CONTINUING EDUCATION

Class Descriptions

📖 History of Christian Mysticism - Instructor: Rev. Jennifer Wojciechowski

This course explores the roots and the historical developments of Christian mysticism. It will examine the rich and diverse expressions of mystical thought and theology in Christian faith traditions through the writings and lived experiences of influential Christian mystics. Special attention will also be paid to scripture, spiritual practices, and contemporary expressions of mystical thought. 

📖 A Time to Pluck Up, Tear Down, and Throw Away: Reexamining the Biblical Roots of Misogyny and Queerphobia - Instructor: Rev. Josh Fite

For centuries upon centuries, the Bible has been used as a weapon to hurt and even kill women, people of color, and LGBT individuals. It is beyond time for such behavior to end, and for faithful Christians to take a stand against using the Bible to harm others. In this class, we'll explore passages that have been misused to mistreat others. The goal is to come away with a deeper understand of scripture and our faith, greater Christian love for our vulnerable neighbors, and courage and zeal for speaking out against injustice.

📖 Worship: Theology and Praxis (Liturgy & Life 2.0) - Instructor: Rev. Justin Smoot
Prerequisite: Core Liturgy & Life Course

In Liturgy and Life 2.0, we will build upon our understanding of the liturgy with an eye towards practical advice around worship leadership. The various pieces of the liturgy have their biblical sources, which are stories about God’s power and we will lift up those stories and connect them to the liturgy that we are familiar with. We will compare the various ways that congregations and pastors approach the liturgy to seek a deeper understanding of our own worship practices. At the end, understanding the why of liturgy will help the ritual life of the church feed us in new ways and shape us for engagement with the world.

📖 Reading the Instructions - Serving Our Congregations Faithfully and Thoughtfully - Instructor:  Rev. John Meachen

I tend to plunge into an Ikea assembly project or using a new appliance without first carefully inspecting the instructions that come with it.  The results are predictable.  The new sweeper shoots dust everywhere and the hastily assembled shelves look like a tower built in in Pisa.  Only after the ensuing chaos and a smirk from my spouse is when I give in and look for the instructions hidden somewhere in the packing material scattered across the living room floor.

For those of you serving a leadership role in a congregation, you know that serving the church these days isn’t easy. In fact, quite often it feels like our congregations are tilted and wobbly like a hastily assembled bookshelf. If only we had a good set of “Instructions” for the church.

Believe it or not, your congregation comes with a set of instructions which can be read and followed. The fact is, that when we plunge ahead on our own, without reading and following the instructions, we tend to make a mess of things in our congregations. Our class this year will be thoughtfully reading the instructions for congregations and finding ways to faithfully put them into practice in our faith communities.  

The “Instructions” will cover such topics as: our heritage, the structure of the ELCA and its three expressions, basic Lutheran theology, congregational life, the centrality of worship, the role of leaders. congregational change, managing conflict, stewardship, outreach, mission and much more. 

Join us this year as we read the “Instructions” for our congregations and together discover ways to put them into practice for the life of the Church.

📚 Continuing Education Textbooks

History of Christian Mysticism
Dr. Jen Wojciechowski 

Friday 6:00-7:30 p.m.

• Jennifer Wojciechowski, Tending the Garden: A History of Christian Mysticism (Fortress, 2025). ISBN 9781506497020  (Available on most platforms)

View book online

A Time to Pluck Up, Tear Down, and Throw Away: Reexamining the Biblical Roots of Misogyny and Queerphobia
Rev. Josh Fite  Friday 7:40-9:10 p.m.

• Eve Isn't Evil by Julie Faith Parker, (Baker Academic 2023) ISBN-10:  1540965392 or ISBN-13: 978-1540965394

• The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby, (Zondervan 2020) ISBN-10: 0310113601 or ISBN-13: 978-0310113607

• Reconciling Scripture for Lutherans: Sexual and Gender Identity by Austen Hartke and Emmy Kegler (a download from reconcilingworks.org that costs about $5)

Worship: Theology and Praxis (Liturgy & Life 2.0)

Rev. Justin Smoot

Saturday 9:00-10:30 a.m.

• The Altar Guild and Sacristy Handbook by S. Anita Stauffer, 4th ed., (Augsburg Fortress) ISBN: 9781451478099

Reading the Instructions: “Serving Our Congregations Faithfully and Purposefully”

Rev. John Meachen

Saturday 10:40-12:10

• Bible (NRSV, NRSVue or similar) 

• ELW ISBN 9780806656182 (you can borrow one from your church, but I would suggest purchasing your own.) Available through Augsburg Fortress

• Other online resources and readings with questions to be discussed will be given at least three weeks in advance of each scheduled class.

🗓️ Typical Class Schedule

Friday Evening:

• 5:15 – 6:00 p.m. Dinner

• 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. History of Christian Mysticism - Instructor: Rev. Jennifer Wojciechowski

• 7:40 – 9:10 p.m. A Time to Pluck Up, Tear Down, and Throw Away: Reexamining the Biblical Roots of Misogyny and Queerphobia - Instructor: Rev. Josh Fite

Saturday Morning:

• 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast

• 8:30 – 8:50 a.m. Worship

• 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Worship: Theology and Praxis (Liturgy & Life 2.0) - Instructor: Rev. Justin Smoot

• 10:40 – 12:10 p.m. Serving Our Congregations Faithfully and Purposefully - Instructor:  Rev. John Meachen