerontological Society of America.

Steven is a current Assistant Governor with District 7670. He is a Paul Harris Fellow, a Sustaining Contributor, and Benefactor to The Rotary Foundation. He has served as President and Secretary of the Hendersonville, NC Four Seasons Rotary club. Steve has actively worked in youth exchange, water grants, and peace programs since 2003. Elizabeth is a former Rotary club Secretary.

Liz and Steve have recently returned from 3 weeks in India for Rotary Friendship Exchange. They have hosted four foreign exchange students. They welcome your suggestions for joint projects involving youth exchange, and/or health services.

Buddhism
Regan Burnham, M. A., World Religions Teacher
September 26, October 3, 2010

Come join us as we explore the basics of Buddhism. Who was the Buddha? Why do Buddhists say theirs is not a “religion?” What do they believe and what are the practices? How did Buddhism become associated with Peace? When and how did Buddhism become popular? Is Buddhism compatible with Christianity? These are some of the questions we will explore in our two weeks together.

Regan Burnham is a former Lay Hospital Chaplain and Pastoral Associate in the Diocese of New York. During training she became fascinated by the many faiths of the other interns. After earning a Master’s degree in Pastoral Theology she became a teacher and helped design a course entitled World Religions. She taught both American and international students of other cultures. Regan believes that understanding sincere expressions of the Sacred always benefits the individual and community.

A Class on Justice and Mercy - Scripture and Theology of Ethical Decision Making
The Rt. Rev. William Folwell and the Rev. Dr. Jeff Batkin
October 10- November 5, 2010

October 10 - A look at the Old Testament Prophets and their view of Justice and Mercy - Bishop Folwell

October 17 - How the Parables teach us about Jesus’ view of Justice and Mercy - Fr. Jeff Batkin

October 24 - A look at basic traditional views of Ethics and the study of Situational Ethics- Batkin and Folwell

October 31 - Class discussion of 1 or 2 present- day hot button moral issues using concepts from the last three classes.

November 7 - Continued discussion and wrap up… How do we make moral decisions for ourselves moving into the future?

The Rt. Rev. William H. Folwell was born in Port Washington, NY in 1924. He entered the USNR in 1943 and served in the Civil Engineer Corps, during WW II. He is a graduate of Georgia Tech in Civil Engineering (1947 ) and of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL (1952). Bishop Folwell served parishes in Plant City and Mulberry, FL; New Orleans, LA; Titusville and Merritt Island, FL; and Winter Park, FL. He was consecrated bishop, Feb. 9, 1970 and served as bishop, Diocese of Central Florida until retirement Jan 1, 1990. He was a Member of Executive Council, Episcopal Church USA 1976-1982 and Chair of both the World Mission Committee and the Liberia Covenant Committee.

Since retirement, Bishop Folwell has been:

• 1994 Chair of diocesan Hispanic Ministries Committee
• 1992 Chair, Joint Farmworkers Task Force, Dioceses of WNC & NC
• Member, Episcopal Church’s Hispanic Ministry Committee
• Six years on Board of Directors, Housing Assistance Corp.

Married to Christine Cramp since 1949 they have three grown children, six grandchildren, two great grandchildren.

The Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Alan Batkin was seminary trained at the University of the South, Sewanee, TN. Ordained since 1972, he has served in 7 parishes of every size throughout the Southeast, from the smallest mission to a large Cathedral. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, SC (5/90).

Upon retirement after 31 years in 2003, he became involved in Interim Training with the Appreciative Inquiry model under Dr. Rob Voyle. He completed a two year Interim Rector position at Church of the Advent in Spartanburg, SC, a congregation of 1,800. He has also served as Interim Assistant at St. James in Hendersonville for 8 months, and a 2 ½ year Interim at Holy Family in Mills River, NC. He has experience as a clergy coach as well as leading Vestry Retreats using Appreciative Inquiry. He is presently trainer for the Diocese of Western North Carolina for Interim Ministry and consultant for Search/Discernment processes for congregations in transition. Recently he has been named as Chair of the Small Parish Committee of the Diocese of WNC.

He has been married for 41 years and has 2 grown sons and 3 grandchildren.

Jesus and Caesar
John Snodgrass
November 14, 21, 28

There was no “separation of church and state” in the time of Jesus. There was only Caesar, the son of God, savior, bringer of justice whose mighty deeds were called ‘the Good News’ (Gospel). In this course, we’ll look at how a tiny community of peasants on the outskirts of the empire challenged the divinity and authority of Caesar by calling one of their own a savior. We’ll also be looking at the crime for which Jesus was put to death, being called ‘King of the Judeans.’ Finally, we’ll be seeking an answer to the question: Once a person has given God what is due to God...what is left for Caesar?

Mr. J. Snodgrass is a Bible-student, playwright and lyricist with an MDiv from Union Seminary in New York. He recently moved to Hendersonville with his wife and two small children, and has taught twice at St. James: “The Saints James” in January 2010 and “The Rise of Kings in Ancient Israel” in July 2010.

The Birth Stories of Matthew and Luke as told by Ed Bleynat in his book “The Synoptic Gospels: A Journey Into the Kingdom.”
Charlie Moreland and Margaret Butler
Dec 5 and 12

WEEKDAY CHRISTIAN FORMATION CLASSES

Spirituality Group
The Tuesday afternoon Spirituality Group will begin it’s 2009/2010 year beginning September 15th at 2pm in the St. James room. This year we will be reading The Life of Meaning: Reflections on Faith, Doubt, and Repairing the World.” The book is a collection of essays on these very topics and will run from September through May with breaks for Christmas and Holy Week and Easter. Each essay is approximately 3 or 4 pages long with authors such as Phyllis Tickle, Madeleine L’Engle, Barbara Brown Taylor, Desmond Tutu, and many more. If you need more information please call Mother Eunice at 694-6924.

Disciple Bible Study
This bible study course is an overview of both the Old and New Testaments. The first segment of study will begin with the creation story, learning about God and the Israelite history and the second half of the course will be a study of the Gospels and the early church. This study is done in manageable segments with an emphasis on personal reflection. Although this study is not as demanding as a seminary course such as E.F.M. it is a long term commitment of 34 consecutive weeks with time off for Christmas, Holy Week, & Easter. The cost of this class will be $33.00 and participants must commit to be there for the majority of the classes. This class will take place during the day, with the particular time and day to be determined by the folks who have signed up. The orientation meeting will be held on Monday, September 14th at 2pm in the parish hall. The first class will begin the following week. This class will be facilitated by Mother Eunice.

Dreamers Seeking Inner Knowledge
God speaks to us through our dreams. Dreams put us in touch with the unconscious aspects of our life that need to be transformed and integrated so that we can move toward our unique destiny. Dream work is sacred work. We share our dreams in a group in order to honor them and to learn from our own dreams as well as others. We hope to help one another on their life journey toward health and wholeness.

You are invited to join our dream group. Please contact our group facilitator, Penny Garrison by email or by phone at 693-9817. Our group meets on Thursdays in the St. James room from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. We limit the size of the group to 8 - 10 members.