Teaching

I have a few courses I've developed, for teaching adult education in progressive Christian congregations.  Mostly they're about gender and sexuality in the Bible. I'd also be happy to work with your leadership to create a course that is particular to the needs of your community.  I teach in congregations only at the invitation of the senior pastor.


Misbehaving Women of the Bible
A six week course* exploring some of the Bible stories you didn't learn in Sunday School.  Jael and her tent peg, the daughter of Zelophehad who told God what to do, Rahab who provided a certain hospitality for the spies: all are portrayed as faithful women.  We'll explore their stories in light of historical and sociological understandings of the Bible, wrestle with how their lives are similar to, and different from our own, and ask questions about what these stories might mean for our faith.

Gender in Genesis
"Male and Female God created them."  What's up with gender in the creation stories?  Did God create some people to be male, and some female?  Is there room for gender-bending in Genesis?  We'll look at both creation stories, and the complicated relationship to gender and sex in each of them. Length:  2 hours.

Welcoming the Transgender Community to your Church
We'll look at Biblical foundations for welcome, explore our own personal relationship to gender non-conformity, and learn practical ways to both connect with the community, and remove barriers that may be keeping Transgender people away from your congregation. Length: 2 hours, could be more.

The Word is on Your Lips: Preaching for Lay People
For congregations that are open to lay (non-ordained) preaching, a six-week* course that prepares your leaders to preach a sermon.  From creative imagination, and Biblical research, to including the pressing issues of the day, shaping the movement, and delivery.  At the end of this course, each participant will have a sermon ready for their faith community on their chosen text.  Individual coaching sessions will be included at the end of this course.

Texts of Terror for LGBTQ People
A seven-week course* examining the seven "Bible bullets" or texts that have been used against LGBTQ people. You'll not only set each text in it's context, but gain a subversive, playful understanding that will help sustain you when you hear this text used against you.

Ways of Reading the Scriptures
A three-week course* exploring the many ways people read Scripture, and exploring pros and cons of each. Students will deepen their ability to engage difficult texts, and renew their faith in our Holy Texts.

The Spirituality of Confronting White Supremacy
Sometimes we think of confronting racism and white supremacy as a list of policy solutions, a rejection of other people's personal prejudices, or an ethical lists of dos and don'ts.  This class posits a theory that confronting racism and white supremacy within ourselves is spiritual work for white Christians to do in our communities.  It explores the possibility that demonic language may be more than a metaphor, and that there may be real powers and principalities, acting within the world and within us. Some spiritual practices for confronting white supremacy and racism are explored. Currently intended to be a one-time session, but can be expanded.

A Queer Theology of Hotness
This session explores the idea of "Lookism," discrimination based on conventional beauty standards, as one oppression functioning within our society, and presents a Queer Theology of Hotness as a possible tool of liberation for the LGBT and straight community alike. Currently intended to be a one-time session, but can be expanded.

*Courses given in weeks assume an adult education hour once a week.