Buffalo Seminary at Bethany College
is pleased to present the following two workshops for Fall, 2015:
Inexplicable Suffering. And. Lively Meaning
Rev. Dr. Micki Pulleyking
September 17-18
Mountainside Conference Center
Bethany College (2 CEUs)
For two days we will ask questions. We will share our stories. We all know the widespread and devastating effects of evil. Questions about how and why evil exists in a world that, according to many, is created and sustained by a loving and powerful God have been collected under the name "the problem of evil." We will consider, but we will not solve this problem of inexplicable suffering.
Life’s pain will take us to our knees. Then what do we do? Throughout history humans have been wrestling with questions concerning meaning, suffering, death--faith. Josiah Royce said that any theodicy must pass this test: would it console a mourner at a funeral? We will imagine ways we can make meaning, lively meaning, in – and in spite of – suffering.
Thursday September 17
8:45 Reflections
9:00 Session One
· A Meaningful Eulogy
· The Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
· Kinds and Causes of Suffering
· Punishing, Testing and Teaching
Noon Lunch
1:30 Session Two
· Nature Operates According to the Laws of Nature
· Film: Shadowlands
4:30 Closing
Friday September 18
8:45 Reflections
9:00 Session One – From The Problem of Pain to A Grief Observed
· Some kind of freedom
· A Suffering God
· Meaning in Grief
Noon Lunch
1:30 Session Two
· Imagining and Longing
· Embracing Life/Death, Meaning and Forgiveness
· Living into our Euology
4:30 Closing
The Presenter: Rev. Dr. Micki Pulleyking. Professor of Religious Studies, Missouri State University. Interim Senior Minister, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Nixa, Missouri, Director of Student Ministries, Brentwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Springfield, Missouri, previously Senior Minister, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Billings, Missouri. Among the courses she teaches is “Suffering and Meaning.” Her doctoral research studied the impact of losing a child on the parent's religious world view; included grief studies and the theodicy problem. B.A. Missouri State University, M.Div. Harvard University, Ph.D. Boston University.
Scriptura Divina—Writing as a Way of Reading, Praying and Preaching Scripture
Rev. Dr. Larry Grimes
October 27-28
Mountainside Conference Center
Bethany College (2 CEUs)
This seminar examines a way of reading the poetry and stories which makeup much of the Bible which does not reduce the poetics of scripture to the prose of how-to-books or three point sermons. Participants need to bring paper, pens and their imagination. They will experiment with writing poetry on the poetry of the Bible and very short stories on the stories of the Bible. We will talk about why God-talk requires poetry and fiction and what effect this requirement may have on reading the Bible, our prayer life, and sermon-making.
Tuesday October 27
8:45 Morning Reflection
9:00 Session One
· The nature of Biblical language
· The Heresy of Paraphrase
· Poetic language—what is it?
Noon Lunch
1:30 Session Two
· Writing on the Psalms
· Writing on Isaiah
· Writing on the Revelation
4:30 Closing
Wednesday October 28
8:45 Morning Reflection
9:00 Session One
· What is fiction and why is it often more true than facts?
· The story of Israel—narrative poem, historical novel
Noon Lunch
1:30 Session Two
· The story of Eden—Fall or Not?
· Short Stories of Jesus—Prodigal Father, Neighbor Samaritan
· The Women and the Passion
4:30 Closing
The Presenter: Rev. Dr. Larry Grimes, Dean of Buffalo Seminary, Bethany College.
Taught courses in literature, film, religious studies and creative writing from 1970-2009 at Bethany College. Has published literary studies, poems and stories. B.A. Bethany College (English with minors in Religion and Philosophy), B.D Yale Divinity School with emphasis on theology and culture, Ph.D. Emory University in theology and literature.
School for Congregational Life
November 14
Toftrees Resort – State College, PA
(CEUs vary)
Upcoming in 2016:
"Engaging Congregational Conflict Constructively: Understanding Your System and Yourself"
Rev. Jennifer Hope Kottler
March 3-4, Bethany
Scott Lectures.
Dr. Amy-Jill Levine
April 3-4, Bethany
WV Regional Assembly Pre-Assembly Workshop
Topic/speakers to be determined
April 28.
The Bible and Social Justice: What is Right?
Rev. Dr. Victor Hunter
May 9-10
Summer Clergy Institute: Anti-Racism Workshop
Led by Ohio Regional Team
Dates t.b.a.
"Oh Lord, Open Thou Our Lips: An Exploration of Christian Theology and Practice of Verbalized Prayer"
Rev. Dr. Bonnie Thurston
October 24-25, Bethany