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Religious Exploration

The purpose of the Religious Exploration Committee of the Board of Deacons is to provide educational opportunities for Plymouth members and friends in the areas of Bible study, interpersonal growth, contemporary theology and inter-faith dialogue at times other than the Sunday morning forums.

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A Progressive Romans Road

A study of Paul’s letter to the Romans

Beginning September 21/22 (duplicate classes) and continuing for seven weeks: Tuesday classes will be in the Baltins room, 6:30-7:30 p.m., and Wednesday classes will be in Jackman Hall, 1-2 p.m. (Free of charge.)

John Edgerton

It’s difficult to overstate the importance of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, commonly called the book of Romans. Not only was it a central document within the early Christian Church, its effect on later Christian movements has been profound. Romans was critical to Saint Augustine’s conversion to Christianity and his subsequent theological writings. Romans was a flash point for theological conflict during the reformation and Karl Barth’s commentary on Romans was an inaugurating work in the Neo-Orthodox movement. In the contemporary world, Romans is widely used as an evangelism tool by Christians, one that stresses the idea that one must confess Jesus Christ as Lord in order to attain salvation.

During the first half of the seven-week course, John will lead discussion-based groups in exploring in depth some of the ways that Romans has been interpreted throughout Christian history. With this historical grounding in mind, the later four weeks will be devoted to exploring and generating interpretations of the book of Romans from a progressive Christian point of view.

John is currently pastoral resident at Plymouth and will serve in that capacity until June 2011.

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Compassionate Communication:
The Language of the Heart

Saturdays, October 16, 23, 30 and November 6
9 a.m. to noon in the Fireside Room

Tuition: $100/4 meetings; limited to 25 participants (scholarships available)

Yvette Erasmus

Objectives of Compassionate Communication are to integrate and expand ones emotional vocabulary, to express personal feelings without blame or being judgmental, to develop insight into what triggers feelings with a need to respond, to understand appropriate actions to meet these needs and to practice methods for calming stress or emotional pain.

The workshop facilitator, Yvette Erasmus, M.Ed. has experience teaching Compassionate Communication at the Aslan Institute and leading preschool children, teachers, parents and prison inmates to a more spiritually centered communication model. She’s also a graduate student working to complete a doctorate degree in psychology.

For additional information, go to www.cnvc.org or contact the program coordinator, Anne Seltz, at anneseltz@aol.com.

Co-sponsored by the Religious Exploration and Connection Committee and the Spiritual Enrichment Committee.

Register on-line

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Book Discussion
What Does a
Progressive Christian Believe?

by Delwin Brown
(New York, Seebury Books)

November 1, 8 & 15
Baltins Room, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Plymouth describes itself as a progressive Christian community. It acknowledges this in its strategic plan, and Plymouth hosts various gatherings of progressive religious leaders/seekers throughout the year. In this context, what does the word progressive mean?

Plymouth members and friends are invited to participate in a three-session book discussion of What Does a Progressive Christian Believe? on the first three Monday evenings in November. The sessions will be led by three active leaders of the progressive movement at Plymouth, Robert Parsonage (course facilitator), James Swanson and James Gertmenian. The sessions are free of charge and the book is available in the church office at a nominal cost.

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At a glance...

A Progressive Romans Road:
A study of Paul's letter to the Romans

Compassionate Communication:
The Language of the Heart

Book Discussion:
What Does a Progressive Christian Believe?