Ancient Future Emerging Jesus seminars
Over the next four Wednesday’s (starting this upcoming Wednesday, the 22nd) I’ll be participating in and speaking (on a panel with other speakers) in the Ancient Future Emerging Jesus seminar(s). If you live in the Atlanta area please consider joining us, the event will be held at Unity North in Marietta, and promises to be a great time. If you have any questions please shoot me an email, matt@themattscott.com .
Here is the course description/syllabus:
Ancient-Future Emerging Jesus
Unity North Atlanta Church, 4255 Sandy Plains Rd, Marietta, GA 30066
The class will be held in the Holy Grounds Café on the lower level
This four week class provides an introduction into the changing understanding of the early church and its writings about Jesus, particularly the Gospel of Thomas, but also explores some ancient spiritual practices and post-modern voices that are shaping what is being called “The Emergent or Progressive Emergent Church”.
The Instructor: Rev. Gregg Carlson is a graduate of Colgate University and Northern Seminary. He has more than 24 years of ministry experience in a variety of settings. He has studied with one of the leading experts in the Ancient-Future movement, Dr. Robert Webber, and has been part of the Emergent Conversation for more than 4 years. He is an ordained minister in the Free Methodist Church, but presently holds “Privilege of Call” with the Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ. He currently serves as Director of Operations at Unity North Atlanta Church and is also a church planter coach with the New Church Development Team of the UCC.
Primary texts: “The Message Bible” and “Beyond Belief” by Elaine Pagels (these are both available in the Unity North Bookstore), passages from the Message Bible are also available online at www.BibleGateway.org. There will also be some printed materials handed out by the instructor that will be an additional cost.
Course costs: There is no fixed charge for the course, a love offering will be received each week and you are urged to participate as you are able.
Syllabus:
Class is scheduled to run from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Wednesday evenings in the Holy Grounds Café of Unity North Church, please try to be present on time. Please read the week’s reading assignment prior to attending class:
Pre-class assignment: In one page write out your observations and beliefs about Jesus, Christianity, the New Testament and the early church.
Week #1 -Wednesday, July 22:
Reading Assignments to be completed before class: Chapters 1 & 2 of Beyond Belief, Chapter 1 of the Book of John in the Message Bible
Topic: Introduction to a new understanding of the early church, Dead Sea Scrolls, Nag Hammadi Library (particularly the Gospel of Thomas). How these are changing our understanding about the early followers of Jesus?
Meditation practice: The Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic
Emerging resource: “Dust” by Rob Bell
Week #2 – Wednesday, July 29:
Topic: John versus Thomas, belief versus mystic journey, Elaine Pagels theory on the early battle for the faith
Reading Assignment to be completed before class: Chapter 3 of Beyond Belief, The Gospel of Thomas (p. 227 in Beyond Belief), John chapter 21 (Message Bible) and hand-out on Centering Prayer from “The Sacred Way”, by Tony Jones.
Meditation practice: Centering Prayer
Emerging resource: “Breathe” by Rob Bell
Week #3 – Wednesday, August 5:
Topic: The battle for the Canon, what and who shaped the New Testament of the Bible? Do we not read the books left out? What would it look like if we were shaping a Canon or list of books for the New Testament today?
Reading Assignment to be completed before class: Chapter 4 of Beyond Belief, Hand-out “Silence and Solitude” from “The Sacred Way”, by Tony Jones, hand-out “The Eight Points of the Center for Progressive Christianity”
Meditation practice: Taize chorus to lead us into and out of Silence
Emerging Resource: The 8 points of The Center for Progressive Christianity
Week #4 – Wednesday, August 12:
Topic: The Battle for a Catholic (universal, one) Church, why so much bloodshed? Who decides who is a heretic? Is the emerging church a new vision for Christianity? What does that mean for the Unity Movement?
Reading Assignment to be completed before class: Chapter 5 of Beyond Belief, Hand-out “The Didache” (the earliest Christian document we have),
Meditation practice: Celebration of the ancient Thanksgiving
Emerging Resource: “Trees”, By Rob Bell
