December 2018 Course Descriptions
BKSM welcomes anyone to take courses with us for personal enrichment or continuing education!
We encourage you to experience the remarkable community of learning, worship and fellowship that makes BKSM such a remarkable place for formation.
Did you know that scholarships are available for students taking classes for personal enrichment?
December courses begin officially on November 12, the focus weekend takes place December 8-9, and final assignments are due January 11.
While the weekend begins with breakfast at 7:30 for students on ordination, lay certificate and PMA tracks, course instruction does not begin until 1:00 p.m., which gives you the flexibility of driving to Topeka on Saturday morning if you take a class for personal enrichment.
That being said, you are welcome to spend the night at Upton Hall on Friday night, and join us for breakfast and morning prayer on Saturday morning. While the 8:45 colloquium session is a closed group for students on ordination, PMA, and lay certificate tracks, you are encouraged to join us at 10:15 for our praxis session, which addresses some practical area of ministry.
If you would like to audit a course, the tuition is $100. If you would like to take the class for credit, the tuition is $180. The cost includes meals and overnight accommodations at Upton Hall on Friday and Saturday night (on a space-available basis). If you wish to take the class for credit, we encourage you to enroll by July 16. If you wish to audit the class, you may register at any time prior to the focus weekend. However, your learning experience will be better if you have time to complete the assigned readings for the class.
Get started by completing the online course registration form. If you have any questions, please contact the Very Rev. Dr. Don Compier, BKSM dean, at bksmdean2@gmail.com or (816) 217-4053.
We encourage you to experience the remarkable community of learning, worship and fellowship that makes BKSM such a remarkable place for formation.
Did you know that scholarships are available for students taking classes for personal enrichment?
December courses begin officially on November 12, the focus weekend takes place December 8-9, and final assignments are due January 11.
While the weekend begins with breakfast at 7:30 for students on ordination, lay certificate and PMA tracks, course instruction does not begin until 1:00 p.m., which gives you the flexibility of driving to Topeka on Saturday morning if you take a class for personal enrichment.
That being said, you are welcome to spend the night at Upton Hall on Friday night, and join us for breakfast and morning prayer on Saturday morning. While the 8:45 colloquium session is a closed group for students on ordination, PMA, and lay certificate tracks, you are encouraged to join us at 10:15 for our praxis session, which addresses some practical area of ministry.
If you would like to audit a course, the tuition is $100. If you would like to take the class for credit, the tuition is $180. The cost includes meals and overnight accommodations at Upton Hall on Friday and Saturday night (on a space-available basis). If you wish to take the class for credit, we encourage you to enroll by July 16. If you wish to audit the class, you may register at any time prior to the focus weekend. However, your learning experience will be better if you have time to complete the assigned readings for the class.
Get started by completing the online course registration form. If you have any questions, please contact the Very Rev. Dr. Don Compier, BKSM dean, at bksmdean2@gmail.com or (816) 217-4053.
Foundations of Ethics
Christian Ethics is a field of study in which theological reflection is employed to develop a normative account of the moral life of Christians. This course acquaints students with Christian Ethics as a theological discipline and field of study, provides tools to articulate an account of the Christian moral life, and considers the relationship between theology and the practice of ethics in the life of the Church.
Book List
Diakonia I
This course is intended for those on the path toward ordination to the diaconate in order to help you to develop an understanding of the diaconate in the Church, in general, and the Episcopal Church, in particular. Specifically, this course examines the history, evolution and theology of the diaconate from the time of the first-century church to the present. The class also emphasizes the study of the permanent or vocational diaconate, especially the form and manner in which diaconal ministry is performed in the Episcopal Church and the world.
Book List
Pastoral Theology
This course is designed to assist participants in developing competence and confidence in their present and future ministries of pastoral care. Topics include: 1.) a basic introduction to fundamental principles of counseling; 2.) dynamics of pastoral relationships; 3.) principles and practices associated with pastoral care in the scriptures; 4.) contemporary pastoral issues and their impact on individuals and congregations; 5.) identification and analysis of strategies and resources available for pastoral care, and 6.) identifying, recruiting, and supporting individuals called to pastoral care ministries. Special attention will be devoted to liturgical and spiritual resources specific to the Church's life.
