Previous Years' Course Catalogues

This course will explore an essential role of clergy in offering oversight and service to key aspects of the unfolding of congregational life. What is the relationship between this practical work of the laity, theology, and congregational health? How can clergy offer intelligent oversight and service to lay leadership with out interfering and micromanaging? In dialogue and discussion with expert practitioners we will focus on basic skills and awareness necessary to effective leadership in the areas of congregational administration, including: finances and budgeting, property and buildings, stewardship, volunteer management and personnel supervision and feedback, organizing the weekly Sunday liturgy. Though the course will draw on Anglican polity and examples, the issues addressed by the course are faced in various forms by congregational leaders across denominations.

This course will explore an essential role of clergy in offering oversight and service to key aspects of the unfolding of congregational life. What is the relationship between this practical work of the laity, theology, and congregational health? How can clergy offer intelligent oversight and service to lay leadership without interfering and micromanaging? In dialogue and discussion with expert practitioners we will focus on basic skills and awareness necessary to effective leadership in the areas of congregational administration, including: finances and budgeting, property and buildings, stewardship, volunteer management and personnel
supervision and feedback, organizing the weekly Sunday liturgy. Though the course will draw on Anglican polity and examples, the issues addressed by the course are faced in various forms by congregational leaders across denominations.

This course will explore an essential role of clergy in offering oversight and service to key aspects of the unfolding of congregational life. What is the relationship between this practical work of the laity, theology, and congregational health? How can clergy offer intelligent oversight and service to lay leadership without interfering and micromanaging? In dialogue and discussion with expert practitioners we will focus on basic skills and awareness necessary to effective leadership in the areas of congregational administration, including: finances and budgeting, property and buildings, stewardship, volunteer management and personnel
supervision and feedback, organizing the weekly Sunday liturgy. Though the course will draw on Anglican polity and examples, the issues addressed by the course are faced in various forms by congregational leaders across denominations.

An introduction to early western philosophy from the pre-Socratics to Neoplatonism. The course will take a combined historical and thematic approach, focusing on positions and problems in the areas of metaphysics, theory of knowledge, human nature, and ethics through the study of primary sources in Greek and Roman philosophy.

An introduction to early western philosophy from the pre-Socratics to Neoplatonism. The course will take a combined historical and thematic approach, focusing on positions and problems in the areas of metaphysics, theory of knowledge, human nature, and ethics through the study of primary sources in Greek and Roman philosophy.

An introduction to early western philosophy from the pre-Socratics to Neoplatonism. The course will take a combined historical and thematic approach, focusing on positions and problems in the areas of metaphysics, theory of knowledge, human nature, and ethics through the study of primary sources in Greek and Roman philosophy.

Along with other mainline denominations, the United Church is changing in some significant ways. And the way we organize ourselves at the national, regional, and congregational levels is also changing. This course will review the ecclesial structures that have long been in place; examine the evolving responsibilities of General Council, Regions, and congregations; and explore the impact of these changes on faith communities and ministry personnel. It will survey some of the new governance models that congregations and faith communities are adopting in response to the Church's demographic, cultural and financial realities, and examine some of the ways that new ministries are being organized. In addition, it will explore the United Church's relationship with other Christian bodies as well as with non-Christian religious organizations; and focus on issues such as accountability, collegiality, stewardship, and mission strategy.

The responsibility of good administration and informed governance is a vital, if unsung, aspect of ministry in a conciliar system. This course will explore the mandates of collaborative congregational leadership, financial stewardship, effective communication and mission strategy in the context of current and emerging forms of United Church polity, and in view of the impact of changing demographics.

The responsibility of good administration and informed governance is a vital, if unsung, aspect of ministry in a conciliar system. This course will explore the mandates of collaborative congregational leadership, financial stewardship, effective communication and mission strategy in the context of current and emerging forms of United Church polity, and in view of the impact of changing demographics.

The responsibility of good administration and informed governance is a vital, if unsung, aspect of ministry in a conciliar system. This course will explore the mandates of collaborative congregational leadership, financial stewardship, effective communication and mission strategy in the context of current and emerging forms of United Church polity, and in view of the impact of changing demographics.

Moral and political philosophy differ from other branches of philosophy because they practical—which is to say, they tell us not just how we should think but also how we should live. This course is a historical examination of different approaches to living our lives both as individuals (= moral philosophy) and as communities (= political philosophy). First, we will look at the foundations of Western moral and political thought in Plato and Thomas Aquinas; next at the Enlightenment approaches of Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill; and then at Friedrich Nietzsche's attack on all of Western philosophy. Finally, we will consider the ideas of Emmanuel Levinas and of two contemporary Indigenous thinkers to see whether their approaches can survive Nietzsche's scathing critique.

Students will be constantly encouraged to apply different philosophical theories to their personal experience to evaluate both the strengths and weaknesses of the theories and of their own moral behaviour.

Moral and political philosophy differ from other branches of philosophy because they practical—which is to say, they tell us not just how we should think but also how we should live. This course is a historical examination of different approaches to living our lives both as individuals (= moral philosophy) and as communities (= political philosophy). First, we will look at the foundations of Western moral and political thought in Plato and Thomas Aquinas; next at the Enlightenment approaches of Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill; and then at Friedrich Nietzsche's attack on all of Western philosophy. Finally, we will consider the ideas of Emmanuel Levinas and of two contemporary Indigenous thinkers to see whether their approaches can survive Nietzsche's scathing critique.

Students will be constantly encouraged to apply different philosophical theories to their personal experience to evaluate both the strengths and weaknesses of the theories and of their own moral behaviour.