Session A:
A-1:  UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE: AN INTRODUCTION FOR SKEPTICS, SEEKERS, AND RELIGIOUS LIBERALS – The Rev. John Buehrens
Why even UU Buddhists still need to know a progressive interpretation of the Biblical tradition. A quick introduction to Jewish, feminist, and anti-oppressive interpretations by the author of a book with the same title as the workshop.

A-2:  PROCESS THEOLOGY I: 
– The Rev. Duane Fickeisen
Part I will introduce Process Theology and consider theodicy — how to explain the presence of evil in the world. Might it be a necessary result of free will? Which of the unlimited powers often attributed to God must we release to understand the existence of evil?
(Note:  This is a three-hour class. Please sign up for both A-2 and B-2.)

*CLASS FULL*  A-3:  RUMI, HAFIZ AND RILKE AS ORACLE:  POETRY AND SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
– The Rev. Dana Worsnop.
Using mystical poets as spiritual guides is a time-honored tradition. It can help us expand our religious landscape and understand the cultures and practices that inform our spiritual lives. Mystics speak to the universal human experience, and they invite us to union with the divine in a vital, living and profound way.

*CLASS FULL*  A-4:  SPEAKING OUR TRUTH, HEALING OUR LIVES
– The Rev. Marilyn Sewell
 Telling our story makes something magical happen – it can lead us into the domain of the sacred. It can make the seeming chaos of our lives take form and focus. It can help us understand who we are and what we were meant to do. In this class participants will explore how to enter the depths of their own story. Hopefully, they will be inspired to continue with this healing practice, either on their own or in a group. Bring a pencil or pen and a notebook to class.
(Note:  This is a three-hour class. Please sign up for both A-4 and B-4.)

A-5:  DEEP LISTENING
– Mary and Jim Andrews
This workshop will focus on listening skills that can be used to help others discover personal solutions to difficulties they may be experiencing. These skills are used by lay ministers as well as by anyone who wants to convey compassion and spiritual caring to another person.

A-6:  EMBODIED SPIRITUALITY: AFRICAN DRUMMING
– Chata Addy
 Play and practice will include hand positions and beginning techniques as well as more complex rhythms for the experienced. All levels welcome. Bring a conga drum if you have one. The church will provide the rest.

A-7:  THE SOCIAL GOSPEL MEETS OCCUPY
– The Rev. William Sinkford
The last time income inequality was at the top of the national agenda, during what is called "The Gilded Age" at the turn of the 20th century, the response of the religious community was The Social Gospel. That gospel informed much of progressive religious thought and action from Dr. King's Beloved Community through Liberation Theology. It reclaimed a vision for the Kingdom of God in this world. What resources can that gospel offer us in this age of Occupy? We will inspect some of the Social Gospel texts and contexts as we imagine the work ahead.

Session B:
B-1:  UNIVERSALISTS AND UNITARIANS IN AMERICA:  A PEOPLE'S HISTORY
– The Rev. John Buehrens
Exploding mythic misunderstandings of our own history, John lifts up forgotten heroes and heroines of liberal faith. Again, the workshop is based on his recent book of the same title. Other resources will be introduced. 

B-2:  PROCESS THEOLOGY II: 
–The Rev. Duane Fickeisen
Part II will continue the introduction of Process Theology and consider God’s relationship with all entities. What qualities must God have to be in meaningful relationship? Can God be unchangeable? What is God’s role in ever-evolving instances of being and experience?

B-3:  WEAVING CELEBRATION AND RITUAL INTO EARTH CARE
– The Rev. Katherine Jesch
For UUs, caring for Earth can be a sacred experience that heals people and the Earth at the same time. In this workshop, we’ll experience and reflect on a variety of techniques and resources for spiritually nourishing ourselves and our communities, through both weekly worship liturgies and alternative practices to enrich our spirits and strengthen our bonds with each other and with the Earth.

*CLASS FULL*  B-4:  SPEAKING OUR TRUTH, HEALING OUR LIVES, II
– The Rev. Marilyn Sewell
 This is part 2 of a two-part class. Only participants in Part 1 (A-4) may participate in this class.

B-5: CALLED TO APPEAR
– The Rev.Joel Miller
Trauma and disaster change us, change our way of thinking, change our beliefs, change our identities. For many Unitarian  Universalists, these changes call us to live more deeply connected to each other. How have you been called?

*CLASS FULL*  B-6:  SUSTAINING THE SOUL WITH STORIES
– Will Hornyak
Storytelling is an art form, a craft, a teaching tool and a spiritual practice. We all have stories to tell and a unique voice and style as storytellers. Storyteller Will Hornyak will share ideas and techniques for bringing personal and traditional stories to life for a variety of audiences and occasions..

B-7:  POST-MODERN ORGANIZING:  LEADING FROM THE FUTURE AS IT EMERGES 
–The Rev. Kate Lore
What would community ministry look like if there were no hierarchical structures and majority rule gave way to consensus? What will be required of us in order to co-create a world that is life-affirming and sustainable? Using the Occupy Wall Street Movement as a primary example, workshop participants will explore the shifting strategies and tactics now taking hold around the globe.
(Note:  This class is a logical sequence to A-7, though that class is not a formal pre-requisite.)

