Our mission is to inspire and equip leaders to proclaim deeply the life-giving Good News of Jesus Christ and to put faith into action. 
January 10, 2022

From our new Interim Associate Dean:

Friends, happy Epiphany. You are gifts of God!

The Magi gave their gifts to Christ, and we like them are called to give our gifts, to honor and worship this One who has come among us. But I also remind you that YOU are yourselves gifts: to the church, the world, and the Stevenson School community.

I am thankful to have served Stevenson as an instructor (as many Hebraists and even a few Aramaists can attest). I am yet more thankful to be stepping into this new role as interim associate dean, at the invitation of our outgoing dean, Robyn Szoke-Coolidge. I invite your prayers for all of us in this challenging season of resurgent virus in our communities and leadership transition in our school.

I am writing to make sure you know what online classes and learning modules the Stevenson School is offering in the next months. We are gifted with timely topics and skillful instructors, so please take some time to look over these courses and discern which will nourish your spirit, advance your work of ministry, and galvanize you for action in this world that God loves so much.

--Collin Cornell, PhD
Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs 
Nurturing the Soul
Building Community through Music
How can we integrate music into small group or home church experiences? Find out through this 3-week module led by Deanna Clement. Tuesday nights at 7 PM, starting January 18. Register here.
Introduction to New Testament
Do you want to anchor your discipleship more deeply in the literature, history, and theology of the New Testament? Consider this 10-week class taught by Dr. Deirdre Good. Mondays nights at 7 PM, starting on February 14. Register here.
Equipping
Faith Family Formation
How can parishes support the faith formation work of families? The Rev. Michael Droege provides a practical theological framework to guide formation planning. The module meets for 2 hours total: once for 30 minutes on Wednesday, January 26 at 7 PM and then again on Wednesday, February 2 for 90 minutes. Register here.

Creating Worship that Works
What kind of worship design works? Learn best practices for music and liturgy with Ellen Johnston! This ten-week class meets on Wednesday nights at 7 PM, starting on February 16. Register here.
What does this saying by the Apostle Paul mean: “in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, nor male and female”? In this new, 10-week class, Dr. Deirdre Good explores the social issues that faced first-century Jesus-followers and what we can learn from them. Class starts on February 17 and meets at 6 PM. Register here.
This 5-week module addresses the challenges of leading and managing congregational life in a post-pandemic environment. Taught by The Rev. Dr. Mark Scheneman, it begins on February 17 at 7 PM. Register here.
Faith in Action
This 10-week class studies the bold vision for justice found in the biblical prophets. Dr. Collin Cornell is instructor; class is on Monday nights at 7 PM, starting on February 14. Register here.
This 10-week class grounds students in God’s reconciling, healing, and saving work as modeled in the Book of Acts. Taught by The Rev. Richard Jorgensen, it meets on Wednesday nights at 6 PM and starts on February 16. Register here.
The Stevenson School for Ministry believes that NOW is the time to join a learning cohort to engage in Scripture and discipleship and develop new ways to share the unchanging Good News of Jesus Christ.

Scholarships available where needed most. Please contact Dr. Collin Cornell for more information.

Our need for local training is critical to the mission of the church and the sustaining of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Central PA. The reality of Christian Education and theological studies has shifted in part because 83% of the congregations in our diocese can only afford half-time or quarter-time clergy leadership.  It is critical for our diocese to continue to educate and deepen our spirituality to strengthen how we follow the Way of Love in a world that often struggles to love. Your gift makes a difference.
Questions? For more information, please contact:
Dean Robyn Szoke-Coolidge, rszoke@diocesecpa.org
Interim Associate Dean Michael Nailor, mnailor@diocesecpa.org