Pathways
for baptismal living
Life-long, life-wide & life-deep learning for ALL the baptized
You don’t have to enroll in a degree program to enrich your faith.
As part of Bexley Seabury’s seminary-beyond-walls philosophy, we’ve launched Pathways to educate, form, and catalyze the Body of Christ to blaze new pathways for prophetic and pastoral service in response to God’s call.
While there is a logic and sequence to the courses and programs available, our courses, workshops, events, and activities are designed so you can choose the combination and order that best suit your interests and needs.
Personal
Enrichment
Sometimes you long for deeper instruction than your adult formation classes can provide. But a full seminary program isn’t right for you. Pathways makes seminary-created education and spiritual formation accessible to anyone with a desire to go deeper in their knowledge and faith.
Licensure &
Church-Wide Imperatives
These courses are designed to meet General Convention directives as well as licensure requirements defined by the Canons of the Episcopal Church. Those seeing licensure need to gain approval from their Bishop to ensure that licensure will be conferred.
Communities
of Practice
Designed to support leaders in particular ministry roles, these host-facilitated Zoom-based gatherings enable guest to interact with guest presenters and engage in sustained, critical conversation about faith, leadership, and issues relevant to their roles.
Personal Enrichment
Discerning My Path to Faithful Living
A six-month, cohort-based discernment process to help you find your path for being part of God’s Mission.
Listen for God’s voice with others as you come to know yourself better and live more faithfully day-to-day.
The next cohort begins June 27 and concludes November 20, 2021.
Fundamentals of Our Faith (series)
Six grounding courses in the faith that can be taken separately or in a series
Developed in response to A Christian Life of Faith: Signs and Thresholds along The Way
- Foundations for Baptismal Living with Elizabeth Mae Magill
Participants meet the weeks of July 4-31, 2021. - Engaging God’s Story with Vicki Garvey
Participants meet the weeks of August 1-28, 2021. - Theology and Ethics with Marcus Halley
Participants meet the weeks of August 29 – September 25, 2021. - Episcopal Tradition: Prayer and Worship with Victor Conrado
Participants meet the weeks of September 26 – October 23, 2021. - Episcopal Tradition: History and Polity with Brad Peterson
Participants meet the weeks of October 24 – November 20, 2021. - Becoming Church and Representing Christ with Beth-Sarah Wright
Participants meet the weeks of June 6 – July 3 or November 21 – December 18, 2021.
Pathways for Living Your Faith in the World and within the Church
Deepen your faith and hone your skills
- Preaching Gospel Hope in a Time of Climate Crisis with Stephanie Johnson and Margaret Bullitt-Jonas
Watch for this program to be scheduled again. - Conflict Management with Lisa Withrow
Watch for this program to be scheduled again. - Advocacy 101 (For Teams and Individuals) with John Hennessey
Participants meet the weeks of May 30 – July 10, 2021.
Ministry Preparation, Licensure, & Church-Wide Imperatives
Ministry and Licensure Preparation:
- Leading Communal Worship with M. Milner Seifert
Participants meet the weeks of May 30 – Aug 7, 2021. - Evangelist Leadership Training with Jerusalem Greer
Participants meet the weeks of June 6 – July 17. - Leading Your Community with Steve Matthews
Participants meet the weeks of October 3 – November 20, 2021. - Claiming Your Voice: Preaching with Susan Ironside
Participants meet the weeks of October 3 – December 4, 2021. - Faith Formation Leaders Training with Sharon Pearson
Watch for this program to be scheduled again.
Each of these courses are available for personal enrichment and ministerial preparation. They also meet the requirement of the Canons of the Episcopal Church for licensing or recertification. Those who are interested in obtaining a license should contact their Bishop (or the Bishop’s designee) to gain approval BEFORE taking a course to ensure that licensure will be conferred upon completion. Bexley Seabury Seminary does not have authority to confer this license. Depending on your context, your Bishop may ask you to complete some supplementary material or course prerequisites.
