Spirituality & Practice is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In line with this focus, we are pleased to offer the anti-racism training program “Racial Resilience” to our community members who share the goal of becoming anti-racist members of society. Our facilitators, Rev. Dr. Christopher Carter and Dr. Seth Schoen, utilize compassion-based contemplative practices when …
View course details “Racial Resilience”

How should the white Church’s participation in chattel slavery change what we believe about Holy Communion? The Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops has called white supremacy the most present sin in Western culture today. From Manifest Destiny to owning slaves, from opposing Civil Rights to continuing to hoard wealth from stolen land and stolen people, …
View course details “Holy Eucharist & Transatlantic Slavery”

Merton’s writings on the problem of racism are perhaps the least known of his works. They are, however, among his most important, not only because they address issues that arose at the height of the Civil Rights movement, but also because his writings continue to have astonishing relevance today. In this course, we will examine …
View course details “Thomas Merton and Racism”

In this week-long seminar, we will form a multi-cultural group of pastors, teachers, professors, and non-profit organization leaders to learn from the poignant and prophetic autobiographical writings of Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Howard Thurman, and Ida B. Wells. We will pay particular attention to the implications of their writings for vital and faithful pastoral, priestly, and prophetic leadership …
View course details “2023 African American Religious Autobiography Seminar”

Survey the typologies of engagement by various Christian traditions (giving particular attention to the broad evangelical tradition) with the public square, along the spectrum of disengagement, cooperation, co-optation, and confrontation. Analyze the theological assumptions and perspectives on the gospel that inform such engagement or lack thereof. Dominant evangelical paradigms of Christian engagement in the public …
View course details “When Christians Disagree: Church Unity in an Age of Division”

To be able to laugh, to have humor and to be foolish are all tremendous forms of resistance, of showing love/compassion and affirming life in a time where depression, anger, sadness and disasters are mounting. This course follows a Christian Russian tradition called Sacred Fools and intends to be a practical-theoretical way of engaging humor, …
View course details “Humor, Laughter, Foolishness: Performing Love, Resilience and Resistance”

HOWARD THURMAN: Overview and Links to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Retreat Day led by Lerita Coleman Brown January 4 – March 15, 2023   Reflect on the life and work of Howard Thurman, spiritual guide to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There is in every person an inward sea… — Howard Thurman REGISTER …
View course details “HOWARD THURMAN: Overview and Links to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.–A Retreat Day led by Lerita Coleman Brown”

The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey Anti-Racism Ministry invites you to enroll in 20 hours of virtual Anti-Racism Training streamed to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. The training takes a historical approach to help participants understand systemic racism and empower them to confront and organize against racism, inequality, and injustice. Lecture and discussion topics …
View course details “2023 VIRTUAL ANTI-RACISM TRAINING”

In communities all across Canada, we see a startling increase in visible homelessness. Supportive housing, that’s also truly affordable, is generally accepted as the foundation for all other recovery: health (mental and physical), financial, relational, etc. Many churches in Canada are exploring involvement with affordable housing for a variety of reasons including having surplus land, …
View course details “Supportive & Affordable Housing: How The Church Can Play A Role”

Master of Arts in Theology (Justice and Public Life) The Master of Arts in Theology (Justice and Public Life) is a two-year part-time graduate program designed for working professionals who wish to lead social change toward justice. Students will be introduced to the ways the Bible, history, theology, and practical theology can make a meaningful …
View course details “Master of Arts in Theology (Justice and Public Life) Degree Program”