2022-23 Classes:

Anglican Global Perspectives: A Conversation with Kenyan theologian Dr. Esther Mombo and Maori theologian Dr. Jenny Te Paa Daniel  On Sunday, May 21, All Souls will welcome two distinguished theologians from other churches in the worldwide Anglican Communion. Dr. Esther Mombo is an associate professor in the theology department at St. Paul’s University, Limuru Kenya. A member of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians, she teaches church history and theologies from women’s perspectives, and writes on women’s issues, evangelism, HIV/AIDS, Christian-Muslim relations, and poverty in Africa. She has served on the Inter-Anglican Doctrinal and Theological Commission. Dr. Jenny Te Paa Daniel taught for 5 years and was then appointed Ahorangi or Dean of Te Rau Kahikatea at St John’s Theological College in Auckland for 18 years from 1995 until 2013. She has written and researched extensively on gender and social justice, indigenous rights, theological education, and race politics. She was Convenor of the global Anglican Peace and Justice Network from 1995 until 2012. During the formation hour on May 21, All Soulsian Dr. Ruth Meyers will facilitate a conversation with Dr. Mombo and Dr. Te Paa Daniel. Join us to learn more about the Anglican Communion and the work that these amazing theologians are doing.

The audio of this recording started late into the conversation, so the recording picks up after the conversation had begun. Our apologies for this technical difficulty. Click here to watch and listen.

The Desert Ammas and Abbas taught by The Rev. Dr. Daniel Prechtel. 

A profound movement beginning around the 3 rd century gave birth to what we now know as monasticism and had a deep impact on the Christian faith. In this course we will explore what forces influenced those hermits and ascetics that came to be known as the “desert fathers and mothers” to form a variety of communities in the wilderness regions in Egypt, Syria, and Palestine. We will get impressions of what life was like and what prayer practices evolved. We will sample some of the “sayings” of the desert elders that have endured over the centuries and the fascinating people behind those sayings. And we will learn about the sophisticated spiritual psychology and anthropology of highly educated monastics, Evagrius Ponticus and John Cassian.

Click here to watch week 1.

Click here to watch week 2.

Mission, Race, and Empire

Dr. Jennifer Snow, Associate Professor of Practical Theology at CDSP, will give a series of three talks on the history of the Episcopal Church in the context of Mission, Race, and Empire, drawn from her forthcoming book from Oxford University Press. The talks will draw from the complex interactions of the church’s mission and identity with the British Empire and the expansion of the United States through indigenous lands; the history of enslavement, emancipation, and Civil Rights; the development of a theology of “welcome” and inclusion in the 20th century; and contemporary debates, conflicts, and uncertainty about the church and its mission in the modern world.

If you would like to watch these videos, please email Emily, emily@allsoulsparish.org.

Metaphors We Live By  Taught by the Rev. Michael Lemaire. Metaphors shape our understanding of the world by describing one thing in terms of another. Metaphors are pervasive in our language but we often miss how they both enrich and limit our understanding. This is especially true when it comes to religious language that seeks to describe a world unseen. In this class, we will explore how metaphors function in our daily communication, how metaphors shape our understanding of ourselves, how Jesus used metaphors and in some ways is himself a metaphor of God, and how metaphors can become idols. The goal of the class is to both liberate and enrich our God talk so that we can better find the needed images and metaphors of God that will serve us through the various seasons of our spiritual life.

Missed week 1? Watch or listen here.

Missed week 2? Watch or listen here.

Missed week 3? Watch or listen here.

Missed week 4? Watch or listen here.

Common Prayer for the People of God: Past, Present, and Future 

Since the sixteenth century, Anglicanism has been defined by a Book of Common Prayer. This class will explore the origins of the prayer book, its use today, and its future in light of the actions of General Convention in summer 2022.

• Feb 5: Prayer Books of the past. We’ll explore the origins of the Book of Common Prayer in 16th-century England and its adaptation for the Episcopal Church when it was formed in 1789.
  • Missed this class? Watch of listen to the recording (click here).
• Feb 12: The Book of Common Prayer today. The 1979 Prayer Book marked a distinctive change from earlier books. We’ll consider the reasons for these changes and discuss their significance for us today.
  • Missed this class? Watch of listen to the recording (click here).
• Feb 19: Where do we go from here? What changes are needed to continue to foster common prayer? What might a new Prayer Book contain?
  • Missed this class? Watch of listen to the recording (click here).

Dr. Scott MacDougall  “Contending with Evil and Suffering” This three-session course will struggle with the realities of evil and suffering in a world made by a good and loving Creator who declares it to be “very good.” How can we reconcile all of this? We’ll look at some of the ways Christians have tried to do so over time and consider our own views of these questions, as well.

• January 8: Evil. What is evil? Where does it come from? How does facing the reality of evil affect Christian faith and life?
  • Missed this class? Watch or listen to the recording (click here).
• January 15: Suffering. Why is there suffering? How are suffering, sin, and death connected, if they are connected? Why would a good God allow suffering? What does Jesus’ suffering on the cross say to us about the role of suffering in Christian discipleship?
  • Missed this class? Watch or listen to the recording (click here).
• January 22: Meaning. Revisiting some of the questions raised by the first two sessions, we’ll conclude by asked whether meaning can be made out of evil or suffering. If so, what sort of meaning? How can we live Christianly in the face of evil, suffering, and death?
  • Missed this class? Watch or listen to the recording (click here).

Toil & Teleology. On October 2, 9, 16, and 23rd in the Parish Hall and on Zoom. What is work for? Why does it matter for us Christians and as a Christian community? Join Dr. Scott MacDougall and the Rev. Phil Brochard as they explore the demands of Pharaoh, vocation, statements of ultimate value, the meaning of economy, the Protestant work ethic, and what it means for each of us to labor as an element of Christian practice.

Unfortunately, week 1 was not recorded, however if you missed week 2, you can watch it by clicking here! Missed Week 3? Watch it by clicking here. Missed Week 4? Watch it by clicking here.

The Lived Experience of People of Color – Vignettes from All Souls Parishioners (August 28th & September 11th) 

People of Color (POC) have a ‘lived experience’ that can be markedly different from the white majority, even when they have very similar socio-economic and educational backgrounds. These differences in the lived experience permeate every aspect of daily life – at work, at the grocery store, at a restaurant, at a department store, at airport security, and yes, at church. Many of us (especially those who are committed to racial justice) may be aware of this in the general sense. But what does this actually feel like and look like for someone you know – your neighbor, your colleague, or your fellow parishioner sitting next to you on the pew? The purpose of this 2-session panel discussion is to illuminate the POC lived experience through vignettes shared by a panel of All Souls POC parishioners in a moderated Q&A format.  The panel will explore these lived experiences through the lens of our faith and spirituality.  We hope that participants will leave with a greater appreciation and understanding of the POC lived experience, toward better informing our collective efforts on racial justice. 

Missed Week 1? Click here to watch. Week 2? Click here to watch.

Past Class Offerings:

2021-22 classes, click here.

2020-21 classes, click here.