EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

• The Ventures in Christian Discipleship program operated by McPherson College is offering “Deep Compassionate Listening” 12-3 p.m. April 15, led by Barbara Date’; and “Black Panther Films as Metaphor: Lessons about Race, Colonialism, Violence, and Identity in Wakanda,” 7-9 p.m. June 5, led by Steven Schweitzer. The “Beyond Burned Out to Boundaries and Balance” course (rescheduled from fall), which was to have taken place May 9, has been cancelled. To learn more about Ventures in Christian Discipleship and to register for courses (suggested donation of $25 per course), visit www.mcpherson.edu/ventures. CEU credits are available.

• Beginning on April 18, the denomination’s Part-Time Pastor, Full-Time Church program is offering a conversation around David Keck’s book Healthy Churches, Faithful Pastors: Covenant Expectations for Thriving Together. Over ten sessions, the study will explore the expectations congregations and pastors have for each other, including Christ-centeredness, mission, administration, and opportunities for mission and ministry. The study is available to pastors and congregational leaders free of charge, including a copy of Keck’s book for each participant. Sessions will be held online Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. Central. Continuing Education credits are available for participants, up to a full CEU. Registration is limited. Register at www.brethren.org/ministryoffice.

• New online (Zoom) continuing education courses are being offered by the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center in its “Nurturing Ministry” series: On April 25, 6-7:30 p.m. Central, Frank Ramirez will lead “Julian of Norwich, Catharine Hummer, and Universal Restoration.” And on June 6, 12-3 p.m. Central, Julie Guistwite will lead “Grief Literacy.” Registration for the April 25 event is free; .15 CEU’s are available for $10. Registration for the June 6 event is $35 including .3 CEUs or $25 without CEUs. Learn more and register at www.etown.edu/svmc.

• Upcoming courses from the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership include “Healing Racial Trauma,” led by Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey, July 3-4 onsite in Cincinnati prior to Annual Conference (registration deadline May 29); “Church of the Brethren History,” led by Craig Gandy, Sept. 11-Nov. 5 online (registration deadline Aug. 7) in partnership with the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center; and “Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures,” led by Matt Boersma, Oct. 11-Dec. 5 online (registration deadline Sept. 6). Register for the Church of the Brethren History course by contacting Karen Hodges at karenhodges@svmccob.org. Register for other courses and pay online at Brethren Academy Course Registration/Biannual TRIM Payment | Bethany Theological Seminary (bethanyseminary.edu).

• William S. Middleton Memorial VA Hospital in Madison is offering two free virtual clergy training events, May 2 or June 13 from 1-3 p.m. Each event will be two hours long, focusing on the topics of Moral Injury and Suicide Prevention. Leaders are chaplain Victoria Fishel and social worker/therapist Darlene Ezman. Registration information is at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-clergy-training-event-tickets-566422363537?utm-campaign=social%2Cemail&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-source=strongmail&utm-term=checkoutwidget.

• Lands of the Bible study tour: In July 2023, Bridgewater College chaplain Dr. Robbie Miller will again lead a study tour of Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. The tour, conducted by the University of the Holy Land in Jerusalem (https://uhl.ac/), will visit sites of biblical and religious importance including Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jericho, Capernaum, Caesarea, Masada, Qumran, Petra, and many more. The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership will provide 4.0 CEUs for the study tour. For an itinerary and more information, contact Dr. Miller at rmiller@bridgewater.edu or at 540-421-2720.

• The annual Festival of Homiletics is relatively close this year, in Minneapolis, and an online option is also available. The 2023 event will take place May 15-18 with an all-star cast of speakers and the theme “Preaching Hope for a Weary World,” which they note is a “response to the hardships and heaviness that have been our reality the last few years. In these wearying days, what is our call to preach? Hope. The Festival of Homiletics 2023 will inspire us to a renewed sense of our radical calling. Our weary world needs us, preachers.” Registration ($345 early-bird in person/$95 online) and further details can be found at: Registration and information here.

• The organization Faith+Lead (through Luther Seminary) has available on demand a 6-hour self-guided course called “Hybrid Ministry in a Post-Pandemic Church,” helping pastors and others think about ways to create a framework for church that engages and connects the entire community. Cost is $75. Learn more and register at https://t.e2ma.net/click/vfs32k/zarqt/3d8o7ab.

• Lombard Mennonite Peace Center is offering a “Restorative Congregations” webinar via Zoom May 23 or Nov. 2 (9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Central). The “Healthy Congregations” workshop will be offered June 1 via Zoom. A new one-day “Fractured Lives, Fractured Churches” workshop will be offered June 15 via Zoom. And “Conflict Transformation Skills for Churches” will be offered via Zoom Sept. 16 (9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Central). For more details and registration information, and to see other events, go to https://lmpeacecenter.org/all-events/.

• NCP Learning Tours: New Community Project will offer an educational trip to South Sudan May 11-22, to the Amazon region of Ecuador June 1-7, to Lybrook, N.M., June 22-28, to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons July 20-27, and to central and southern Alaska Aug. 7-15. These trips are open to all ages and explore the beauty of and challenges facing God’s creation and God’s children. Learn more at www.newcommunityproject.info/learning-tours.