2010  Courses and Teachers

NOTE NEW EVENING COURSE TIMES

1  

The Book of James: 

How Should Christians Live? 

Challenging Questions, Simple Answers

                Mondays 1:00 – 3:00 PM

The Book of James, often quite neglected, has become a source of excitement due to new modes of interpretation which suggest this book is especially relevant for many of today’s churches.  James wrote in the first century to new Christian communities who were experiencing difficulties - both difficulties within having to do with how members related with one another, and pressures without from the conflicting values of their surrounding cultures.  James offers wise insight and practical suggestions which are remarkably close to the spirit of Jesus’ teachings, and which offer both advice and challenge to today’s Christian communities.* (*means text recommended.)
                Charles Melchert (Yale, Ph.D.) has been a professor of education and religion for over 40 years, teaching at undergraduate and graduate levels in universities, theological seminaries and schools of educational ministry.  He taught the D. Min. Seminar for Lancaster Theological Seminary for 13 years, as well as courses in Bible and in educational ministry.

2

The American Jewish Experience

Mondays 1:00 – 3:00 PM

We will examine the history of American Jewry, beginning with Columbus, and how it parallels the general history of the United States; how Judaism in America has taken on an American quality; and the people and movements who have shaped it at specific moments in history. 

                Pauline Horn holds a Master of Judaic Studies from the Siegel College of Jewish Studies. She is the Executive Director of the Beth Sholom Congregation in Frederick  and Director of its Hebrew School.

3

The New Evangelicalism         

Mondays 7:00 – 9:00 PM

 Emerging out of classical evangelicalism is a new movement of Christians – more socially conscious, more ecumenical in outlook – that looks back to recover practices and theology from the early church within a postmodern framework. This class will examine the history, theology, and practices of this movement in the context of changes that are occurring within Western Christianity as a whole.*

                Larry Eubanks is Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Frederick, Maryland. He received a B.S. from Baylor University and a Master of Divinity as well as a Ph.D. in Old Testament from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY.

4

The Axial Age of Wisdom: Great Transformative Thinkers of Religious Tradition

Mondays 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Karen Armstrong writes: “The Axial Age was one of the most seminal periods of intellectual, psychological, philosophical, and religious change in recorded history.” In this course, we will be examining the great philosophical minds of the Axial age such as Socrates, Isaiah the Prophet of Israel, Zoroaster of Persia, the Buddha of India, Lao-Tzu and Confucius of China, as well as the great Hindu mystics. These thinkers changed religion from ritual to ethics and morality as the heart of spiritual life. Do the thinkers of the Axial Age still have a profound and important message for religious life and thinking in the 21st century? *

                Raymond Moreland is a United Methodist Minister and Executive Director of the Maryland Bible Society and an Adjunct Faculty member of Frederick Community College.  He received Masters Degrees from Wesley Seminary and St. Mary’s Seminary, and the Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Foundation.

5 

Facing Moral Dilemmas:  A Basis and Method for Moral Decision-making

Tuesdays 1:00 - 3:00 PM

 We all confront difficult moral decisions, particularly when the issues are clouded by uncertainty and controversy – issues such as medical ethics, sexuality, economics, politics, and the world. We will examine alternatives and propose resources available to people of good will in different faith communities.  Dr. Wogaman's recent book on Moral Dilemmas will be recommended reading.*

                Philip Wogaman has most recently served as Senior Pastor of St. Luke in Nebraska. He has been Dean and Professor of Christian Ethics at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC, Senior Minister at Foundry United Methodist Church, past President of the American Theological Society, and President of the Society of Christian Ethics of the U.S. and Canada. He has authored a number of texts.  Dr. Wogaman’s Ph.D. and M. Div. degrees are from Boston University, and his B.A. is from University of the Pacific.

6 

Psalms/Proverbs/Esther

Tuesdays  1:00 – 3:00 PM

Psalms reflected David's heart and his soul's yearning as he tried to walk before God in every aspect of his public and private life.  Today these Psalms serve to lift up to God the emotions of all those who seek Him, to bring enlightenment and strength, and to inspire them to show self-sacrificing devotion in their conduct on earth. This year we will be adding Esther to our study.

Rabbi Morris Kosman has been the spiritual leader of Beth Sholom Congregation in Frederick for over 40 years.  He is a graduate of Baltimore Hebrew College, and trained at the Rabbinical College in Telshe.

7

Bach at 325: The Life and Legacy of "The Fifth Evangelist"
             Tuesdays 7:00 – 9:00 PM

2010 marks the 325th anniversary of the birth of J. S. Bach, one of the world's most prolific and most enduring composers. His music was a synthesis of styles ancient and modern, native and foreign, sacred and secular. This course will explore aspects of his life, music, and legacy.*

                Wayne L. Wold is Associate Professor of Music and College Organist at Hood College; and an active lecturer, composer, performer and author. He holds a Master of Sacred Music from Wittenberg University, and the Doctor of Musical Arts from Shenandoah University.

8 

Wrestling Club – Wrestling with Biblical Theology and Contemporary Issues

                Tuesdays 7:00 –9:00 PM

 Using various forms of current and historical media (from literature, to movies and TV, to the internet) we will challenge ourselves to discuss current trends in the way the biblical message and Christian theology is portrayed. One of the class goals is to claim and own our personal theology and discover how we allow it to guide us (or not) in our everyday lives. Topics for presentation will include: Issues of Good and Evil, Violence, portrayal of angels and demons, sacramental grace, spirituality without organized religion, and other issues of the day. Lively dialogue is encouraged. Church leadership (clergy and laity) are encouraged to attend.

Conrad O. Link received a degree in Education from the U. of Maryland, and the M. Div. and D. Min. degrees from Wesley Theological Seminary. He is the Senior Teaching Pastor of Brook Hill United Methodist Church, and serves on the boards of the Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs and Frederick Memorial Hospital Ethics.

*TEXT RECOMMENDED FOR CLASS

The text order form and additional information is  available at  this web site, and from George Walton:
301-845-2368     (gnwalton@verizon.net)