Book List
Doctrines of the Second Person
This course will explore biblical, historical and contemporary interpretations of the person and work of Christ.
Book List
Christian Ethics is a field of study in which theological reflection is employed to develop a normative account of the moral life of Christians. This course acquaints students with Christian Ethics as a theological discipline and field of study, provides tools to articulate an account of the Christian moral life, and considers the relationship between theology and the practice of ethics in the life of the Church.
Book List
- Bader-Sate, Scott. Formed by Love (Church’s Teaching Series for a Changing World). Church Publishing, 2017.
- Blackburn, Simon. Being Good: A Short Introduction to Ethics. (Second Edition) Oxford University Press, 2003.
- Moore, Kathleen Dean, and Nelson, Michael P. Ed. Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril. San Antonio: Trinity University Press, 2010.
- The Venerable Betsy Bennett taught philosophy at Hastings College for sixteen years, and has been an Episcopal deacon since 2004. She currently serves as Archdeacon for the Diocese of Nebraska. The focus of her diaconal ministry is religious environmental work, which includes writing the Green Sprouts blog. A 2008 GreenFaith Fellow, she has been active in several religious environmental organizations as well as the Association for Episcopal Deacons and Spiritual Directors International. Her M.A. in philosophy is from The Ohio State University.
Diakonia I
This course is intended for those on the path toward ordination to the diaconate in order to help you to develop an understanding of the diaconate in the Church, in general, and the Episcopal Church, in particular. Specifically, this course examines the history, evolution and theology of the diaconate from the time of the first-century church to the present. The class also emphasizes the study of the permanent or vocational diaconate, especially the form and manner in which diaconal ministry is performed in the Episcopal Church and the world.
Book List
- Collins, John N. Diakonia: Re-interpreting the Ancient Sources. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009.
- Plater, Ormonde. Many Servants: an Introduction to Deacons, Rev. Ed. Cambridge: Cowley, 2004.
- Plater, Ormonde. Deacons in the Liturgy, 2nd Ed. New York: Church Publishing, 2009.
- Watson-Epting. Unexpected Consequences: The Diaconate Renewed. New York: Morehouse Publishing, 2015.
- The Venerable Dr. Charles Pearce was ordained to the diaconate in 2000 and was appointed Archdeacon for the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas by Bishop Wolfe in 2007. He serves as Archdeacon of the western half of the diocese and as Archdeacon for Diaconal Formation and Education. Pearce is an emeritus professor of mass communication at Kansas State University, retiring in 2012. In addition to being Archdeacon, Charles is assigned as deacon at Saint Paul’s, Manhattan. He is a 1999 graduate of the Kansas School of Ministry.
Pastoral Theology
This course is designed to assist participants in developing competence and confidence in their present and future ministries of pastoral care. Topics include: 1.) a basic introduction to fundamental principles of counseling; 2.) dynamics of pastoral relationships; 3.) principles and practices associated with pastoral care in the scriptures; 4.) contemporary pastoral issues and their impact on individuals and congregations; 5.) identification and analysis of strategies and resources available for pastoral care, and 6.) identifying, recruiting, and supporting individuals called to pastoral care ministries. Special attention will be devoted to liturgical and spiritual resources specific to the Church's life.
Book List
- Brown, Rosalind and Christopher Cocksworth, On Being a Priest Today . Cowley, 2002.
- Ramsey, Michael, The Christian Priest Today, New Revised Edition. Cowley, 1985.
- The Rev. Virginia Brown brings wide pastoral experience to the ministry of teaching, having served congregations of various sizes in small town and urban settings, a new church plant, and college chaplaincy. In addition to teaching, her ministry has particularly focused on offering spiritual direction and retreats.
Doctrines of the Second Person
This course will explore biblical, historical and contemporary interpretations of the person and work of Christ.
Book List
- McGrath, Alister. Christian Theology: An Introduction, 6th edition. Wiley Blackwell, 2016
- Schmiechen, Peter. Saving Power: Theories of Atonement and Forms of the Church. Eerdmans, 2005.
- Dr. Wilburn (Bill) T. Stancil is Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Rockhurst University, Kansas City. Since 1980, he has taught theology at four different universities and theological seminaries. Dr. Stancil is a licensed lay preacher in the Episcopal Church and a frequent speaker to civic groups and churches of many denominations in the Kansas City area.