Spiritual Mentoring for Ruling Elders

Date Start: Monday, March 31, 2008
Date End: Friday, May 9, 2008

Instructor: Rev. Dr. Roberta Clare

"Share your faith with others."

The Rev. Dr. Roberta Clare, director of the Elders' Institute, will facilitate this course for those who want to explore spiritual mentoring from the Christian tradition.

What is a mentor? How do we pass the torch of faith and wisdom to seekers, newly-ordained elders, young people and new Christians? In this workshop, we will explore the characteristics and skills of Christian mentors, and practice some tools we can use to mentor others in our churches, workplaces and local communities—so we can pass the torch.

Registration Fee: $100.00 (Course material not included)

Serving as a Ruling Elder: A Course in the Basics

Date Start: Monday, April 21, 2008
Date End: Friday, May 30, 2008

Instructor: Rev. Karen Horst

What are the roles and responsibilities of elders? Join this course and explore the multifaceted answers to this and other questions with the Elders' Institute online. The purpose of the course is to focus on the role of the ruling elder within The Presbyterian Church in Canada and its congregations and courts.

The course is intended for anyone who is interested in eldership: new elders looking for some orientation to their ministry, potential elders considering a call to eldership, and current elders wanting a 'refresher.'

Registration Fee: $100.00 (Course material not included)

Reading the Bible With New Eyes: A Course in the Basics

Date Start: Monday, September 15, 2008
Date End: Friday, October 24, 2008

Instructor: Rev. Dr. Pat Dutcher-Walls

The Old and New Testaments are full of stories, songs, poems, and letters that were written, collected and preserved by ancient writers in order to give witness to their faith in God. This course will introduce the Bible by exploring the ways these ancient writers expressed their faith and the context in which those writers lived.

The course will engage participants in a careful reading of biblical passages in order to build reading skills to appreciate the artistry and content of the words of Scripture. Our study will also help participants understand the breadth and diversity of biblical faith. We’ll consider such key theological issues as the nature of God, the nature of human beings, and the relationship between God and humans.

Registration Fee: $100.00 (Course material not included)

Deepening Our Faith: Exploring the Lord's Prayer

Date Start: Monday, October 20, 2008
Date End: Friday, November 28, 2008

Instructor: Rev. Dr. Stephen Farris

"Pray this way!"—praying the Lord's Prayer with understanding.

Jesus said, "pray this way," and taught his disciples the Lord's Prayer. He also told them not to "heap up empty phrases" when praying.

We repeat constantly the words of the prayer he taught but if we do not understand its meaning, perhaps we too are heaping up empty phrases. In this course, we shall attempt to use the words and phrases of this wonderful prayer as a doorway into a deeper understanding of prayer and of basic Christian theology. The course is a combination of Bible Study and practice in prayer.

Registration Fee: $100.00 (Course material not included)