“The Word made flesh,” according to William Temple, is the most important phrase in all of Christianity because it affirms flesh as the vehicle and instrument for spirit. Although some scholars have described Jesus in John’s Gospel as a detached “god who seems to glide over the face of the earth,” a closer look reveals …
View course details “The Sensual Gospel of John: Experiencing the Fourth Gospel through the Five Senses”

Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria Each year the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society collaborates with colleagues at the Anglican Diocese of Islands and Inlets to offer programming of interest to both scholars and members of the local community. This year our day-long workshop will involve scholars and professionals in a moderated public conversation about …
View course details “Where We Live: Critical Perspectives on Our Natural and Built Environments”

This course explores theologies of creation, sometimes called “ecotheology,” via the now sizable body of literature concerned with the growing crises of human-induced climate destruction. As we ask how early twenty-first-century fiction can give us new eyes for both humanity and other creatures, we’ll sample the emotional and spiritual issues raised by these enormous, seemingly …
View course details “Climate Theology & Storytelling”

Learning Centre sessions are recorded and made available afterwards for those who sign up but cannot attend in person Week 1 (Oct 24) We’ll be joined by Leah Reesor-Keller, author of Tending Tomorrow: Courageous Change for People and Planet, on tending the embers of hope: conversations about climate anxiety, fighting despair and living in hope …
View course details “Climate Care and the Canadian landscape”

In this five-part series taught by leading scholars and theologians, you will explore the intersections of theology, spirituality, and ethics in ways that signal hopeful and generative responses to the shifting and changing realities of global warming. When God created the earth, God brought all light and darkness, land and water, and animals and humans …
View course details “And It Was Good”

Humanity’s Relationship to Other-than-Human Creatures Dive into ecotheology with this seminar that bridges Christology, creation, and ecclesiology through the lens of today’s ecological crises. Explore how human nature and the Christian understanding of God’s incarnation intersect with contemporary science and the church’s mission. Engage with leading ecotheological thinkers and reflect on the church’s role in …
View course details “Christ, Creation, and the Church: Explorations in Ecotheology”

As science and technology grow more robust and complicated, it is increasingly difficult to wade through the “what ifs” and “what thens.” This five-part course will examine the place of specific technologies in society, their role in enhancing and restricting human beings, attempts to own and control technology, and social and environmental risks and opportunities …
View course details “What’s a Christian to do? Ethical Responses to Contemporary Issues in Science and Technology”

Facilitator: Sarika Sinha Women leaders across the globe are dealing with dispossession from resources, capabilities, and a form of discursive ‘development’ which is deeply rooted in a capitalist and patriarchal order. In the current milieu – as women leaders face further marginalization, cultural exclusivity, and the Covid-19 pandemic – we offer this online discourse hinged …
View course details “Feminist Leadership for Capabilities, Ecology and Transformation”

Wake up to the wonder that is all around you. This Spring, notice the loving Presence all around us as we pray for the earth and one another and deepen our awareness of the oneness of life. Using poetry, meditations, reflection questions and invitations into silence, retreat leader Ann Dean creates a special space for …
View course details “Contemplative Earth Awareness Online Retreat Day”

This Learning Hub course will be located in Kelowna, BC. Accommodation, and some meals, will be provided through the Lilly Endowment Pathways Project support of this course. Travel subsidies will also be available. The usual VST course registration fee will apply. Auditors are welcome but are not eligible for the travel or accommodation subsidies. In …
View course details “Where Theology Meets the Soil: Experiential Learning in the Okanagan”