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Lifelong Theological Education Events

Spring, 2010

Lifelong Theological Education is our ever-changing series of programs, lectures, workshops and events designed to bring the many voices of theological theory and practice to the community. 

Choose one of the events below or scroll down to see the entire list of upcoming events.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CELEBRATION

Our Beloved Community Festival
Saturday, January 16, 2010
11am—3pm, CTS
Free and open to the public — everyone welcome!
Co-sponsor: Peace Learning Center

Celebrate the vision of a man and movement that brought positive change to America through selfless sacrifice and non-violence. Learn peacemaking strategies, engage in community dialogues, immerse yourself in visual art, music, spoken word, film and artmaking in the name of peace. Great for families!

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SALTSBURG WORSHIP WORKSHOP

Singing with the Global Church: The Gift of Music from Other Cultures
John L. Bell,
Iona Community
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Workshop 9am–4:30pm; chapel service 1pm–2pm
Room B-29, CTS
Cost: $40 for workshop and lunch
Deadline: February 9
CEU contact hours: 5.5
Register online now

Have you noticed that God loves diversity? Have you noticed that while people often forget what they hear preached, they remember what they sing? Iona Community member John Bell can help you introduce global music that reflects the gifts of Christians from “every tribe and language and people and nation” and make the experience meaningful and transformative for the whole community. By singing songs from other cultures, we can stand to some extent in deeper intercession with these people. And through that experience our understanding of mission and evangelism and the kingdom of God is enlarged.

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH WORKSHOP

Living with Loss: Discovering Your Life
Rev. Dr. Dan Moseley
Cost: $25
CEU Contact Hours: 3.0
Two sessions available:

Saturday, February 20, 2010
9am—noon (registration begins at 8:30am)
St. Alban's Episcopal Church
4601 N. Emerson Avenue, Indianapolis
Deadline: February 12
Co-sponsor: St. Alban's Episcopal Church
Register Online Now

Saturday, March 13, 2010
9am—noon (registration begins at 8:30am)
Friedens United Church of Christ
8300 S. Meridian Street, Indianapolis
Deadline: March 5
Co-sponsor: Friedens United Church of Christ
Register Online Now

Loss is the one constant we can count on. It occurs whenever there is a change in life. Some losses are deep and life changing. Others are not as painful. All of them have the potential of opening p new discoveries for our lives. Loss is a genuine gift that clears space for us to see and explore different parts of our lives.

By attending to the pain and the emptiness, we can explore significant insights into who we are and who we might become. In this workshop for caregivers, lay leaders, Stephen Ministers, and anyone else seeking to explore spiritual growth in difficult times, Dr. Moseley will share a journey of discovery that is possible when we attend to the losses of our lives. In this unique workshop, you will find the grace to grieve your loss and through careful and thoughtful attention to your journey, you will discover new dimensions of your own life that will enrich you and open you to a new future.

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BIBLE WORKSHOP

Genesis 1-12: First Times and the World Today
Rev. Dr. Rick Lowery
Monday, February 22, 2010
9am–2:30pm (8:30 am registration)
CTS
Cost: $50 for conference and lunch
Deadline: February 15
CEU Contact Hours: 4.5
Register Online Now

This workshop examines the introductory chapters of Genesis about the origins of the human world that are in fact lessons on what it means to be human in any place or time. Participants will pay particular attention to narrative features and to the ancient legends and myths off of which the biblical stories play. We will focus on theological messages and ask what they say about our faith and witness today. Participants should bring their own Bibles—any translation will do.

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EDUCATION CONFERENCE

Indiana’s Villages Take Responsibility (Part 3): A Blueprint for Educating Black Male Students
Saturday, March 6, 2010
8:30am—4pm; registration and breakfast begin at 7:45am
Shelton Auditorium, CTS
Cost: FREE and open to the public, but pre-registration is required.
For more information or to register, call NCEBC at (317) 283-9081.
Deadline: February 26
Co-sponsors: National Council on Educating Black Children (NCEBC)

This conference focuses on the education of African American children in 20 Indiana cities. Delegates will participate in developing a Blueprint for Educating Black Male Students in their city to improve the graduation rate for Indiana high schools and Indiana colleges.

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SPIRITUALITY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY CONFERENCE

Living with Forgiveness — Living with the Unforgivable: Learning from the Wisdom Traditions
Dr. Michael Conforti
Friday, March 12–Saturday, March 13, 2010
Friday, 7pm—9pm, Shelton Auditorium, CTS (registration at 6:30pm)
Saturday, 10am—2:30pm, CTS (book signing at 9am)
Cost: $100 prior to February 19; $125 thereafter until deadline of
March 5
CEU contact hours: 5.5
Co-sponsors: Buchanan Counseling Center, Clarian Health Partners,
CTS Counseling Center, Central Indiana Friends of Jung, Indiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Indiana Society for Psychoanalytic Thought
Register Online Now

Dr. Conforti’s studies show that we have confused the idea of forgiveness with a more profound issue of redemption, which is where authentic transformation resides. Drawing from the material in his forthcoming book, Hidden Presence: Possessions, Spells and Redemption, Dr. Conforti will explore redemption in the Bible and other sacred texts, examples from clinical practice, and the life and work of Elie Wiesel. These lectures will take us into the heart of redemption and its relationship to forgiveness.