Church-Wide Imperatives Defined by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church:
- Becoming the Beloved Community (Anti-Racism) with Bill Cruse
Participants meet on Thursday evenings (7-9 pm ET) and asynchronously the weeks of June 6 – July 17. The course will be repeated the weeks of October 10 – November 20, 2021. - Exploring the “Doctrine of Discovery” with Mary Crist
Participants meet the weeks of July 18 – August 14, 2021. - Understanding Addiction and Supporting Recovery with Jan Brown
Participants meet the weeks of August 15 – October 9, 2021.
Communities of Practice
2nd Sunday, 6:30-7:30pm ET
Sharing Stories of Baptismal Living
This gathering highlights the contributions of lay leaders and provides opportunities to explore the extraordinary ways ordinary people have answered God’s call. Our hope is to offer inspiration and support to all who seek to live lives reflective of their baptismal promises.
Mark your Calendars for these “Sharing Stories of Baptismal Living” offerings
May 9, 2021 Roger Hutchison
June 13, 2021 Heidi Kim
July 11, 2021 Myra Garnes
August 8, 2021 Brian Sellers-Peterson
Click the link above to learn more, register, and get zoom information.
Click the image above for the recording of the most recent program;
Look through our archive of video programs on Vimeo here.
1st Monday, 8:00-9:00pm ET
Conversations on The Partner’s Path
Spouses of Episcopal clergy gather for for connection, spiritual nourishment, and gifts discernment
through heart-to-heart topical engagements with our host and guest
as we explore the challenge and the gift of being a clergy person’s partner.
Click the link below to learn more, REGISTER and get zoom information for upcoming Conversations on The Partner’s Path:
June 7, 2021 A Conversation with Harrison Burrows, “Crossing Borders”
Click the image above for the recording of the most recent program;
Look through our archive of video programs on Vimeo here.
. 2nd Monday, 8:30-9:30pm ET
Deacons Talking on the Road to Emmaus
Inspired by the story of Cleopas and another disciple who came to recognize Jesus in their midst, these web conversations feature deacons sharing stories from their ministries in hope of inspiring, supporting and renewing diaconal ministries.
Join us Monday, May 10, 2021 when we talk about Tiny Houses for People who are Homeless with Connie Campbell Pearson
Click on the link above to learn more, register, and get zoom information.
Click the image above for the recording of the most recent program;
Look through our archive of video programs on Vimeo here.
Deacons Talking on the Road to Emmaus takes a hiatus during the summer. Check back for the list of Fall conversations.
3rd Thursdays, 1 pm ET
Open Space for Ministering Communities
This is an invitation to a monthly conversation exploring ministry development. We are creating a space for all the baptized – lay and ordained – to explore what it takes “to move from a community around a minister to a ministering community” (The Rt. Rev. Wesley Frensdorff). Come to share questions, practices, ideas and support. We call it “open space” drawing on the concept of “Open Space Technology” developed by the Rev. Harrison Owen. Our online open space invites us to explore questions and topics experienced by practitioners in the work of empowering ministering communities of practice. As in Open Space, these hour-long conversations will be among whomever shows up. There is no intention of an “expert” leading the session. We each are encouraged to bring who we are into the space. Whatever emerges from the conversation when we gather is the appropriate outcome for that day, time and space. Initial questions will be prompted by several people who participated in the Living Stones Partnership. Once we have established the space, we will move toward a shared leadership for future topics.
Click the link below to learn more, register, and get zoom information.
Mark you calendar for these open space conversations:
May 20, 2021 How can Christian community best support baptismal ministry in the world?
June 17, 2021 How does shared leadership work in a ministering community?
We look forward to having you add your questions to others we are considering for the future:
How do we create and/or sustain a culture of lifelong learning in our faith communities?
What would theological education look like if it truly honored the local context and environment?
Roland Allen focused on training people for sufficiency rather than professionalization. Do you agree? What would this look like?
What’s next when everyone says they are old and tired?
What motivates people to give time and talent for Christian leadership?
What are some possible structures for sharing responsibility and accountability for safe, effective and sustainable Christian community?
What barriers and assumptions do the church and wider society erect and maintain that discourage shared leadership and exercising baptismal ministry. How can those assumptions and barriers be addressed?