Continuing Education

COURSE OPEN TO VISITORS - JOHN ROTTMAN
What Preachers Can Learn from Writers

Explores what various writers are saying about their craft and its implication for preaching and looks at the creative features of sermon making through a combination of reading, writing, and practice preaching.

COURSE OPEN TO VISITORS - CAL VAN REKEN
The Apologetical Theology of C.S. Lewis

Studies some works of C.S. Lewis in which he communicates and defends Christianity.

COURSE OPEN TO VISITORS - HOWARD VANDERWELL
Doctrine of Christ and Services of the Christian Year

Engaging Christian Worship which effectively nurtures faith must be built on a clear understanding of the doctrine of Jesus Christ and should faithfully represent the full range of his ministry. The services of the Christian year from Advent to Eastertide provide an excellent pattern of nurture for the worshiping congregation. We’ll explore the worship calendar which observes the Christian Year and thereby faithfully leads worshipers through the entire ministry of Christ on an annual basis. We’ll function collegially and will aim to collaboratively plan services which faithfully accomplish this.

PREACHING SEMINAR
Sex, Second Coming and Sanctification: Preaching 1 Thessalonians From Text to Sermon

The aim of this seminar, led by Jeffrey A.D. Weima, is to help preachers brush up on the exegetical steps required in moving from the biblical text to a sermon that faithfully expresses its message for the church today.

SYMPOSIUM


This annual Symposium is for pastors, worship leaders, artists, musicians, scholars and students, and worshipers. We gather from around the world for fellowship, worship, and learning.

COURSE OPEN TO VISITORS - MARIANO AVILA
Shalom

Provides the vision and understanding of God’s plan for creation to inspire lifestyles and ministries that conform to God´s good will for the cosmos, society, the Church, and for each person. Learning and theological reflection is done regarding sites where significant models of community transformation, social justice and care for creation are being developed in the US, Canada, and other countries.

COURSE OPEN TO VISITORS - DIANE OBENCHAIN
Loving Your Muslim Neighbor

Explores the teachings of Islam, its branches, ministry and outreach models, and contextualization issues.

COURSE OPEN TO VISITORS - MARY HULST
Using Multi Media in Preaching

Voice. Body. Dress. Props. Screen. Learn how to use all of these elements to strengthen your preaching ministry. Students will preach twice over the course of the semester, using both "low" and "high" tech assistance. Students will also need to visit and/or view ministries in which these elements are used regularly and learn how to discern the helpful from the unhelpful

COURSE OPEN TO VISITORS - LYNN BARGER ELLIOT, DARWIN GLASSFORD, RON NYDAM
Youth and Family Ministry

Introduces pastoral care for young people and families from a systems perspective, develops skills in theological diagnostic method, and examines issues such as depression and suicide, sexuality identity and function, use and abuse of alcohol and illegal substances, and dysfunctional families.

COURSE OPEN TO VISITORS - ELIZABETH STEELE HALSTEAD
Proclaiming Texts Using the Arts

Introduces the various ways art proclaims the Word through image, architecture, and visual elements of worship. We will explore a biblical approach to the visual as integral in multi-sensory proclamation, examine historical developments, and discover how art in worship speaks theologically today

SEMINAR
The Theology and Practice of Pastoral Ministry

The central thesis of this course is that strong pastoral identity is the key to sustaining pastoral excellence. Today's church has witnessed a breakdown of consensus regarding the role of the pastor. This course is a study of the theology and practice of pastoral ministry with a view to creatively and critically engaging changing views of the church and its ministry in our contemporary culture, and enhancing the practice of pastoral ministry. The course will integrate this theological understanding of pastoral ministry with the basic practices of pastoral ministry: worship, preaching, teaching, evangelism, pastoral care, and congregational leadership. Led by Duane Kelderman and Kathy Smith, Calvin Theological Seminary. Co-sponsored by the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program of the Christian Reformed Church.

CONFERENCE
Festival of Faith and Writing

The Festival of Faith and Writing is a biennial gathering where readers and writers come together to discuss, celebrate, and explore the ways in which faith is represented in literature and how it plays out in our world today. Speakers include: Debbie Blue, Eugene Peterson, Tim Stafford, Luci Shaw, Ed Dobson, and many others. Sponsored by Calvin College with the support of the Center for Excellence in Preaching.

COURSE OPEN TO VISITORS - HOWARD VANDERWELL
Planning Intergenerational Worship

Most churches today wrestle with the issue of Intergenerational Worship. Is it possible? What methodology should be used? Which values should guide us? What are the risks of different approaches? Many are experimenting with very diverse approaches. In this course we’ll explore the issues involved, different perspectives on intergenerational, and participate collaboratively in efforts to design worship that will reach all generations. Our work will be built on the assumption that all generations are equally valuable, and all generations have their own unique needs in the formation of their faith.

COURSE OPEN TO VISITORS - DOUG KAMSTRA
Prayer Ministry

Examines the biblical, historical and theological foundations of prayer as it relates to personal spiritual growth and congregational ministry, and evaluates contemporary understandings and practices of prayer ministry.

COURSE OPEN TO VISITORS
The Theology and Practice of Pastoral Ministry

The central thesis of this course is that strong pastoral identity is the key to sustaining pastoral excellence. Today's church has witnessed a breakdown of consensus regarding the role of the pastor. This course is a study of the theology and practice of pastoral ministry with a view to creatively and critically engaging changing views of the church and its ministry in our contemporary culture, and enhancing the practice of pastoral ministry. The course will integrate this theological understanding of pastoral ministry with the basic practices of pastoral ministry: worship, preaching, teaching, evangelism, pastoral care, and congregational leadership. Led by Duane Kelderman and Kathy Smith, Calvin Theological Seminary. Co-sponsored by the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program of the Christian Reformed Church.

CONFERENCE
Reformed Mission in an Age of World Christianity

The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC), the two largest global networks of Reformed Christian churches expect to unite into one ecumenical body and form the new World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). It will support a global network of 80 million Reformed Christians. The Christian Reformed Church (CRC) is the host denomination for this one-time uniting assembly on the campus of Calvin College, June 18-28, 2010. "Reformed Mission in an Age of World Christianity" is a pre-assembly conference open to the public - more information will be coming soon. Co-sponsored by the Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship, the WCRC assembly planners, and the International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education.

SEMINAR
Imaginative Reading for Creative Preaching

Neal Plantinga's hugely popular and successful seminar, Imaginative Reading for Creative Preaching, is being offered at Snow Mountain to provide participating pastors a deeply enriching seminar in the mornings while bringing their families along to enjoy the afternoons together. Generous financial support will be given to all pastors and their families. Space is limited so apply now - applications due by November 1, 2009.