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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:
 • View and print the 2008 LIFE brochure (Opens a PDF document in a new browser. Note: this is a legal-size document)
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?
The LIFE program has two tracks. The first is the Basic 14 courses that cover primary areas of Christian faith and church life. They are offered over a three-year cycle. Persons who complete the Basic 14 courses receive a Certificate of Completion.
The Basic Courses:
"On the Road to Discipleship" (Spiritual Formation)
"Exploring the Presence of God" (Thinking Theologically)
"Reading and Understanding Scripture: Old Testament"
"Reading and Understanding Scripture: NT"
"What Is the Church? What Is Its Purpose?"
"God Revealed in Scripture" (Biblical Theology)
"Faithful Worship" "How Do We Live our Faith?" (Christian Ethics)
"Telling and Living the Story"
"Christianity in America"
"Exploring the United Church of Christ: History and Polity
"The Church Is a Learning Community"
"Confronting Reality: Life and Faith" (Justice and Witness)
"Telling and Living the Story" (Mission and Evangelism)
 Second Track: The second track is called "Life after LIFE." These courses focus on current topics of interest within the church. Recent "Life after LIFE" courses have included:
"Youth and Young Adults in the Church"
"Revelation: Apocalypse Then/Apocalypse Now"
"The State of the Church"
"Christian Vocation in the 21st Century"
Five retreats are held each year (January, early March, late April, September, November) on Friday evening through Saturday afternoon. Each retreat offers one Basic course and one "Life after LIFE" course. Because the two courses are offered simultaneously, each participant must choose which course to attend for the entire retreat. Each retreat includes worship, community life, meals and six hours of classroom time.
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. 
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 courses are being offered in 2009?
Lay lnstitute of Faith Exploration
September 18-19, 2009
"Evangelism: Livng and Telling the Story" (Basic Course)
The Reverend Gale Engel, Instructor
Consultant for the United Church of Christ
This interactive course will provide an opportunity for participants to explore the ways "God is still speaking!" in their lives and through the mission of the local church. The course has six key purposes: to explore the central place of evangelism in our Christian life and in our congregations; to define the unique nature of evangelism; to focus on the principles of evangelism as espoused in Adam Hamilton's book, Selling Swimsuits in the Arctic; to discover four dimensions of growth essential for congregational vitality; to reflect on learnings and identify ways to implement a strategic plan of evangelism in a local setting; and to share in community, worship, and discussion. Join us!
About Gagle Engel
An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, Gayle Engel serves as a consultant for local churches, conferences, and is a staff consultant for the UCC National Office with several conferences seeking a Conference Minister. In 2005, he completed 15 years of service as Conference Minister of the Missouri Mid-South Conference. In his career in ministry he has served for 33 years in conference ministry in four conferences and was a local church pastor for Tyears. For a decade, Gayle served as chair of the UCC's Church Development Committee, working closely with the Division of Evangelism and Church Development. Gayle and his wife, Donna, have three children and a wonderful Blue Heeler named Lola.
The Reverend Engle has chosen the book, Selling Swimsuits in the Arctic, by Adam Hamilton, as the preparatory reading for this course. It is available in the Eden Theological Seminary Book Store.
Comparing Theologies (Life after LIFE Course)
The Reverend Dr. Damayanthi Niles, Instructor
Assistant Professor of Constructive Theology
Eden Theological Seminary
Why don't we all believe the same things? Does "theology" tell one truth? If so, why do we disagree about so many things? What does "context" - where I live, who my neighbors are, what worries me and those I love - have to do with how I read and understand and believe? How does my context and my theology relate to another's? Can we enrich each other? Or are we always to insist upon our own way?
Our time together will open some of these questions and seelg first, to understand context and what it means for the different "voices" within - those heard and those silenced - and second, to explore how various theologies might enrich each other.
About Damayanthi Niles
Saint Olaf College, B. A., 1988
Princeton Theological Seminay, M. Div., 1991
University of Chicago, Ph.D., 1998
Joined the Eden faculty, 2000
Dr. Niles brings to her classes a unique perspective as a "true citizen of the world." Born in Sri Lanka, she has lived, worked and studied in several countries and can offer international insights and interpretations on theological issues. Her writing and research have been focused on constructive and contextual theology. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she has also served as the research associate of the Christianity in Asia Project at the Centre for Advanced Religious and Theological Studies at Cambridge University, United Kingdom. She is a frequent lecturer with expertise in Asian theology and missiology. She is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament, Presbyterian Church (USA).
Dr. Niles has chosen the book, Models of Contextual Theology, by Stephen B. Bevans, as preparatory reading for this course. It is available at the Eden Theological Seminary Book Store.
How does one register for a retreat?
1. Visit the Continuing Education page on the Eden Website and find the current listing of LIFE events.
3. Telephone Nancy at 618-277-1273.
A deposit of $50 confirms the registration. Make the check out to: LIFE-Illinois South Conference
Send checks to:
Rev. Nancy Livingston
10 Trailwood Court
Belleville, Illinois 62226
What is the schedule at a retreat?
Friday evening
5pm Registration
6pm Dinner
7pm Worship
7:30pm Session 1 of each course
9pm Fellowship Saturday
7:15am Coffee/Tea ready
7:30am Bible study
8am Breakfast
8:40am Session 2 of each course
10:10am Break
10:30am Session 3 of each course
12 noon Lunch
12 noon Seminary Bookstore is open until 1pm
1:10pm Session 4 of each course
2:40pm Closing Worship
3:10pm Adjournment
Meet God in new places, and come to LIFE!
To register by phone or for more information about the LIFE program, contact:
Nancy Livingston
LIFE Administrator
618-277-1273
email: life@eden.edu
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