Theological reflection in Cincinnati

I’ve recently learned of a pretty unique opportunity coming to Cincinnati.  I’m going to sound like a salesman right now.  A congregation in Norwood, Vineyard Central, is hosting a school called Street Psalms.  The sessions include theological teaching/reflection and are a combination of lecture and round table discussion.  The philosophy of this traveling school is to get different practitioners in a room together with a professor and do theological study and reflection on the vocational work in which all people are involved – with a special eye toward how we are embodying Christ’s presence to the marginal of society.

The format makes it quite accessible.  There are six classes and they will meet over the course of three years.  One in the fall and spring of each year.  The first class starts Oct. 1-3 (Thurs – Sat) and all classes will hold this format:  Thurs: 6-9:30pm, dinner included.  Fri: 6-9:30pm, dinner included.  Sat. 9am-3pm coffee and lunch included.  It costs $18,000 to bring this school to Cincinnati, but a generous donor has covered all those expenses.  The leaders are asking that people pay $25 per weekend, which includes meals.  Which means that over the course of the three years participants will experience instruction for the equivalent of 1/2 of a masters degree for only $150.

What I’m interested in doing is getting a group of Cincinnati Mennonite folks to do this together.  I do not see this as CMF participants asking “How can I get more involved with church?” although that may be part of the question.  What this presents is a chance for some CMFers to reflect theologically together on their own unique vocational paths – social work, the corporate world, teaching, health care, etc.  A key question to explore would be how does your involvement in your particular work intersect with your call to love the world as God loves the world?

My understanding is that this can be entered into at whatever level the participant wishes.  If you just wish to come to the twice-a-year sessions and listen and discuss then that is welcome.  If you wish to go more in depth and follow some of the recommended readings and journaling assignments then that is also welcome.  The way that it is chronologically spaced out makes it accessible for folks who are quite busy with life as it is.  I think it’s a good opportunity for those who will not ever attend seminary, but who have a hunger to integrate theological perspectives into their life path.  I’m also looking forward personally to the challenge of these courses.

If you have some interest, a good place to go would be this website: http://www.ctmnet.org/pages/intensives.php

It lists all six weekend courses and gives a link to a syllabus for each course (the readings and work listed is required just of those taking this for master’s degree credit).     

If this catches your eye, then give me a call or email and we’ll talk about it.