Learning Opportunities
These classes are currently available online. The list changes often, as new classes become available, and is listed in order by date. Some are webinars lasting an hour or so; others are multi-week classes. Scroll to the bottom of this page for on-demand classes.
UCC Creation Justice Webinars
UCC's Creation Justice Webinar Series features speakers who will assist churches in learning about best practices for ministries related to caring for God’s creation. Each webinar focuses on one of the four areas of discernment for Creation Justice Churches:
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Theology and worship
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Institutional life and practice
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Circles of awareness and advocacy
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Connections to a broader movement
Trainings for Committees on Ministry
The Ministerial Excellence, Support and Authorization (MESA) Ministry Team offers a series of trainings for members of Committees on Ministry. Each training is hosted by MESA via the Zoom platform, with a maximum of 50 participants per training. Registration is required at least an hour in advance (but as soon as the training is posted). Trainings will engage the new Manual on Ministry materials.
No upcoming webinars
PATHWAYS
Affordable Online Theological Education for any Vocation
PATHWAYS Theological Education has released its Winter Courses catalog and registration is now open. View the class offerings HERE and register on their website.
ONA Webinars for Churches
The Open and Affirming Coalition of the UCC is offering a series of webinars this fall. Whether your church is an ONA church, is taking the first steps towards becoming one, or is interested in learning more, there is a webinar sure to be of interest to you. To register for or view the list of upcoming webinars, click HERE.
New Resource for Churches
Facing Uncertain Future
Facing Your Church’s Uncertain Future/Helpful Practices for Courageous Conversations and Faithful Decisions, a new resource, is available in print version and digital download through UCC Resources. The Worship Resource section of the book, which includes liturgies for Discernment and Decision-Making, Church Building Closing and Church Ministry Closing, is available as a free download HERE.
Webinars on Planned Giving
United Church Funds has created a series of webinars to help churches implement or enhance a planned giving program. View the four webinars or download the PDF slides HERE.
Preaching Advent
(Center for Progressive Renewal)
On-Demand
Preaching Advent is a four-week, on demand course that includes content and resources from Rev. Jacqui Lewis, Rev. Jim Keat, and other preachers to spark new insights and ideas for you to explore as you are Preaching Advent. You will get a glimpse of the working drafts of Jacqui's sermons for each of the four weeks of Advent as well as Brian's take on each of the four themes. Also included is a series of short-form reflections on Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love that you can use for your own reflection or small group discussion. Advent begins on December 3, but all the content for Preaching Advent is available now.
Cost: $49
Church Planting 2.0
(Center for Progressive Renewal)
On-demand
Church Planting 2.0. is built around the Church Planting Handbook, and includes web-conference meetings with a senior CPR staff member, video lectures, facilitated reflection, assignments and access to a host of supporting handouts and articles. This online courses is as challenging as it is enriching. The full course is comprised of three individual foci: Gathering the People, Leadership, and Administration; each has three modules.
Cost: $250
View other courses on church planting
Turn Your Board into a Dream Team
(Center for Progressive Renewal)
On-demand
Instructor: Rev. Cameron Trimble, Executive Director, CEO of the Center for Progressive Renewal
You are likely exploring this course because you have been recently elected or selected as a member of your congregation’s governing body. In some churches you would be called a member of the board, in other congregations a member of the session, and other faith communities might call you the warden of the vestry. Regardless of the words your faith community uses for your new position, you are probably feeling a mixture of fear and excitement as you take on this new role. One of your first questions is probably: What do I do next? Although you may have had the opportunity to observe the board at meetings, you still may be feeling unsure. If you have no prior experience of the work of the board, you may be feeling extremely unsure! This course is designed to help you with this and all the questions you have about your new job, as well as some questions you haven’t even imagined you need to ask!
