Appalachian Ministries Educational Resource Center

January 9-20, 2009
Instructors: Dr. Lynn Rhodes & Dr. Michael Mendiola
Cost: $950

This is a 12-day immersion with prior preparation sessions and a reflection paper afterward.

The class will explore the relationships between economic realities and the health of communities as they intersect with lives and practices of faith in West Virginia and Kentucky. Students will meet members of faith communities, public health workers, and others representing a cross-section of economic life. Through preparatory coursework, the 12-day immersion, and subsequent reflection and integration, students will reflect on the role of the church and possibilities for their own ministries. (3 credits)

Rev. Virginia Chase
Pacific School of Religion
1798 Scenic Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94709
phone 510-849-8261
email vchaswe@psr.edu

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Fierce Landscapes: Listening to the People of Appalachia

January 2-13, 2009
Travel immersion
Instructor: Dr. Bill J. Leonard
Mentor and Guide: The Rev. Polly Cheek
Cost: $900

This 12-day immersion is followed by 3-4 interactive learning sessions.
This immersion seminar finds its home among the people of Western North Carolina and Southwest Virginia. Students will enjoy on-site interactions with congregations, religious, and community leaders. Time for worship and reflections provide the framework for the immersions. Participants will be aided by readings prior to the immersion experience. (3 credits)

Sponsored by Wake Forest University Divinity School

Contact AMERC or:
Dr. Bill J. Leonard
Wake Forest University Divinity School
Box 7719
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
phone (336)758-5121
email: leonabj@wfu.edu
Wake Forest Divinity School website: Wake Forest University Divinity School
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Christ, Culture and Mission in Appalachia

January 7-23, 2009
Instructor: Dr. Skip Johnson
Mentor and Guide: Dr. Bennett Poage
Cost: $950

This is a 17-day immersion with a final integrative paper.
Beginning in the foothills of Appalachia, class participants visit family farms before traveling to the coalfields of southeastern Kentucky. The purpose of the travel seminar is to immerse students in the realities of Appalachia in order that they may encounter the mission of God in the culture and experiences of the people. The class concludes on the beautiful campus of Pine Mountain Settlement School. (3 credits)

Sponsored by Columbia Theological Seminary

Contact AMERC or:
Dr. Lee Carroll
Columbia Theological Seminary
701 Columbia Drive
Box 520
Decatur, GA 30031
phone: 404-687-4518
e-mail carrollL@CTSnet.edu.
Columbia Theological Seminary website: Columbia Theological Seminary
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Walking Our Spiritual Path: Reflections on the Spirituality of the Cherokee People

March 11-15, 2009
Cherokee, NC
Cost: $350

This six-day continuing education event explores the history, customs, myths and spiritual ways of the Cherokee people. From discussions and experiences participants reflect upon the spiritual beliefs and traditions of the Cherokee people. This seminar provides an opportunity to learn from the Cherokee and examine one's own spiritual path.

Instructor: Fr. John Rausch
PO Box 1398
Stanton, KY 40380
phone 606-663-0823
email jsrausch@bellsouth.net

Sponsored by the Catholic Committee of Appalachia
Offers Continuing Education Credits

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Religion and Arts of Appalachia

May 22-June 5, 2009
Instructor: Dr. Heather Elkins
Mentors and Guides:
Dr. Ben and Rev. Nina Poage
Cost: $950

This is a 14-day immersion course. This class will assist students to better understand the religious and economic realities that shape the artistic imagination and cultural forms of the Appalachian region of West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky. Through interaction with artists, communities, and church leaders, we will address issues of cultural identity, the prophetic role of the arts, and the impact of change. Students will explore ways of religious witness through interpretation, shared resources, and political concern.(3 credits)

Sponsored by Drew Theological School

Contact: AMERC or:
Dr. Heather Elkins
Drew Theological School
4500 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20016
phone 202-885-8558
email helkins@drew.edu
Drew Theological School website: Drew University Theological School

Mountain Stories: Care for Self and Community

May 25-June 7, 2009
Instructor: Dr. Suzanne Coyle
Mentor: Rev. Jeffrey Allen
Cost: $1,000

This is an immersion course through eastern Kentucky This course will focus on written and oral Appalachian stories as a basis for instilling confidence in self and community through a narrative-based model of pastoral care. Robert Schenkken's The Kentucky Cycle will be analyzed to explore the history and images of life in eastern Kentucky. Through reading and visits with story-tellers, we will look at the lives of contemporary authors through narrative theology and interpret liberation theology in the Appalachian context. (3 credits)

Sponsored by Christian Theological Seminary

Contact AMERC or:
Dr. Suzanne Coyle
Christian Theological Seminary
1000 West 42nd St.
PO Box 88267
Indianapolis, IN 88267
phone 317-931-2349
email scoyle@cts.edu
Christian Theological Seminary website: Christian Theological Seminary
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Download an application for AMERC courses.
(Microsoft Word)