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JEWISH-CHRISTIAN RELATIONS CONFERENCE

Jews in the Acts of the Apostles: The Apostolic Church and the Gentile Mission
Dr. Jack T. Sanders

Monday, March 22, 2010
9am—2:30pm (8:30am registration)
Common Room, CTS
Cost: $50 for conference and lunch
Deadline: March 15
CEU contact hours: 4.5
Co-sponsors: Jewish Community Relations Council
Register Online Now


These lectures analyze the ways the author of Acts portrays Jews, paying attention to differences between how Jews appear in the narrative and how speakers in Acts—especially Peter and Paul— refer to Jews in their sermons. The first lecture focuses on the “Jerusalem springtime,” when thousands of Jews become Christian, and the second lecture focuses on the gentile mission, when Jewish opposition to Christianity develops everywhere. The final lecture explores explanations for this and notes the challenges it presents for Christian preaching today.

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TEEN DATING VIOLENCE CONFERENCE AND BENEFIT CONCERT

Saturday, April 24, 2010
10am conference (9:30 am registration); 5pm concert
New Beginnings Ministries, 1703 East 38th Street, Indianapolis
Free and open to the public. Lunch is provided free for teens and for a suggested $5 donation for adults. Pre-registration is required.
For more information or to register, contact Not 2 Believers Like Us at www.n2blunhe.org or call (317) 923-7278 ext. 13
Deadline: April 16
Co-sponsors: Not 2 Kids Like Us and New Beginnings Ministries

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PETTICREW FAITH-IN-ACTION PROGRAM

Health Care: Issues of Ethics, Vocation and Faith
Dr. William F. May
, Morning Seminar: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (registration begins at 8:30)
Mr. Daniel F. Evans, Jr., Luncheon and Keynote Address: 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (registration begins at 11:30)
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, 350 W. Maryland Street
Cost: $20 for morning seminar or luncheon; $40 for both seminar and luncheon; $320 for a table of 8 attending seminar and luncheon
Deadline: April 20
Co-sponsor: Clarian Health
For more information, contact Joyce Weidner at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (317) 931-4224.
Register Online Now

As Americans address the challenges of how to improve health care, professionals engaged in health care must continue to grapple with the ongoing and fundamental ethical issues that arise in their work. In this crucible of change, questions of vocational identity and faith are more important than ever. Dr. William F. May, renowned medical ethicist, will lead the morning seminar on the ways current economic and institutional conditions affect professional practice and identity, and will offer suggestions for constructive responses. A panel of Indianapolis religious and health care leaders will discuss his proposals. At the luncheon, Mr. Daniel F. Evans, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Clarian Health, will reflect on the relation between the issues he faces as a health care executive and his sense of vocation.

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ALZHEIMER’S CARE CONFERENCE

July 2010
CTS
Free and open to the public, but preregistration is required by calling the Alzheimer’s Association at 800-272-3900. Co-sponsors: Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter and North United Methodist Church

More and more people living with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia will impact the life of faith communities. This seminar provides an opportunity for clergy, faith community (parish) nurses, chaplains, Stephen Ministers, laity in visitation ministries, family members and others to explore practical questions of including these realities in the life of faith communities. Call the Alzheimer’s Association at 800-272-3900 for date announcement and additional information.

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PREACHING WORKSHOP

Preaching in Lent: A Time of Conflict and Loss
Rev. Dr. Dan Moseley
Monday, February 8, 2010
9am—2:30pm
Room B-29, CTS
Cost: $50, includes lunch
Deadline: February 1
CEU contact hours: 4.5
Register online now

Conflict is a constant reality within congregational life. There are occasions when conflict flares up and threatens to consume the good spirit of the congregation. Through conflict, the preacher must speak each week. This seminar will explore how preachers can develop sermons that will help lead reconciliation. It will also pay attention to biblical stories during the season of Lent that preachers may use to approach conflict with particular effectiveness.

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CITIZENS ACTION COALITION EDUCATION FUND EVENT

Living Lean and Green
Wednesday evenings
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
March 10, 17, 24
April 7, 14, 21*
(*steps to reduce energy in your place of worship)
Christian Theological Seminary
Cost: $50 for all classes (*April 21 class only: $15)
Registration Deadline: March 3
Register Online now

Join us for this fun and easy way to save energy, save money and save the planet. A growing number of people want to be green, but don't know exactly how.  Calculate your carbon footprint and learn dozens of ways to lower your energy bills, save money and reduce your impact on our planet. Offered by the Citizens Action Coalition Education Fund.  The Living Lean and Green Workshop is a total of five consecutive sessions.  Each session builds on the previous one. Please plan to attend all five.  Pre-registration is required. Class size is limited. Living Lean and Green is a partnership with the Citizens Action Coalition Education Fund (CACEF).

