Friday Morning Courses

Dr. Frederick Aquino, Professor of Systematic Theology

We live in a world with unprecedented (and quicker) access to vast quantities of information. In one sense, we feel more connected through social media and various technological advances. At the tap of a finger, the requested pieces of information are readily available. In another sense, we feel overwhelmed by the noise of social media, news outlets, and the relentless stream of facts and opinions. An important challenge involves learning how to cut through such noise and differentiate between peripheral and salient pieces of information. This course will explore how the Christian virtue of discernment helps us think about and respond to such a challenge.

Rev. Mark C. Grafenreed, Ph.D. Candidate in Religion and Culture, Graduate Program in Religious Studies at SMU

Thermometers and thermostats are invaluable instruments, especially during toasty, Texas summers! However, thermometers, which record temperatures, and thermostats, which regulate them, can be problematic when they are inoperable or ineffective. The same is true concerning the Christian Church! This workshop examines the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1963 “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and explores whether today’s Christian Church is a thermometer that is an “archdefender of the status quo” or a thermostat that “transforms the mores of society.”

Suzi Pitts, Director of Communications, St. Luke’s UMC Houston

with Bart Patton, Director of the Office of External Programs

A testimony is a good story that is also a God story. More than your Christian biography, it is telling, whether in a worship setting or casual conversation, where we see God’s presence and activity in our lives. However, many people are not sure how to talk about God in today’s world. In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how to share your testimony with gentleness and respect and coach others both inside your worshipping community and out and about in your neighborhood. You’ll engage with leaders and best practices from the Testimony HQ Initiative at Perkins School of Theology, currently resourcing over thirty congregations as they re-center community engagement around testimony.