Cost: $149
Standing Rock Webinar
(Pacific School of Religion)
On-demand
Listen in on a one-hour session that offers tools to help faith communities and leaders learn more about Standing Rock and the movement against the Dakota Access Pipeline. The webinar includes Indigenous and progressive Christian theological perspectives, resources for pastors including worship ideas, and tools for engagement. Featuring:
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David Vásquez-Levy, President of Pacific School of Religion
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Shauna Hannan, Associate Professor of Homiletics, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
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Patricia St. Onge, Founder of Seven Generations Consulting
Melvin Cobb, MDiv student at Pacific School of Religion\
Cost: Free
(Center for Progressive Renewal)
Instructor: Rev. Jonathan Chapman
February 1, 2016 to September 1, 2024 (on-demand)
First impressions happen long before a visitor steps in the door of the church. For many people, choosing to visit a church begins with searching your website. So how do you design a website for your church that is welcoming and invitational, expresses who you are, conveys the necessary information, and also serves as a portal for the existing congregation? If you are a bit unsure where to start, a bit overwhelmed by the task at hand, or if you are aware that its time to take your website to the next level of excellence, then this on demand course is the place to begin.
Cost: $149
Conflict: How to Turn the Inevitable into an Opportunity
(Center for Progressive Renewal)
Instructor: Rev. Dr. Claire Bamberg
February 1, 2016 to February 1, 2025 (on-demand)
Where there are people, there is conflict. And since the church is comprised of people, it is inevitable that there will be conflict. Though, contrary to popular belief, conflict is not bad. Rather it is essential and even holds a tremendous opportunity for personal and congregational growth when handled well. This on-demand course will walk you through how to handle conflict in healthy, balanced ways that open doors for community transformation.
Youth Minisry that Transforms Your Whole Church for Individuals
(Center for Progressive Renewal)
Instructor: Rev. Nicole Halveka
February 1, 2016 to February 1, 2026 (on-demand)
Many people have fond memories of Sunday evening youth groups, summer trips in old yellow school buses and lock-ins in the church basement; those models of youth ministry don’t often meet the needs of today’s busy teens and families who seek deeper engagement with God and their faith. Relationships are still the key to effective youth ministry. 30 years of research – and our common sense – tells us this. In this course, explore how to use this ‘old-school’ principle in new ways through cross-generational and family-based ministry, social media and engaged learning that helps whole families (not just teens) live their faith for a lifetime.
Cost: $99
Early Christianity: The Letters of Paul
(Harvardx; on-demand)
Instructor: Laura Nasrallah, Harvard University professor
The letters of Paul are the earliest texts in the Christian scriptures, written by a Jew at a time when the word “Christian” hadn’t yet been coined. What is the religious and political context into which they emerged? How were they first interpreted? How and why do they make such an enormous impact in Christian communities and in politics today? We’ll explore how immediately controversial these letters were, and how these letters are used today to debate relations between Christians and Jews; issues such as love, law, and grace; and topics such as charismatic Christianity, homosexuality, and women’s religious leadership.
Cost: Free
Christianity Through Its Scriptures
(Harvardx; on-demand)
Instructor: Karen L. King, Harvard University professor
Christianity is a global religion. From modest beginnings 2,000 years ago, it has grown to encompass nearly a third of the human population. Diverse in languages, cultures, histories and creeds, Christians nonetheless share a common collection of sacred scripture called the Bible. This religion course introduces you to the Bible and its scripture and asks the questions:
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What are the contents, languages, and forms of Bibles in various times and places?
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How have Christians lived out their stories and teachings?
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How does Christian history reflect the contested and varied uses of scripture—in the ancient Roman world where Christianity began, in its spread through European and American colonialism, in the diverse forms it takes in varied locations around the globe?
Cost: Free
White Privilege: Let's Talk
(Center for Progressive Renewal; on-demand)
Instructor: Rev. Cameron Trimble
The United Church of Christ has released their curriculum, “White Privilege: Let’s talk. A Resource for Transformational Dialogue” and The Center for Progressive Renewal would like to extend an invitation to you to work through the curriculum on its online learning platform. An online course has been developed that includes an online discussion board and access to the webinar series from June 2016 that featured the authors of the curriculum, John Dorhauer, Traci Blackmon, DaVita McAllister, Stephen G. Ray, Jr. and John Paddock in conversation with CPR Founder and Director, Cameron Trimble.