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COUNSELING WORKSHOP

Healing Images of God
Dr. Matthias Beier
Friday, April 30, 2010 >> 9am—12:30 pm
Room B-29, CTS
Cost: $75
Deadline: April 23
CEU Contact Hours: 3.5
Register Online Now

Images of God can hurt or heal, both in personal and public arenas. For many, God images touch on what matters most in life. But: God images are not God. This presentation will argue that God images express an experience of God only if they lead to healing, and pastoral counseling has a key role to play in the healing transformation of images of God in clinical and wider societal contexts. Examples from both clinical practice and religious texts will illustrate
the powerful significance of the healing of God images today.

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MENDING THE MIND & MINDING THE SOUL
MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION CONFERENCE

No One is Immune: Stress & Depression in the Pulpit & Pew
Dr. Jay D. Fawver

Wednesday, May 19, 2010
9am—3:30pm
CTS
Cost: $30, lunch included
CEU Contact Hours: 5.5
Co-sponsor: FaithCEP of NAMI Indianapolis (Faith Communities Education Project is an educational outreach of the Indianapolis National Alliance on Mental Illness affiliate.)
Download Registration Form

This conference is for congregational leaders and clergy of all faith traditions. Watch for date announcement and additional information at www.namiindy.org.

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CONFLICT AND LEADERSHIP FORMATION EVENT

Forming Leadership Through Conflict: Reform, Destruction and Opportunity
Dr. Bernie Lyon
and Rev. Dr. Dan Moseley
Monday, June 21—Friday, June 25, 2010
CTS
Cost: $500, includes daily lunch; housing is available on campus at additional cost
Deadline: May 21
CEU contact hours: 30.0
Register online now

Leaders know the power of conflict. They know its power to destroy or reform community. Effective church leadership helps congregations face the conflicts that come from the changing world in which we live and discover the vitality of new life rather than descend into destructive actions. This workshop will help pastors and lay leaders grow in their ability to lead by exploring the creative power of conflict as it intersects with the emotional, political, and spiritual resources and limitations of leadership.

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Licensed Ministers Summer School

Wealth and Well-being in the Biblical Traditions
Rev. Dr. Rick Lowery

Monday, July 12 – Friday, July 16, 2010
Deadline: July 5, 2010
Register Online Now

This course will examine biblical traditions about wealth and the well-being of human communities and the rest of creation. We will focus especially on the sabbath, sabbath year, and jubilee traditions in Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Leviticus and explore how they play out in the teaching and ministry of Jesus, as portrayed in the gospels. We will reflect on the implications of these biblical traditions for contemporary Christian faith and practice, particularly as they relate to work and wealth, social and economic justice, and care for creation. Required books are available through the CTS bookstore: Richard H. Lowery’s Sabbath and Jubilee (Chalice Press, 2000) and Sondra Ely Wheeler’s Wealth and Peril and Obligation: The New Testament on Possessions (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1995).

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Curso Teologico de Verana 2010

Curso Teologico de Verana
Dr. Tércio Junker
is Assistant Professor of Worship and Director of Sweeny Chapel at CTS.
Dr.Débrora Junker is Assistant Professor of Christian Education at CTS.
Dr. Daniel Schipani is Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.
Monday, July 26 – Friday, July 30, 2010
Deadline: July 19
Register Online Now

Consejo Pastoral y Espiritualidad
Este mini-curso enfoca al consejo pastoral como una forma especial de guía espiritual. Las personas participantes considerarán cuestiones de teoría y práctica para afirmar la identidad personal y vocacional de consejeros/as pastorales como guías espirituales.

Espiritualidad Sacramental
El curso examinará las formas básicas de la liturgia bautismal y eucarística como medios de formación y transformación espiritual. Se prestará especial atención a la perspectiva histórica, teológica y bíblica, como elementos fundamentales para el desarrollo de la espiritualidad sacramental.
Christian Education and Spirituality

Educación Cristiana y Espiritualidad
Este curso procura favorecer la comprensión de la educación cristiana como un proceso permanente en el que se necesita  cultivar y nutrir a la persona en su totalidad - mente, pasiones y espíritu. Se considerarán las prácticas que invitan a las personas a profundizar su vida espiritual y a capacitarlas para el trabajo de transformación al guiar a otros en sus caminos de fe.

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 INDYTALKS SERIES

Hoosier Values: Can we reconcile independence and the common good?
Carol Johnston, Director of Lifelong Theological Education at CTS and David Craig, Faculty Leader, IUPUI Common Theme

Oct. 7, 7:00 p.m. (CTS) 1000 W. 42nd St., Indianapolis or
Oct. 14, 12:00 noon (IUPUI) IUPUI Campus Center, 420 University Blvd., Indianapolis

Hoosiers value their independence and self-reliance, but they also value their families and communities. A provocative panel will engage the participants in conversation about where these values intersect, where they compete, and how “Hoosier values” and ethics should (or should not) help shape Indiana’s future.

Organized by: Christian Theological Seminary and IUPUI Common Theme Project and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

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