Progressive Theology Discussion Group - First Church Berkeley UCC

[Sept. 2024 Update] The 9 am Progressive Theology sessions are back beginning Sept. 29! This fall we will start a new series on the “Ologies” of Progressive Theology starting with “What is theology and why are we talking about it?” This intro session is a great opportunity for folks wanting to come by but waiting for a good moment to jump in. No theological background is needed! If you have any topic ideas you would like to suggest, please share them with Mack Griffith or another member of the Adult Education Ministry. Thank you to all those who have attended the sessions and joined the conversations last year and we hope you’ll join us again!

[May 2024 Update: The 9 am Progressive Theology discussion group will be on summer hiatus following a final session on Sun., May 26 with Dr. Hillary McBride – “Body and Spirit: Why We are Both and Why That Matters” (Theo Ed Talks). The group returns in the fall to continue their challenging, fruitful, and enlivening discussions about progressive theology. If you have any topic ideas you would like to suggest, please share them with Mack Griffith or another member of the Adult Education Ministry! Thank you to all those who have attended the sessions and joined the conversations!]

Sponsored by the Ministry of Adult Education, this group meets nearly every Sunday (outside of holidays) at 9 am in Loper Chapel (doors off the courtyard on Dana St.) to watch a short video engaging progressive theology, then spend time in small group discussion about the material. Join us any or every week to build your theological vocabulary, gain greater comfort talking about what you believe in, and reflect on your formation and your story. It’s a great place to make friends, too!

Schedule:
May 26: TheoEd Talks: “Body and Spirit: Why We are Both and Why That Matters” by Dr. Hillary McBride (recovering a positive view of our physical experience)

May 19: TheoEd Talks: “Wishing for the End” by Mike McHargue (addressing suicide theologically)

May 12: TheoEd Talks: “Four Words that Change Everything” by Lisa Sharon Harper (the meaning of liberation in light of history of enslavement)

May 5: TheoEd Talks: “Magnolia Trees and Cardigan Sweaters” by Lauren Winner (metaphors for God)

April 28: TheoEd Talks: “Confronting our Histories” by Dr. Kristin Du Mez (the history of white evangelicalism, and how we talk and think about our own tradition’s history)

April 21: TheoEd Talks: “Pathological Whiteness” by Dr. Chanequa Walker Barnes (discussing the theological challenge of the notion of whiteness)

April 14: TheoEd Talks: “Life After Death: Jesus, Judaism, and Justice” by Dr. Amy-Jill Levine (interfaith perspectives on Jesus’s mission and ministry)

April 7: TheoEd Talks: “There’s Something Holy Out There” (faith and science)

March 24 and March 31: hiatus for Palm Sunday and Easter

March 17: TheoEd Talks: “Making God in Our Image” (how white supremacy shapes our worship practices)

March 10: Living the Questions Video 21: Embracing Mystery

March 3: Living the Questions Video 20: Creative Transformation

February 25: Living the Questions Video 19: Compassion, the Heart of Jesus’ Ministry

February 18: Living the Questions Video 18: Prayer as Intimacy with God

February 11: Living the Questions Video 17: Incarnation

February 4: Living the Questions Video 16: Social Justice

January 28: Living the Questions Video 15: a Kingdom Without Walls

January 21: Living the Questions Video 14: Honoring Creation

January 14: Living the Questions Video 13: Debunking the Rapture