Eden - Life at Eden

Life at Eden

About LIFE
You're invited to take part in LIFE, the Lay Institute of Faith Exploration. LIFE retreats take place five times a year on the Eden campus and provide lay persons with a more comprehensive way to explore their faith. You can:

• Register for an event by visiting the Continuing Education page

• Read the latest

LIFE Newsetter

• Read the current LIFE brochure

For a list of all upcoming LIFE retreats that are now open for registration, please visit the Continuing Education page.

What is the LIFE program?

LIFE (Lay Institute of Faith Exploration) is a program of retreats that invites lay men and women to study scripture and explore Christian faith and life. It challenges participants to become life long learners and disciples, faithful witnesses to the gospel and faithful members and leaders of the church. LIFE is sponsored jointly by the Missouri Mid-South Conference, the Illinois South Conference and Eden Theological Seminary (all United Church of Christ).How does the LIFE program work?

One course is always a Certificate Course (formerly called Basic Course). The 15 Certificate Courses are offered on a three-year cycle (five courses a year). Persons who complete all 15 Certificate courses receive a Leadership Certificate.

The other course will focus on a topic of current interest in Christian faith and church life.

The 15 Certificate Courses are:

On the Road to Discipleship
Exploring the Presence of God (Thinking Theologically)
Reading and Understanding Scripture: Old Testament
Reading and Understanding Scripture: New Testament
What is the Church and what is its Purpose?
God in Scripture (Biblical Theology)
Shaping Faithful Worship (Worship and Sacraments)
The Church Is a Learning Community (Christian Education)
How Do We Live Our Faith? (Christian Ethics)
Confronting Reality: Life and Faith (Justice and Witness)
Exploring the UCC (UCC history and polity)
Proclaiming the Good News (Preaching)
Caring in Community (Pastoral Care)
Telling and Living the Story (Evangelism)
Christianity in America (Church History)

Five retreats are held each year (early January, early March, late April, mid September, and early November). They begin with on Friday evening with 6pm dinner and end on Saturday at 3:30pm, following closing worship. Each retreat includes worship, community life, devotional time, meals and six hours of class instruction.

Where are the retreats held?
All retreats are held on the campus of Eden Theological Seminary, a leading theological center in Webster Groves, Missouri. Worship is held in the Seminary Chapel in the Press Center. Courses are held in classrooms in Press. Meals are eaten in the Schroer Commons, the Seminary’s dining room. Overnight lodging is provided in Seminary housing. Each suite accommodates two participants, providing a private bedroom for each and a common living room. Bathrooms are down the hall. LIFE at Eden

Who teaches the LIFE courses?
All the courses are taught highly trained and skilled teachers. Many are professors at Eden. Others are outstanding church leaders in the St. Louis area and beyond. Instructors usually identify some preparatory reading for each course (a book or journal articles, etc.) At most retreats, books for the following retreat will be available for purchase. Or they may be ordered and will be mailed.

What is the cost of a retreat?
The $140 fee includes Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and lunch, parking, the course and overnight lodging. Persons who do not want overnight lodging pay $130 for the three meals, the course and parking. The cost of preparatory reading materials (books, articles, etc) is additional.

What's being offered in 2010?

April 23-24

Reading and Understanding the Bible: OT
Leadership Certificate Course

The Rev. Dr. John Bracke, Instructor
Professor Biblical Studies, Eden Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri

This class will offer participants an introduction and overview of the Old Testament. First, we will explore the overall character and purposes of the Old Testament as theological witness. Then we will examine the major divisions of Hebrew scriptures: Torah, Prophets, and Writings.

About John Bracke
Elmhurst College, B.A. 1969
Eden Theological Seminary, M. Div., 1972
Eden Theological Seminary, D. Min., 1979
Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, Ph.D., 1983
Joined Eden faculty, 1984

John, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, regularly teaches Old Testament courses at the Seminary. He is the author of several published commentaries and is the co-author of a book on teaching the Bible in the church. Having been the pastor of two congregations, John is aware of the importance of the Bible in congregations. John has been active in the United Church of Christ, including service as the Chair of the Executive Council at one time. He and his wife, Mary (the Director of the Eden Seminary Bookstore) live in St. Louis. They are the parents of three grown children.

John has chosen the book, An Introduction to the Old Testament: Canon and Christian Imagination, by Walter Brueggemann. The book is available through the LIFE Administrator, the Rev. Nancy Livingston, at life@eden.edu, Lay Institute of Faith Exploration

Faithful Christian Theology for the 21st Century

The Rev. Dr. John Riggs, Instructor
Professor of Historical Theology and Church History, Eden Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri

As we earthlings become increasingly aware of our political, economic, and environmental inter-dependence, we who are Christian find ourselves ever-more compelled to speak our faith, not just to ourselves but to the world. Welcome to the 21st century!
Our four sessions will explore three major ways that Christians can voice their faith
both privately and publicly. This exploration will include what we call “the conservative and consciously pre-modern approach,” the “liberal and post-modern approach,” and the “liberal and avowedly modern approach.”

About John Riggs
Yale University, B. A. 1972
Yale University, M.A.R., 1975
Yale University, M .Div., 1979
University of Notre Dame, M.A., 1983
University of Notre Dame, Ph.D. 1986
Joined Eden Faculty, 1990

John is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. He has served several rural churches in Indiana and Missouri. John says of his writing (he is the author of several books) and teaching, “I try to help students learn about church history and the development of theology so they can help their churches better understand their own history and current setting.” John and his wife, Cindi (also a UCC pastor) have two children.

Dr. Riggs has chosen the book, “Process Theology: A Basic Introduction” by Robert C. Mesle for this course. It can be ordered through LIFE Administrator, the Rev. Nancy Livingston at life@eden.edu. Additional material for this course will be posted on Eden’s Blackboard program. Information about accessing Blackboard will give given when one registers.

September 17-18

Certificate: Reading and Understanding Scripture: NT, The Rev. Dr. Anita Bradshaw (Eden staff)
Second: Marketing Your Church on a Limited Budget, Dr. Jill Baker (Eden graduate; business woman)

November 5-6

Certificate: What is the Church? What is its Purpose? Dr. Leah Gunning Francis (Eden faculty)
Second: The Gospel of Matthew, the Reverend Dr. Deborah Krause (Eden faculty)

How does one register for a retreat?

Continuing Education

life@eden.edu

What is the schedule at a retreat?

Friday evening

Saturday

Meet God in new places, and come to LIFE!

To register by phone or for more information about the LIFE program, contact:

life@eden.edu