		Home \| Classes \| Application for Classes
		Download an application for AMERC courses. (Microsoft Word) When attending a class, students must abide by the policies and ethos of the sponsoring school. Be sure to be aware of those before applying. AMERC Classes Continuing Education Walking Our Spiritual Path: Reflections on the Spirituality of the Cherokee People (March 11-15, 2009) Seminary Immersion Courses Faith, Health, and Economics: An Appalachian Experience (January 9-20, 2009) Fierce Landscapes: Listening to the People of Appalachia (January 2-13, 2009) Christ, Culture and Mission in Appalachia (January 7-23, 2009) Mountain Stories: Care for Self & Community (May 25-June 7, 2009) Religion and Arts of Appalachia (May 22-June 5, 2009) Faith, Health, and Economics: An Appalachian Experience January 9-20, 2009 Instructors: Dr. Lynn Rhodes & Dr. Michael Mendiola Cost: $950 This is a 12-day immersion with prior preparation sessions and a reflection paper afterward. The class will explore the relationships between economic realities and the health of communities as they intersect with lives and practices of faith in West Virginia and Kentucky. Students will meet members of faith communities, public health workers, and others representing a cross-section of economic life. Through preparatory coursework, the 12-day immersion, and subsequent reflection and integration, students will reflect on the role of the church and possibilities for their own ministries. (3 credits) Sponsored by Pacific School of Religion Contact AMERC or: Rev. Virginia Chase Pacific School of Religion 1798 Scenic Avenue Berkeley, CA 94709 phone 510-849-8261 email vchaswe@psr.edu Pacific School of Religion website: Pacific School of Religion back to top < back to top Fierce Landscapes: Listening to the People of Appalachia January 2-13, 2009 Travel immersion Instructor: Dr. Bill J. Leonard Mentor and Guide: The Rev. Polly Cheek Cost: $900 This 12-day immersion is followed by 3-4 interactive learning sessions. This immersion seminar finds its home among the people of Western North Carolina and Southwest Virginia. Students will enjoy on-site interactions with congregations, religious, and community leaders. Time for worship and reflections provide the framework for the immersions. Participants will be aided by readings prior to the immersion experience. (3 credits) Sponsored by Wake Forest University Divinity School Contact AMERC or: Dr. Bill J. Leonard Wake Forest University Divinity School Box 7719 Winston-Salem, NC 27109 phone (336)758-5121 email: leonabj@wfu.edu Wake Forest Divinity School website: Wake Forest University Divinity School back to top Christ, Culture and Mission in Appalachia January 7-23, 2009 Instructor: Dr. Skip Johnson Mentor and Guide: Dr. Bennett Poage Cost: $950 This is a 17-day immersion with a final integrative paper. Beginning in the foothills of Appalachia, class participants visit family farms before traveling to the coalfields of southeastern Kentucky. The purpose of the travel seminar is to immerse students in the realities of Appalachia in order that they may encounter the mission of God in the culture and experiences of the people. The class concludes on the beautiful campus of Pine Mountain Settlement School. (3 credits) Sponsored by Columbia Theological Seminary Contact AMERC or: Dr. Lee Carroll Columbia Theological Seminary 701 Columbia Drive Box 520 Decatur, GA 30031 phone: 404-687-4518 e-mail carrollL@CTSnet.edu. Columbia Theological Seminary website: Columbia Theological Seminary back to top Walking Our Spiritual Path: Reflections on the Spirituality of the Cherokee People March 11-15, 2009 Cherokee, NC Cost: $350 This six-day continuing education event explores the history, customs, myths and spiritual ways of the Cherokee people. From discussions and experiences participants reflect upon the spiritual beliefs and traditions of the Cherokee people. This seminar provides an opportunity to learn from the Cherokee and examine one's own spiritual path. Instructor: Fr. John Rausch PO Box 1398 Stanton, KY 40380 phone 606-663-0823 email jsrausch@bellsouth.net Sponsored by the Catholic Committee of Appalachia Offers Continuing Education Credits back to top Religion and Arts of Appalachia May 22-June 5, 2009 Instructor: Dr. Heather Elkins Mentors and Guides: Dr. Ben and Rev. Nina Poage Cost: $950 This is a 14-day immersion course. This class will assist students to better understand the religious and economic realities that shape the artistic imagination and cultural forms of the Appalachian region of West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky. Through interaction with artists, communities, and church leaders, we will address issues of cultural identity, the prophetic role of the arts, and the impact of change. Students will explore ways of religious witness through interpretation, shared resources, and political concern.(3 credits) Sponsored by Drew Theological School Contact: AMERC or: Dr. Heather Elkins Drew Theological School 4500 Massachusetts Ave., NW Washington, DC 20016 phone 202-885-8558 email helkins@drew.edu Drew Theological School website: Drew University Theological School Mountain Stories: Care for Self and Community May 25-June 7, 2009 Instructor: Dr. Suzanne Coyle Mentor: Rev. Jeffrey Allen Cost: $1,000 This is an immersion course through eastern Kentucky This course will focus on written and oral Appalachian stories as a basis for instilling confidence in self and community through a narrative-based model of pastoral care. Robert Schenkken's The Kentucky Cycle will be analyzed to explore the history and images of life in eastern Kentucky. Through reading and visits with story-tellers, we will look at the lives of contemporary authors through narrative theology and interpret liberation theology in the Appalachian context. (3 credits) Sponsored by Christian Theological Seminary Contact AMERC or: Dr. Suzanne Coyle Christian Theological Seminary 1000 West 42nd St. PO Box 88267 Indianapolis, IN 88267 phone 317-931-2349 email scoyle@cts.edu Christian Theological Seminary website: Christian Theological Seminary back to top Download an application for AMERC courses. (Microsoft Word)
		Home \| Classes \| Resources \| Consortium Members \| About AMERC Appalachian Ministries Educational Resource Center 298 Harrison Road Berea, KY 40403 Phone: 859-986-8789 Fax: 859-986-2576 E-mail: loliver@amerc.org