November 2025 Course Descriptions

Christian Theology 1
This course provides a biblical, historical, and systematic overview of the following Christian concepts: Revelation, the Bible, God, Creation, Humanity and Sin. The goal of this course is to provide students enrolled on the diaconal track (as well as lay students interested in personal enrichment) with a theological foundation for effective ministry in the world today.
Required Texts
  • McGrath, Alister. Theology: The Basics, 4th ed. Wiley-Blackwell, 2018.
  • McGrath, Alister. Theology: The Basic Readings, 3rd ed. Wiley Blackwell, 2018.
Your Instructor
  • Dr. Wilburn (Bill) T. Stancil is Professor Emeritus of Theology and Religious Studies at Rockhurst University, Kansas City. From 1980 to 2020, he taught theology at four different universities and theological seminaries. Dr. Stancil is a licensed lay preacher in the Episcopal Church and a frequent speaker in churches of many denominations in the Kansas City area.

Evangelism
Evangelism is often called "the e-word" in the Episcopal Church, and the Christian right's colonization of evangelism has rightfully given it a bad reputation among our people.  But the world needs Good News more than ever, and Jesus commanded us to be evangelists, so what do we do?  In this course, students will break down the stereotypes of evangelism that deter people from exploring it and reimagine evangelism from the ground up according to their values.  With their new definition of evangelism, grounded in scripture and our tradition, they will learn how to help others identify where their diverse spiritual gifts will drive and shape their practices of evangelism.  Students learn how to articulate evangelism as a core spiritual practice of the Christian life, as well as how to build it into concrete ministries in ways that both grapple with institutional self-interest and also equip them to create deeper spiritual intimacy both within and outside their faith communities. 
Required Texts
  • Geitz, Elizabeth Rankin, and Elizabeth Rankin Geitz. Fireweed Evangelism: Christian Hospitality in a Multi-Faith World. New York: Church Pub, 2004. (163 pages)
  • Gortner, David. Transforming Evangelism. Transformations the Episcopal Church in the 21st Century. New York: Church Pub, 2008. (182 pages)
Recommended, not Required Text
  • Reese, Martha Grace. Unbinding the Gospel: Real Life Evangelism. St. Louis, Mo: Chalice Press, 2008.
Your Instructor
  • The Rev. Canon Whitney Rice (she/her/hers) serves as the Canon for Evangelism & Discipleship Development for the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri.  She is a graduate of Yale Divinity School where she won multiple preaching awards, and has served as a researcher and community ministry grant consultant for the Indianapolis Center for Congregations. She is currently a staff writer for the Episcopal Digital Network’s Sermons That Work and a member of the national Episcopal Church Evangelism Council of Advice. A communicator of the gospel at heart, she writes and teaches at  on a wide variety of topics including rethinking evangelism, stewardship, leadership, women’s theology of the body, mysticism, and spiritual development. Find more of her work at her website Roof Crashers & Hem Grabbers (www.roofcrashersandhemgrabbers.com). 

History of the Episcopal Church 
We will look at the history of the Episcopal Church from its colonial beginnings to its current practice in all aspects of Church life. Our “look” will be focused through the Anglican claim to represent the earliest (sub-Apostolic) Church and directed to discovering what accounts for successes and failures in mission, service, and growth.  Era by era, we will note how the Church has responded to or helped to create its surroundings through four centuries of changing conditions and consciousness and how the American Episcopal Church relates to the larger Church and its global challenges. What role does ECUSA play in what Presiding Bishop Curry calls “The Jesus Movement”?
Required Texts          
  • Prichard, Robert W. A History of the Episcopal Church, 3rd. Ed. Harrisburg: Morehouse Publishing, 2014.
  • A Great Cloud of Witnesses. Church Publishing, 2016.
Your Instructor
  • In addition to the texts and fellow seminarians, your instructor will be Dr. Nathan Tye. He holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign, as well as degrees in theology and history from Creighton University. He teaches at the University of Nebraska – Kearney and publishes broadly on the literary, labor, and cultural histories of the turn of the century United States.

Theology of Education Ministry
In this class, you will be introduced to the fundamental principles of human learning and development and the philosophy of education. You will learn how to identify and develop educational objectives and gain familiarity with the principles and practices for designing, implementing, and assessing curricula. Finally, this course will explore the theology of formation and the place of formation in the life and work of the church.
Required Texts
  • Everist, Norma Cook. The Church As Learning Community: A Comprehensive Guide to Christian Education. Abingdon Press, 2002.
  • Fowler, James W. Becoming Adult, Becoming Christian: Adult Development and Christian Faith. Jossey-Bass, 2000.
  • Westerhoff, John H. III. Will Our Children Have Faith? Third Revised Edition, Morehouse Publishing, 1976, 2000 & 2012.
Your Instructor
  • The Rev. Dr. Bill Fasel is a retired Episcopal priest. During his career as a priest, he served small churches with a primary goal of developing ministry teams of lay and ordained leaders. Fasel holds a D.Min. in Congregational Development from Seabury-Western.
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!

November Overview
  • Classes begin on Monday, October 13.  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 in-person Focus Weekend meets  November 8-9, 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, December 12.
  • Grades due December 31.

Tuition & Scholarships
  • 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.
  • Apply for the $100 Jim Upton lay scholarship. Scholarships also available for students on an ordination track.
  • Many hotels are available throughout Topeka. Most are 15 minutes away or less.
Register for November Courses