Adult Education
Stembler Forum
The Stembler Forum fosters conversations on big topics in the life of faith and spirituality. These thematic forums allow participants to explore major ideas and themes from a variety of perspectives and academic disciplines. Stembler Forums feature guest lecturers, short-term courses, and guided book studies for individuals and groups.
Contact
Contact Chris Holmes for any questions and more information.
The topic for the 2022 Stembler Forum is “Friendship”. Over the course of four weeks in October, we will explore the concept of friendship using a variety of perspectives and disciplines. Join us for one or more of the events below.
Sunday Morning Adult Sunday School
Wirth Room and on Zoom at 10:00 a.m.
October 9
“Why Friendship? Why Now” with Rev. Dr. Chris Holmes
October 16
“Friendship in Antiquity” with Dr. Susan Hylen
October 23
“How to Make Friends” with Dr. Marisa Franco
October 30
“Friendship with/in God” with Rev. Dr. Chris Holmes
Sermon Series: Friendship and the Christian Life
Sunday Worship at 8:00 A.m., 9:10 A.M., and 11:00 A.m.
October 9
“Friendship and the Christian Life: But I Call You Friends”
Rev. Dr. Chris Holmes preaching
October 16
“Friendship and the Christian Life: Abraham, Friend of God”
Rev. Dr. Tony Sundermeier preaching
October 23
“Friendship and the Christian Life: Friends in Crisis”
Rev. Dr. Tony Sundermeier preaching
October 30
“Friendship and the Christian Life: Friends in Ministry”
Rev. Dr. Tony Sundermeier preaching
Learning Lunch
October 23, following the 11:00 a.m. service
Dr. Marisa Franco, a New York Times Bestselling author on the science of friendship, will offer a learning lunch.
The lunch will feature an interactive presentation and table conversation. The suggested contribution for the lunch is $10 per person.
Book Study and Evening Lecture
Friendship: The Heart of Being Human by Rev. Dr. Victor Lee Austin is the title for the Stembler forum book study. We will meet twice on Zoom at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the book.
Books can be purchased here or on Amazon.
October 12, 7:00 p.m.
Discuss the introduction through chapter 6.
Join on Zoom
October 19, 7:00 p.m.
Discuss chapter 7 through the postscript.
Join on Zoom
October 25, 7:00 p.m.
The author of the book, Rev. Dr. Austin, will deliver an in-person lecture entitled, “Human Success is to Live in Friendship.”
(No Zoom available for this lecture.)
Featured Speakers
Susan Hylen
Dr. Susan E. Hylen teaches courses in New Testament at Candler and in Emory’s Graduate Division of Religion, equipping students to become responsible interpreters of the biblical texts.
She has authored two books on the history of women in the New Testament and early church, which offer a new way of interpreting the diverse and often contradictory evidence about the participation of women.
She is also the author of three books on the Gospel of John, as well as a number of other book chapters, essays and articles. Her current research explores the social construction of gender in the New Testament period.
Marisa G. Franco
An enlightening psychologist, New York Times bestselling author, and international speaker, Dr. Marisa G Franco is known for digesting and communicating science in ways that resonate deeply enough with people to change their lives.
She works as a professor at The University of Maryland and authored Platonic: How The Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep—Friends. She writes about friendship for Psychology Today and has been a featured connection expert for major publications like The New York Times, The Telegraph, and Vice. She speaks on belonging at corporations, government agencies, non-profits, and universities across the country, including Harper Collins Publishers, Cisco, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and The Department of State.
Victor Austin Lee
The Rev. Canon Victor Lee Austin, Ph.D. is a priest-scholar with a background in both the parish ministry and the academic world as a former parish rector and university professor. In 2005, Fr. Austin served as Theologian-in-Residence at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York City.
His book, Up with Authority: Why We Need Authority to Flourish as Human Beings, was published by T&T Clark and was shortlisted for the very distinguished 2013 Michael Ramsey Prize.
Saint Thomas Church published a collection of his short pieces, Priest in New York: Church, Street, and Theology, reflections on theology and everyday life.
His most recent book, Christian Ethics: A Guide for the Perplexed, is also published by T&T Clark.
Finally, Losing Susan, a theological reflection on the loss of his wife, was published in 2016.
Adult Formation
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