This is a comprehensive, if perhaps a bit outdated, guide to resources for people who are operating shelters and/or soup kitchens:
Food and Nutrition Resource Guide
Food Not Bombs has some excellent material on serving large groups of people, and include plenty of vegan recipes to boot!
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Anglican/Episcopalian Continuing Education Courses Online
The Church Divinity School of the Pacific is offering a series of online continuing education courses. These would be excellent options for Anglicans/Episcopalians and anyone who is interested in Anglican theology to learn more about this faith tradition. Course cost is minimal.
Monday, October 09, 2006
GTU Summer Session
For many years now, the Graduate Theological Union, a consortium of theological schools in Berkeley, California, have sponsored a "summer session". Normal seminary admittance requirements are waived, and students have the choice of taking courses for either academic credit or continuing education (at a fraction of the academic credit tuition). The theological leanings of these courses are decidedly to the left, so conservatives and evangelicals may want to take a pass.
Still, this is a great program and a wonderful opportunity for folks who are interested in brushing up on their education or who are considering returning to school. Also, the program takes place in the California Bay Area, which is simply a gorgeous place to be.
Still, this is a great program and a wonderful opportunity for folks who are interested in brushing up on their education or who are considering returning to school. Also, the program takes place in the California Bay Area, which is simply a gorgeous place to be.
Free Online Courses from a Conservative Perspective
Free adult education courses on a variety of Biblical, theological, and ministerial subjects are available at Christiancourses.com.
I've had a look at this program and they seem to have a good variety of courses as well as a very professional interface. The theological stance is conservative evangelical, which might be a turn-off to many. Still, if you want to brush up on your Bible knowledge, this seems to be a decent place to do it.
I've had a look at this program and they seem to have a good variety of courses as well as a very professional interface. The theological stance is conservative evangelical, which might be a turn-off to many. Still, if you want to brush up on your Bible knowledge, this seems to be a decent place to do it.
Last Days Ministries Articles
For those of us who remember the "glory days" of Christian music, Keith Green is a familiar name. But Green was more than just a gifted musician: He and his wife also headed up a publishing ministry in Texas. They published a gorgeous magazine that contained some truly excellent articles on Christian living.
The magazine is no longer with us, but the articles remain. You can see copies of some of their most popular articles at:
http://www.lastdaysministries.org/articles/articleindex.html . These articles make for great discussion in small groups, and they can be purchased in brochure form for distribution.
The magazine is no longer with us, but the articles remain. You can see copies of some of their most popular articles at:
http://www.lastdaysministries.org/articles/articleindex.html . These articles make for great discussion in small groups, and they can be purchased in brochure form for distribution.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Ministry Education
For those who are interested in a quality ministry education from a conservative (Pentecostal) viewpoint, the Assemblies of God's Global University is an excellent option.
Global University is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council, an accrediting agency recognized by the US Department of Education.* It is also endorsed by the Assemblies of God (AOG)as an institution where potential AOG ministers can get their training. The school offers courses at the Bible Institute (adult education) level as well as undergraduate and graduate degrees. All courses are available via distance learning methods, with many courses being available via an online format. The tuition cost is less than half of that at many Bible college or seminary programs, and a wide variety of courses are available. This is a particularly attractive feature to bivocational ministers who do not have the time or income to spend on a traditional/residential program.
*While the US Department of Education does not "rank" accrediting bodies, it should be notied that DETC accreditation is not regarded as prestigious as regional accreditation or accreditation through a specialized agency such as the Assocation of Theological Schools. This can mean that some schools may not accept transfer credits from Global University. It may also mean that some schools may not recognize a Global University Degree as acceptable for admission to a graduate program. However, many schools WILL accept these credits and degrees: You will just need to do additional research prior to applying to other programs.
Global University is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council, an accrediting agency recognized by the US Department of Education.* It is also endorsed by the Assemblies of God (AOG)as an institution where potential AOG ministers can get their training. The school offers courses at the Bible Institute (adult education) level as well as undergraduate and graduate degrees. All courses are available via distance learning methods, with many courses being available via an online format. The tuition cost is less than half of that at many Bible college or seminary programs, and a wide variety of courses are available. This is a particularly attractive feature to bivocational ministers who do not have the time or income to spend on a traditional/residential program.
*While the US Department of Education does not "rank" accrediting bodies, it should be notied that DETC accreditation is not regarded as prestigious as regional accreditation or accreditation through a specialized agency such as the Assocation of Theological Schools. This can mean that some schools may not accept transfer credits from Global University. It may also mean that some schools may not recognize a Global University Degree as acceptable for admission to a graduate program. However, many schools WILL accept these credits and degrees: You will just need to do additional research prior to applying to other programs.
Clergy Killers
I first read this article over ten years ago, and it is never far from my mind. Clergy Killers by G. Lloyd Rediger first appeared in the August 1993 issue of Clergy Journal. In it, Dr. Rediger deals with the phenomenon of "Clergy Killers", people who maliciously persecute clergy. A "Clergy Killer" is not someone who is merely needy, nor are they people who simply have a personality clash with their pastor. "Clergy Killers" are, in a word, evil. They are people who maliciously set out to undermine church leadership and then, when they have accomplished that goal, go in for the kill. They have destroyed many good ministers and many good churches.
Just because you may be operating in a "non-traditional" ministry does not make you immune to these people. Read and learn.
Just because you may be operating in a "non-traditional" ministry does not make you immune to these people. Read and learn.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Seminary No Guarantee of Salary
The Cleveland Plain Dealer ran an interesting article on September 23rd regarding the state of "mainline" Protestant ministry in the United States. Apparently there just aren't enough pulpits for all the graduates. The problem isn't a lack of churches, however, but rather the kind of churches that actually hire seminary grads. Jewish and Roman Catholic congregations, for example, are in need of more clergy (and the later institution only hires celibate males). Evangelical and "independent" churches are also hiring, but, strangely enough, they don't necessarily require their clergy to be seminary educated.
This brings two things to mind:
1. Are seminaries telling their 80,000 students that the chances of their getting a pulpit are slim? And are they telling prospective students this before encouraging them to relocate, give up jobs, separate from families, and invest $30,000+ in an MDiv? Or are they just saving this news for a surprise?
2. How can anyone argue for the "standardization" of the MDiv as "the" professional degree for clergy when those denominations that DON'T require it are those that actually have the job openings?
I am not against the MDiv. I have one myself and it has proven to be very valuable degree. But I believe that the Christian community has got to reassess the way it thinks about education and preparation for ministry. Does academic accomplishment really do much in the formation of good clergy?
This brings two things to mind:
1. Are seminaries telling their 80,000 students that the chances of their getting a pulpit are slim? And are they telling prospective students this before encouraging them to relocate, give up jobs, separate from families, and invest $30,000+ in an MDiv? Or are they just saving this news for a surprise?
2. How can anyone argue for the "standardization" of the MDiv as "the" professional degree for clergy when those denominations that DON'T require it are those that actually have the job openings?
I am not against the MDiv. I have one myself and it has proven to be very valuable degree. But I believe that the Christian community has got to reassess the way it thinks about education and preparation for ministry. Does academic accomplishment really do much in the formation of good clergy?
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