After some adding and dropping – I think I finally have the classes I’ll be sticking with for the rest of the semester. For those who are interested, here is what I’ll be taking:
- Calvin and the Renewal of the Church with Stacy Johnson
I’m not all that excited to read Calvin, actually, but I think it will probably be good for me to learn Calvin better, especially as I will be needing to go before my Presbytery in a few months for my Final Assessment. I took a class with Stacy two years ago, and I really enjoyed it. We’re basically reading Calvin’s Institutes and taking an exam. That’s it. - Forgiveness and Reconciliation with Bo Karen Lee
A good topic, and not too much reading. We’re looking at Miroslav Volf’s “Free of Charge” as well as Anselm and Dostoevsky. - The Self and the System with Bob Dykstra
I’m looking forward to this class most. This is a pastoral care class and we’ll be looking a lot at the tension between the individual and the community/system in counseling, clinical pastoral work and in Christian theology. We are reading some really good books, books that Dykstra says have changed lives before. One classic we’re reading is Carl Rogers’ “On Becoming a Person” and we’re also reading some of the only porn we may get to read in seminary. Dykstra has a very laidback (but carefully thought out) style of teaching, and I’m looking forward to that. - Poetry and the Care of Souls with Donald Capps
Apparently, this is my “easy A” course for the semester, which I don’t mind at all. I’ve heard mixed reviews of Capps’ lectures, but we’re reading some good poetry: Billy Collins, Stephen Dunn, Louise Gluck, Jane Kenyon, Yusef Komunyakaa, Stanley Kunitz, Li-Young Lee, Denise Levertov and William Stafford. The thing is, I don’t normally get or enjoy poetry. I just want to be the kind of guy who does get it. So…that’s the goal this semester. Wish me luck. - Senior Thesis with Kenda Creasy Dean
I still need to find a topic, but it’s going to be something with youth ministry, Emergent, Presbymergent…any suggestions? What do you all want to read 30-40+ pages on?
Between that and all of my Cleave Design work, Presbymergent stuff and everything else, it should be a pretty busy semester.