NOTE: If classes fill up, late-comers may not get your choice of class. If your choice of class is over-subscribed, you may be placed in The Rev. John Buehrens' “Universalists and Unitarians in America:  A People’s History” workshop which has a larger seating capacity.

About Our Instructors:

Chata Addy was born and raised in Ghana, West Africa. He is a professional drummer, dancer, choreographer, and songwriter based in Portland. Besides the vigor of drumming, Chata brings humor and encouragement to the classroom. You can learn more about him here:  http://chataaddy.com/

Mary and Jim Andrews are both First Church members. Mary Andrews is the coordinator of the Lay Ministry Program and Jim Andrews is an Adult Programs member and teacher. Together the Andrews have taught compassionate listening skills in workshops they have given throughout the U.S and Canada.

John Buehrens has served as the Minister of the First Parish in Needham since 2002. From 1993 to 2001 he was the President of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Ordained in 1973, he served congregations in Tennessee, Texas, and New York City prior to his election to that office. He is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School. You can learn more about him here:  http://www.uuneedham.org/AboutFP/minister.html

Duane Fickeisen is Minister Emeritus of the Unitarian Universalists of the Cumberland Valley (Boiling Springs, PA) and a graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry. Prior to seminary, he taught organizational development at the Pacific Northwest (UU) Leadership School, which he also served as Dean. He resides in Portland and attends First Unitarian Church of Portland.

Will Hornyak has been called by “The Oregonian” a storyteller par excellence with boundless wit, endless imagination and an ability to transport children and adults into an amazing imaginary world. He also teaches storytelling to students as diverse as elementary school children, graduate students in Business Administration, and other storytellers. You can learn more about him here:  http://www.willhornyak.com/index.html

Katherine Jesch is a community minister affiliated with First Unitarian Church of Portland. Her ministry has focused on Earth care for the last decade, formerly as Director of Environmental Ministry for UU Ministry for Earth, and currently in interfaith circles in the Pacific Northwest. She is a graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry.

Joel Miller currently serves the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis as its Interim Minister.  He was the Senior Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo, NY for eleven years, and before that was the founding minister of the Columbine Unitarian Universalist Church in Littleton, CO.  He is a 1991 graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry.  Learn more about him here: http://www.uubuffalo.org/index.php?submenu=ministry&src=gendocs&link=Ministry&category=Main

Kate Lore has served First Unitarian Church of Portland since 1998. Whether preaching, moderating a community forum, leading a march or facilitating a class, Kate’s aim is to harness love's wisdom to deepen connections between people and the earth, and to overcome systems of oppression. She is a graduate of Meadville Lombard School of Theology. Learn more about her here:  http://www.firstunitarianportland.org/our-church/ministers-a-staff/minister-bios#lore

Marilyn Sewell is the Minister Emerita of First Unitarian Church of Portland, where she served for 17 years as Senior Minister before retiring in 2010. A graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry, Marilyn is the subject of a documentary film, “Raw Faith” alivemindcinema.com/rawfaith, writes for Huffington Post, and hosts an on-line radio program on spiritual matters: http://www.pagatim.fm/raw-faith-radio-with-marilyn-sewell/. More information about Marilyn, her books, speeches, and articles may be found on her web site, www.marilynsewell.com.

Bill Sinkford was called to First Church, Portland as its senior minister in 2010. Before that he served as President of the Unitarian Universalist Association from 2001 to 2009. His tenure at the UUA was marked by strong public witness for social justice and support for marginalized communities, commitments he continues here in Portland. He is a graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry. Learn more about him here:  http://www.firstunitarianportland.org/our-church/ministers-a-staff/minister-bios

Dana Worsnop is the minister at Atkinson Memorial Church in Oregon City. A 2002 graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry, she served in 2003 as the interim minister of the Unitarian Church of Calgary in Alberta, Canada before accepting the call to serve at Atkinson. You can learn more about her here:  http://www.atkinsonchurch.com/about/minister.shtml

"Freedom Riders" Exhibit will be on display during Seminary Day
in the Buchan Reception Hall

Inspired by a tour of historically black colleges and universities and civil rights historic sites last spring, Roosevelt students interviewed 15 Portlanders who have taken a stand for civil rights, including two of the original Freedom Riders. This traveling exhibit created by Roosevelt High School students that honors those Portland civil rights leaders.
University of Portland students helped compile the written interviews, audio recordings and photographs into a museum-quality exhibit to accompany the national Freedom Riders Exhibit, on loan from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History in partnership with American Experience, to local churches, colleges and community spaces. Roosevelt students will serve as exhibit docents.
The exhibit is the flagship project of the high school’s Writing & Publishing Center, part of the school’s College & Career Transition Center. Students will expand on the project over time with a website and additional interviews.