August 2025 Course Descriptions

Contemporary Society
Far from a "separated Church and State," Christian life and witness calls us into lives and work that are constantly engaged with all aspects of human life. This course will explore key concepts of exegesis, eisegesis, witness, and metaphor. We will consider examples of public church activity, scholarly work, the church-as-example, and others, from both ordained and lay leaders. The major goal of the course is to give students a sense of both responsibility and confidence for taking a distinctly faithful approach to engaging with topics in the world around us, from the serious to the everyday.
Required Texts
  • Walter Brueggemann, Truth Speaks to Power, Westminster John Knox Press, 2013. 165 pages (core text; full book; BKSM library copies may be available)
  • Stephanie Spellers, The Church Cracked Open, Church Publishing Inc, 2021. (intro, ch's 4-5, approx 42 pages)
  • Brian Kaylor and Beau Underwood, Baptizing America, Chalice Press, 2024. (chapters 1, 7, and 12, approx 45 pages)
  • Rachel Held Evans, Wholehearted Faith, HarperCollins Publishers, 2021 (Selections, TBD) 
  • Rowan Williams, Christ on Trial, Cokesbury, 2000 (Selections, Scans Available)
  • Marian Edgar Budde's Inauguration Sermon (transcripts available)
  • Michael Curry's Sermon, "The Power of Love" (transcripts available)
Your Instructor
  • The Reverend Benedict Varnum has served as the rector of St Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church in greater Omaha, Nebraska since 2015, where he has also served as a diocesan Trustee and a member of the Racial Reconciliation Commission, and as a regular Sacred Ground facilitator since 2020. He holds an undergraduate degree and a Masters of Divinity from the University of Chicago and its Divinity School. From 2020 to 2022, Ben and his wife Megan co-hosted a podcast called "Comic Belief" investigating faith themes in science fiction movies and television. He brings a passion for historical-critical-informed Biblical preaching and an engaged public faith to the topic of the church and contemporary society. Ben and Megan live in Omaha with their young daughter, two awful cats, and a plan for a new kitten as a birthday surprise by the time this class convenes!

Introduction to Scripture
This course will introduce us to the basics of the Christian Bible.  How did the Bible develop and change?  Just what is the Bible, and how do we understand it?  How is the Bible used in liturgy and spirituality?  How do we read the Bible and apply it to our lives? And much more…!
Required Texts           
  • Black, Vicki K. & Wenner, Peter W. Welcome to the Bible. Morehouse Publishing, 2007.
  • Cottrell, Steven et al. Pilgrim: A Course for the Christian Journey - The Bible. Church Publishing, 2016.
  • Countryman, L. William. How Can Anyone Read the Bible. Church Publishing, 2017.
  • Winner, Lauren F. A Word to Live By. Church Publishing, 2017
  • The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (including the Apocrypha), preferably a study edition
Your Instructor
  • The Rt. Rev. Michael P. Milliken is the 5th Bishop of the Diocese of Western Kansas (Resigned). As a priest for almost 5 decades, Bishop Milliken has served parishes in Kentucky and Kansas. He holds degrees from the University of Kentucky; The Episcopal Theological Seminary in Kentucky; and Xavier University in Cincinnati. Over the years, in addition to parish work and serving the wider church in many ways, Bishop Milliken has taught Contemporary Theology at Xavier University as well as courses in Old & New Testament; Morals and Ethics; and Comparative Religion at the Hutchinson Community College.  He has served as the Interim Bishop of Kansas, and more recently, as the Interim Rector of St. Stephen’s in Wichita.  Currently Bishop Milliken is the Assisting Bishop in Western Kansas.  He oversees the work of the Commission on Ministry and education for ministry in the diocese.  Bishop Milliken sits on the Board of Directors for BKSM, having served as Vice-chair, and Chair.

New Testament
In this course, we will enter the world and literature of the New Testament Writings (the Gospels, the Epistles, and the other writings of the New Testament). We will give consideration to their canonical, theological, literary and historical dimensions. After taking this course, students will have gained a general understanding of the major stories and theological ideas of the New Testament, a basic familiarity with the variety of methods scholars use to interpret the New Testament, a basic sense of the origins and historical development of the New Testament. Attention will also be given to the ongoing role that the New Testament scriptures play in our life of faith, mission, and ministry.
Required Texts
  • Newbigin,  Leslie. A Walk through the Bible. Regent College Publishing, 2011. (Actually, any publication date is okay).
  • Powell, Mark Allen. Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey, Second Edition. Grand Rapids, Mich.: BakerAcademic, 2018.
  •  Either New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) or New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (NRSVue)
Your Instructor
  • The Rev. Dr. J. Ted Blakley serves as the rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Hutchinson, Kansas. Before coming to Grace, Ted served as the Curate of St. John's in Wichita, he taught as a long-term substitute in the Wichita Public Schools, and he was the Scholar in Residence and Executive Director of St. Mark's Press. He is the author of the three-volume series, A Lector's Guide and Commentary to the Revised Common Lectionary. which is available through St. Mark's Press (stmarkspress.net). He received his Ph.D. in New Testament from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland (2008). He and his wife, Rebekah, have four children ranging in ages from 13-24. 

Old Testament 2
The intention of this course is to do a close reading of the portions of the Hebrew Bible which include the major and minor prophets. Methods will be demonstrated for study and analysis of these materials, including the use of sociological, anthropological, historical, and literary criticism. Cross-cultural and comparative study of prophecy in the ancient Near East will also be addressed.
Required Texts
  • Matthews, V.H. The Hebrew Prophets and their Social World. IVP, Baker Academics, 2012.
  • Matthews, V. H. 101 Questions & Answers on the Prophets of Israel. Paulist, 2007.
  • Any one of the modern translations of the Bible, preferably the Annotated New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society Version, or New International Version. Do not use the King James Version. Although it is a beautiful literary translation, it is hard to understand for most modern students and is outdated. I will use the NRSV in class.
  • On-line concordances featuring several biblical translations: http://bible.gospelcom.net and http://bible.crosswalk.com/
  • An on-line version of the NRSV translation: http://www.godweb.org/nrsv.html
Your Instructor
  • Dr. Victor Matthews is an Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies and retired Dean of the College of Humanities and Public Affairs at Missouri State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, specializing in the social world of ancient Israel. He currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Examining Chaplains for the Diocese of West Missouri.
BKSM welcomes you to take courses with us for personal enrichment or continuing education. Classes are richer with occasional students around the table.  We encourage you to experience this remarkable, uplifting community of learning, worship and fellowship for yourself!

August Overview
  • Classes begin on Monday, July 14.  You will receive an email and syllabus directly from your instructor. If you have  not received anything from your instructor by Tuesday, please contact us.
  • The  Focus Weekend meets  in person and on Zoom on  August 9-10, on Saturday from 7:30 am-9:00 pm and on Sunday from 7:30am-12:15pm.
  • The detailed weekend schedule is here.
  • Classes end on Friday, September 12.
  • Grades due on September 30.

Tuition & Scholarships
  • For students in our partner dioceses, tuition is $100 to audit a class in person or online, $240 to take a class for credit in person, which includes  overnight accommodations at Upton Hall &  meals, $165 to take a class for credit on Zoom.
  • For students from outside our six partner diocese, tuition  details are available  here.
  • BKSM scholarships are available to students in our six partner dioceses. Find more information about how to apply here.
Register Now for August Courses