Current Offerings

Storytelling for Lay Licensing

Tuesday evenings, July 2, 9, 16 and 23, 7:00-8:30 pm

Via Zoom

Class Fee $25.

Click here to register.

How is understanding the story of your own faith journey important for sharing Christ with others? How did Jesus use storytelling in his ministry? Can learning about storytelling help your preaching or teaching? How do we approach evangelism in the Episcopal church? We’ll explore this and many other topics in this fun and engaging class. This class is required for licensing of Evangelists and recommended for Preachers and Pastoral Leaders. Even if you are not pursuing licensing, this class will have much to offer for general faith formation. Facilitated by Rev. Dina Ferguson, retired rector of St. Michael’s in El Segundo. Prior to ordination she worked as a training consultant across a broad spectrum of industries. She holds B.A. and M.S. degrees from USC, has a D.Min. from United Theological Seminary, and a Certificate of Anglican Studies from CDSP.

Previous Classes

Beginning Preaching for Lay Licensing

This class, part of our lay licensing curriculum, is required for the Lay Preacher and Lay Pastoral Leader licenses and recommended for the Lay Worship Leader license. However, the course may be of general interest to those not pursuing a lay license at this time.  The class will discuss theories about preaching; sermon preparation and construction; working with the lectionary; methods of sermon delivery; and the unique role of preaching in Episcopal worship and gatherings.  Please Note: in order to complete the class, participants are required to prepare and deliver a sermon to the sponsoring clergy and a small group of parishioners outside of a worship service.  The audience will be given a feedback form to fill out.  This should be scheduled preferably between the 3rd and 4th session, so that the feedback can be shared with the instructor.  More instructions will be given in the first class, but please share this requirement with sponsoring clergy in advance.  Facilitated by the Rev. Kay Sylvester, Rector at St. Paul’s Tustin, and Mark Milliron, lay minister at St. Stephen’s, Beaumont.

Leading Adult Formation: Tips and Techniques

For both clergy and lay leaders, this class will host a collaborative discussion on how to plan adult formation; enhance packaged curriculum or develop new curriculum; design activities to deepen participant engagement; prepare promotional materials; facilitate Zoom classes; and handle difficult situations that arise in small or large groups.  Facilitated by Linda Allport, Dean, Bloy House.  Linda has over 35 years’ experience in leading bible study and adult formation in a variety of group settings.  Join us to get new ideas and share with others! 

21st Century Ministry in Multicultural Contexts: Enjoying Our Colorful Tapestry

Ministry - lay or ordained- in our diocese is a multicultural experience. How do we gain skills and insight, not only to understand others' languages and cultures, but to be open to transformative friendships? We will explore the invitation of seeing the "other" as our friend, and discuss the importance of cultivating connections with those who share different backgrounds to bridge cultural and religious divides. What we learn from these relationships—how to nurture, respect, and care for others—will help us make meaningful change in the world. Facilitated by the Rev. Melissa Campbell-Langdell and the Rev. Dr. Carlos Ruvalcaba.

Deacons: Who, What, Why - An Introduction to the Sacred Order of the Deacons

Three two hours sessions will offer a glimpse into the life and history of the diaconate. We’ll answer the questions: What does it mean to be a deacon today? How do I know that I am called? What are the steps for getting there? Participants will hear stories about deacons who act as the bridge between the church and the world and learn about the distinctive diaconal voice. Recommended for those discerning a call to ordained ministry. Facilitated by the Rev. Deacon Dennis Sheridan, PhD.

Episcopal Identity

How would you describe the modern Episcopal Church - its theology, its worship and community, its history, its organization, and what you love about it - to a friend who has never experienced it? A deeper dive than a confirmation class, even cradle Episcopalians will learn something new about our church.  Facilitated by Gary Hall, President of Bloy House, and Linda Allport, Dean. 

Reading Ruth: The Politics of Identity, Location, and Change.

The book of Ruth is a kind of a Cinderella story. The thing with Cinderella stories is that they have a beautiful ending, something that gives the reader a welcome sigh of relief, a Hollywood ending. But what about the real story? The story before the end? A famine. Migration. Death. Nothingness. A return. Navigating these changes involves negotiating identities, location, and change. No Old Testament book does it better than the story of Ruth. We will examine the story of Ruth whose foreign-ness reshapes the nature of identity in post-exilic Israel. Using the tools of context and authorial intentions, we will carefully read and re-evaluate the narrative by studying its literary function within the Israelite politics of identity and change.  Facilitated by the Rev. Dr. Mary Tororeiy.

The Spiritual Journey: A Lenten Exploration.

This Lent, we will offer an interactive, contemplative experience that invites participants into a deep exploration of their personal spiritual lives in a safe, small-group setting. It will be a time to reconnect with God in body, mind and spirit to see more clearly the path that is beckoning you. Exploring together the topics of prayer, the sacred in the daily, images of God and theological assumptions that guide us, and our own experiences of God. The Rev. Elizabeth Rechter has been Stillpoint’s Director since 2015. Stillpoint, The Center for Christian Spirituality,  an institution of the Diocese of Los Angeles, has been offering programs for spiritual exploration & formation for nearly 40 years. Facilitated by the Rev. Elizabeth Rechter.