Emmanuel College

 > Emmanuel Home > Continuing Education > An Active Faith: A Certificate in Church and Community

An Active Faith: A Certificate in Church and Community

An Active Faith Pamphlet 2012-13

We are called to be the Church; to celebrate God’s presence, to live with respect in Creation, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope….                                                                                             (The New Creed, The United Church of Canada)

An Active Faith: A Certificate in Church and Community  is Emmanuel College's  new Continuing Education  Certificate program.   Consisting of 5 courses overall with two offered in 2012-13, participants can take one course only or sign up for all five and receive the Certificate in Church and Community.   Each course involves 12 hours.   The Certificate in Church and Community program is open to all persons – lay or ordered - seeking to grow in their discipleship – personal and collective. 

Anticipated outcomes

• Participants strengthen ability to “give account for their hope” in social engagement.
• Participants deepen awareness of the congruence between the ministries of social engagement and the faith community’s worship and nurture.
• Participants enhance skills in analyzing situations systemically.
• Participants appreciate the range and diversity of social ministries

Information on all courses is found below.   Anne Simmonds' (Through Personal Discipleship - What is an Active Faith) and Kofi Hope's (In Social and Political Engagements) courses are offered in 2013.   

The Courses  Explore the Intersections of Faith and World

 

Course 1:  An Active Faith….                                                                              Glenys Huws and Harry Oussoren

Understanding motivations; exploring biblical, historical, theological, contextual roots; valuing partnerships; identifying resources – these are themes to be developed in this direction-setting course. 

“It is not the Church of God that has a mission in the world, but the God of mission who has a Church in the world.” (Tim Dearborn)

 An Active Faith Introduction

Course 2:  In Faith-Based Communities . . .                                                                   Allan Reeve                             

Christians gather in faith communities to express their discipleship collectively in social ministries.  Congregations are the principal type, but a rich variety of focused communities such as diverse chaplaincies, outreach ministries, special needs ministries, larger church bodies, etc. share in the mission.

 

Course 3:  In Arts, Culture, and Education . . .                                                                                      Richard Choe

The interface between faith and culture is rich and complex.  Good News is expressed by diverse means available within the culture.  Appreciating the transformative power of creative expression is a vital dimension of robust social engagement.   

 

Course 4: In Social and Political Engagements . . .                                                                             Kofi Hope

Analyzing the complex webs of social life and “speaking truth to power” is, for Christians, rooted in the prophetic tradition and the ministry of Jesus.  Making Good News real in the environment (all of creation) and in political, social, and economic spheres is crucial when people of faith trust in the sovereignty of God.

 

Course 5:  Through Personal Discipleship . . .                                                                             Anne Simmonds

Personal involvement is foundational to collective engagement.  By personal commitments and practices, individuals contribute a rich array of gifts to enhance the collective engagement of their faith community.