Berkeley, CA – It’s not your father’s Sunday School.  Churches seeking to update and expand adult education offerings can now tap into a variety of courses offered on line by Church Divinity School of the Pacific.  The Center for Anglican Learning and Leadership (CALL) at CDSP provides more than 40 classes on line, with many designed specifically for parishes, including:

• Total Ministry in Any Size Parish, taught by Ben Helmer, Missioner for Congregational Development, The Episcopal Church Center, February 12 – April 1, 2007
•  Making Choices: Ethics in the Anglican Tradition, taught by John Kater, Lecturer in Anglican Studies, CDSP, February 12 – April 1, 2007
•  Introduction to the Old Testament:  Law and Former Prophets, taught by Teresa Brown, Director of Online Education, CALL, CDSP, January 29 – March 18, 2007 
• Contemplative Practices in the Anglican Tradition, taught by Elizabeth Drescher, March 5 – April 29, 2007
• Islam for Christians, taught by Michael Duffett, Lecturer, Delta College, Stockton, February  26 – April 22, 2007

Online Courses for Clergy

Reaching beyond parishioners in the pews, a number of online classes are designed specifically for clergy and other church professionals who are required by the Canons to participate in ongoing education.  Many clergy appreciate the convenience of online learning, enabling them to keep current and meet the new requirements while sitting at their computers.  Courses for clergy include:

• It's Not Your Father's Pledge Drive, taught by Gregory Rickel, Rector, St. James’ Episcopal Church, Austin, Texas, national consultant in stewardship, vestry development, and leadership workshops, February 19 – April 15 
•  Systems in Families and Congregations, taught byArdith Hayes, Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, and theological field educator, CDSP, February 5 – March 25, 2007 
• Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry, taught by Anne Ditzler, Director of CampuSource, consultant with Episcopal organizations and nonprofits on fundraising and organizational development, February 19 – April 15, 2007
• Advanced Conflict Resolution, taught by Kim Morgan, former Chief Legal Advisor to the Nevada State Assembly, mediator, March 5 – April 15, 2007
• Short-Term Spiritual Guidance, taught by Duane Bidwell, Director of the Pastoral Care and Training Center of Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, March 19 – May 13, 2007
• Charting the Way of Multi-Cultural Ministry:  Pentecost or Babel, taught by Jerry Drino, former director of the network for InterCultural Ministry Development and Executive Director of Province VIII of the Episcopal Church, March 12 – May 6, 2007

 “Since its beginning, CALL has worked closely with congregations, dioceses, and ministry networks through the Church to offer opportunities for all Christians – lay and ordained – to deepen their faith, learn new skills, and enhance their gifts for effective leadership,” said David T. Gortner, Director of CALL. “Accessibility is the key.  It’s exciting to see the increase in students from around the country, and even internationally, enrolling in our online courses.” 

CDSP is the leading seminary in the country providing continuing education courses online.  Gortner credits the success of CALL, now in its 11th year offering online education for clergy and laypersons in the church, to several factors.  “We work with dioceses to understand their needs, and design courses specifically to meet those needs, such as our series on congregational leadership,” said Gortner.  Other distinctives include the wide range of timely and relevant courses, as well as the “intentional variety of voices” providing perspectives on such religious traditions as Islam and Anglicanism, and on Asian pastoral care. 

            In addition to the extensive online course catalog, the two major programs offered each year by CALL are its Summer Session, and the popular Epiphany West annual conference,  “providing opportunities for people to come together for study, for discussion, and to deepen their spiritual lives and ministries through interaction with outstanding instructors from around the world,” said Gortner.  Epiphany West 2007, Revisioning Anglicanism:  Where do we go from here? will be held January 23-27 on the seminary campus, in Berkeley, Calif.

For more information, to request a course catalog, or to register for CALL classes and events, visit the website:  www.cdsp.edu/call, or contact the CALL office:  1-800-353-CDSP or 1-510-204-0720.

Founded in 1893, Church Divinity School of the Pacific’s mission is to provide the highest quality Christian theological education in an environment of scholarship, reflection and worship, rooted in the Anglican tradition.  CDSP is a founding member of the Graduate Theological Union, an ecumenical and interfaith consortium based in Berkeley, Calif.  For more information on CDSP, visit the website: www.cdsp.edu.