Cost: "Pay What You Wish"
Ministry and Liturgy for Same-Gender Loving Couples
(Andover Newton Theological School; on-demand)
Instructors: Rev. Dr. Leanne McCall Tigert and the Rev. Maren C. Tirabassi
While debate continues in some faith communities as to the appropriateness or permissibility of religious blessing of same-sex couples’ unions, many faith communities have for years embraced the love of all couples who understand themselves to be called to a spiritual union. With the recent Supreme Court decision, increasing numbers of clergy will be presiding at same-gender marriages. It is about more than saying customary words at a ceremony, however. It is also about providing pastoral support and inspirational liturgy for same-sex couples. In this video seminar you will be introduced to methods and resources that will enable you to minster effectively and faithfully with same-sex couples as they consider and prepare for marriage.
Cost: $45
Live
Online
This list contains a number of continuing education opportunities provided by a variety of organizations both here in Hawai‘i and on the mainland. A green note at the beginning of each entry quickly identifies where it is being held.
"Why Did Hawai‘i Become Christian?"
Kawaiaha‘o Church, O‘ahu
This fourth installment of the Speaker Series for the Bicentennial will be held on Sunday, January 19, 2020, in the Kawaiaha'o Church sanctuary (957 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu), from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
In the talk, "Why Did Hawaii Become Christian?", Kapali Lyon proposes that it was the Hawaiian Ali'i, not the missionaries, who decided the future of both religion and culture in the Hawaiian Kingdom. All are invited to attend.
FREE
TEL Program Coming to Hawai'i
Pacific School of Religion (PSR)'s Theological Education for Leadership (TEL) Program is coming to Hawai'i! TEL is an online learning program for people who want to study theology and ministry in community. PSR is in the process of looking for congregations to host a Hawai'i cohort. They are especially in need of identifying host congregations on Hawai'i Island and Kaua'i. TEL students would come together at a host site to participate in the online TEL courses and seminars.
Listening with New Ears to the Old Testament
Wailuku, Maui
Poetry? Why Hebrew Poetry? Many of the texts that have shaped our worship and faith are written in Hebrew Poetry. Think of the Psalms you know or the soaring passages in Isaiah. Learning more about this major part of the Bible that Jesus called “scripture” will open us to hear the ancient texts with new ears and discover meaning for today.
We will listen to the beauty of the poetry in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. This workshop will help participants understand how ancient poetry works, so that we can hear the prophets and read the Psalms aloud with new appreciation for the power of the texts. Hands on reading of poetic texts, some input from the instructor, small group work, and a lot of fun interactions will all prepare participants to read and perform biblical poetry.
The workshop is open to lay leaders and pastors who are seeking understanding of these ancient texts for personal or professional enrichment.
$50
Church Leaders Event Coming in February
Honolulu, O‘ahu
Save the date and plan to attend the Church Leaders Event on Saturday, February 22, 2020, at Nu'uanu Congregational Church (2651 Pali Highway, Honolulu). The focus will be on the "nuts and bolts of leadership" and will be relevant to most church officers. More details coming soon!
Discover Kalaupapa
Kalaupapa, Moloka‘i
Join Phyllis Meighen, Roxanne WhiteLight, Lana Ka'opua, and Richard Miller as they guide you on a journey to discover Kalaupapa at one of the upcoming Service Retreats:
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January 22 – 26, 2020 (register by November 13, 2019)
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March 11 – 15, 2020 (register by January 1, 2020)
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June 24 – 28, 2020 (register by April 15, 2020)
Hear the personal stories of people who lived in exile with Hansen's Disease and reflect on how their stories speak to us today, help to preserve Kalaupapa's heritage, enjoy wonderful fellowship and more through this rich opportunity.
Request registration forms from phyllismeighen@gmail.com or by calling 808-647-4346.
$900
