Upcoming events at the Leadership Institute! Interim...Book Clubs...Pathways! UPSEM LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE SEP 1   READ IN APP   Interim/Transitional Ministry Training November 13 - 17, 2023 Richmond Campus Designed for pastors and church leaders interested in interim ministry and/or congregations in transition, this course provides the basics for understanding interim ministry and transitional ministry. UPSem’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Upgrade to paid Here's a sampling of some of the topics covered: Discerning effective leadership approaches during times of transition Navigating systems, conflict, and power dynamics Theological and spiritual elements of transition Space is limited, and a waiting list will be started when capacity is reached. Click on this link to register now!  Yaupon Place Book Club registration is now open! The Leadership Institute will offer book clubs throughout the year. They will be virtual and supported by centers and Leadership Institute partners. The aim of the Leadership Institute Book Clubs is to create multicultural, intergenerational spaces where participants can delve further into texts, while learning alongside people from a multitude of social locations. The Yaupon Place book club will be reading Living Resistance, by Kaitlin Curtice. Curtice is a popular indigenous author who challenges the tokenizing of "resistance" and reclaims it as a basic human calling. It is a book that calls for independence and considering how resistance is a daily activity. We would like to recommend these two sites from which to order the book: libro.fm resistbooksellers.com DATES: Wednesdays, October 11, October 18, October 25, and *November 1. 6-8 p.m. Eastern Time *The November 1 meeting will be an in-person gathering at: Yaupon Place 1313 Westwood Avenue Richmond, Virginia, 23227 UPCOMING Pathways Course: Biblical Interpretation DATES: Thursday, September 14-October 19, 2023 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Led by: Dr. John Carroll,  Harriet Robertson Fitts Memorial Professor of New Testament Four synchronous class sessions on the following Thursdays: 9/14, 9/28, 10/12, 10/19 Asynchronous class work and discussion through Blackboard on other weeks.   This course has as its primary goal the equipping of Christian leaders to interpret biblical texts faithfully. The course provides an overview of the ways in which the church has approached the work of biblical interpretation and then offers a practical guide for close reading of passages, featuring peer discussion of the meaning and message of selected biblical texts. In a final course project, students write a paper in which they present their exegesis (interpretation) of a biblical passage. Persons seeking certification as Christian educators in the Presbyterian Church (USA) also prepare a presentation in which they draw from the fruits of their exegetical study for a teaching-and-learning event. The course is designed to meet the educational goals and expectations of persons seeking certification as lay leaders in congregations or as Christian educators, as well as persons with general interest in enhancing their ability to interpret Scripture. Click this link to register for this course. DATES: Tuesday, October 24-December 5, 2023 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Led by: Dr. Christine Luckritz Marquis,  Associate Professor of Church History  This course is designed to provide students with an overview of and an appreciation for the history of Christian traditions, the broader contexts in which they developed, and their continued significance for the life of the church. The course is designed to meet the educational goals and expectations of persons seeking certification as lay leaders in congregations, as well as persons with general interest in enhancing their ability to interpret Scripture. Click this link to register for this course. UPCOMING Teaching the Bible Thursdays, October 26-December 7, 2023 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Led by: Dr. Cindy Kissel-Ito   This course examines selected approaches to Bible teaching from the perspectives of biblical scholarship and Christian Education. The purpose of this course is to equip students to develop planning, implementation and evaluation skills for teaching the Bible. The course is designed to meet the educational goals and expectations of persons seeking certification as lay leaders in congregations, as well as persons with general interest in enhancing their ability to interpret Scripture. Click this link to register for this course. It is a joy to present these courses to you! The Pathways Online Course Program is open to all, regardless of denomination affiliation or role in the church. These courses, led by UPSem faculty and experienced practitioners, are designed to deepen and expand knowledge as well as support and promote leadership development within the church for those seeking to become a commissioned lay pastor / commissioned ruling elder within the PC(USA), as well as to anyone seeking edification. Simply put, whether you are en route to becoming a Commissioned Ruling Elder, Christian Educator, or simply pursuing knowledge, these courses are for you.  The recommended order is to complete the Phase 1 courses prior to taking the Phase 2 courses. However, participants are able to register for courses as they deem fit. (Note: Prior to taking the Preaching course, it is highly recommended that the Biblical Interpretation course, or an equivalent, is completed). Please feel free, at any leg in this educational journey, to send a note to me or our Program Coordinator, Theda Wortman.  Lastly, as you can see, we are now on Substack! It is an exciting time for the Leadership Institute as the Substack platform allows us to present even more resources and information to you. Watch this space as we continue to bring even more continuing education and leadership resources to you through this platform. Enjoy the day! Chris Burton, D.Min. Director of the Leadership Institute