Classes

Friday Class

Start the weekend early and join us for a class on Friday afternoon.

The Book of Daniel
with James "Mickey" Efird, Professor of Biblical Interpretation

The book of Daniel was written to the Hebrew people during a time of vicious persecution directed at them in Palestine by the Greek ruler, Antiochus IV.  In fact, Judaism was proscribed, banned, and the temple was dedicated to the Greek god Zeus and a statue of Zeus was set up in the temple there in Jerusalem.  In these dark times, the book of Daniel was written to bolster the faith of the downtrodden people.

The book of Daniel is unique in that it is comprised of two different parts:  chapters 1-6, a series of wisdom stories and chapters 7-12, a series of apocalyptic visions.  Added to this curiosity is the fact that the book is written half in Aramaic and half in Hebrew.  It is the basis for the Jewish feast of Hanukkah.

Saturday Classes

Each participant will have the opportunity to take two classes on Saturday, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. When registering you may choose from the classes listed below.

Morning Classes

1. The Morality of Evangelism
   with W. Stephen Gunter, Research Professor of Evangelism & Wesleyan Studies

Evangelism is often thought of in terms that are alien to the example that Jesus set for us. When we reduce evangelism to membership recruitment, or when we talk about conversion in ways that are alien to Biblical concepts, we are distorting the meaning and message of the gospel. Is it too much to assert that ‘bad examples of evangelism’ are not moral? Are there ways to conceive and practice evangelism that are not manipulative and coercive? Put another way, what would moral evangelism look like in today’s world?

2. Love, Lament, and Conversion in Augustine's Confessions
   with Paul J. Griffiths, Warren Professor of Catholic Theology

   Augustine's *Confessions*, composed in North Africa at the end of the fourth century AD, may be called the first Christian autobiography; it is certainly one of the classics of the West. In this class, we shall explore the linked themes of love, lament, and conversion as they appear in his work. Augustine's story is his own, but also the story of every Christian. His fundamental question: What should I love and how should I love it? In this class, we will make his question ours, and thereby come to a deeper understanding of the meaning of Christianity.

   If you have not read Augustine's *Confessions* before, and would like to in preparation for this class, it is recommended you read Henry Chadwick's translation in the Oxford World's Classics series. 

3. The Pastoral Epistles
   with J. "Mickey" Efird, professor of biblical interpretation

Toward the end of the first Christian century, the church was beginning to be formed into an institution, which had both positive and negative results. Certain problems had arisen in the church which had not been very prominent in the earlier days of the church, and church structure was beginning to take on a more “political” dimension. These letters, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, deal with some of those issues. Moreover, it is interesting that some of their problems are still with us!

4. Joyfully Disciplined Discipleship
   with William H. “Bill” Lamar IV, Managing Director
   Leadership Education at Duke Divinity

We know that our discipleship is deepened and our faith is renewed by engaging in the classic Christian spiritual disciplines. Why, then, do we often find it challenging to live lives enriched by prayer, study, meditation, and the other disciplines bequeathed to us by our ancestors in Christian faith? How can we keep the observance of spiritual disciplines from devolving into rigid legalism? Christian spiritual disciplines are meant to inspire, not to intimidate. Join us as we explore questions and seek to develop healthful ways of practicing the disciplines.

Afternoon Classes

5. Conversation with Amy Laura Hall
   with Amy Laura Hall, Associate Professor of Theological Ethics

   Amy Laura Hall will discuss her new book, Conceiving Parenthood – a strong analysis of mainstream media images of family – and the responses to her findings in congregations, think tanks, and in the theological academy.

6. The Psalms and the Poetry of Loss
   with Ellen Davis, Professor of Bible and Practical Theology

The biblical psalms of lament may be the most significant body of poetry in existence that reckons with the reality of loss, personal and communal. Honestly and evocatively, these poems and prayers bring suffering before God and insist that God be present as we deal with it. We will look at the psalms alongside modern and contemporary poems of loss.

7. Theology of Pastoral Care at the End of Life
   with Tonya D. Armstrong, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology
   Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life

Congregations present myriad needs for pastoral care, particularly at the end of life.  Those needing care include persons who are facing death as well as their loved ones whose grief continues after death.  However, the needs of pastoral and lay caregivers who provide such important support to families in grief are often overlooked.  How do we faithfully engage in theological reflection around end-of-life issues, and what caring practices emerge from our theologies?  What can we draw from our theological wellsprings of Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience to more faithfully minister to these needs?  Through the use of didactic information, case material, and an experiential exercise, participants will learn tangible practices of compassionate care for persons at the end of life, persons experiencing grief, and pastoral and lay caregivers.

8. Praying with the Desert Fathers & Mothers
   with Edward Rommen, Spiritual Formation Leader

True spirituality is not simply the result of an acquisition of knowledge, or a passive participation in the sacramental life of the Church. It is an active struggle against all that separates us from God. Thus, the first step along the path to true spirituality is repentance. This, of course, is not just the occasional confession, but also a condition of the soul. Since repentance is expressed in prayer, spirituality is best viewed as the struggle for pure prayer. In order to enhance our own ability to pray in this way, we will examine the teaching of select desert fathers and mothers.