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Portable CMU

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About Portable CMU

Portable CMU, offered through The CMU Centre for Faith and Life, are intended to nurture the vocation of the church. Through this program, CMU is committed to resource congregations as they seek to strengthen their witness and mission.

We encourage congregations to consider a Portable CMU option that works best in their setting, and to explore whether collaboration with other congregations, neighbours, or church or community agencies might promote a unique, larger learning opportunity

After the course descriptions you can find Portable CMU Options, Portable CMU Costs and contact information for inquiries and booking.

 

Portable CMU 2023/24

David Balzer | Associate Professor of Communications and Media

Social Media: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful

We live in a media-saturated society, from personal smartphones to home-theatre sized TVs, to 24/7 internet connections, to church-based Facebook pages and Twitter accounts. All of these provoke us to adopt, adapt, or reject technology and media. This Portable examines the opportunities and challenges of living in a mediated society. Is there a biblical mandate to engage new technologies? How do we discern the media messages that shape our reality? How might individuals, local churches, and families foster media-related practices that are life-giving?

John Brubacher | Associate Professor of Biology

NEW - What is a human? Biological and theological perspectives (Winter/Spring 2024 only)

Contemporary Christians can be forgiven for feeling squeezed between a rock and a hard place: on one hand, we read in scripture that humans were created separately from all other animals, in the image of God, with encouragement to fill the earth and have dominion over it (Gen 1:26-28). In a nutshell, we are special (Psalm 8). On the other hand, evolutionary theory (theoretical in the same sense as germ theory and atomic theory) tells us that humans are recent arrivals, descended from non-human life forms, and cousins to all other living creatures. Furthermore, our life on a planet that we have indeed filled and at least partly tamed feels precarious these days—given climate change, pandemics, species extinctions, and the accelerating development of artificial intelligence. Is it possible to be an intellectually satisfied, theologically and scientifically literate Christian any more? I think so—let’s talk about the possibilities.

Paul Doerksen | Associate Professor of Theology

In the Patience of Love's Delay

Patience is used to describe both as one of the perfections of God and as a virtue that should be cultivated by Christians. This Portable will examine (with gratitude) God’s patience with the created world, including humans, and then explore the practice of Christian patience, which is not simply an attempt to mimic God’s patience. We will look especially at questions such as the importance of avoiding passivity in the pursuit of patience. In addition, we will ask whether patience must always be slow, and whether waiting is faithful action.

Andrew Dyck | Assistant Professor of Christian Spirituality and Pastoral Ministry

Studying the Bible Prayerfully

What’s the interplay between reading the Bible and being read by the Bible? How can we approach the Bible through prayer? Andrew Dyck recommends two practices for studying the Bible prayerfully: lectio divina and imaginative gospel contemplation (from the booklet A Lifelong Apprenticeship: Study Guide for Growing Disciples by Cam Stuart). These practices can help people hear and be trained by God’s Word. The presentation will include a scriptural basis for each approach and give time for participants to practice “prayer without ceasing” as they study the Bible. Both lectio divina and imaginative gospel contemplation can be practiced by individuals during their personal quiet times, or by small groups meeting together.

Reformation Heirlooms

A philosopher once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” The church needs to learn from the past, while being open to what God is doing today. This sermon series highlights three central contributions from the Protestant Reformers and early Anabaptists. Although these two groups had agreements and disagreements, their contributions remain vital for today’s church: living faith, welcoming God’s word, and Holy Spirit-ed singing. This session draws on scripture, stories, and songs originally framed as a series of sermons. A discussion time could be added after these presentations.

Being With God: Living Attentively

Christians have often emphasized having a personal daily ‘quiet time’ for reading the Bible, reflecting, and praying. A quiet time can, however, become so filled with activity that it no longer includes quietness for paying attention to God’s still small voice. People reasonably ask whether it is possible to hear God’s voice, or whether God still communicates to people. This workshop can help set you on a path towards a conversational relationship with Jesus by means of teachings from scripture and experience, and by practicing stillness and “sacred reading” of Scripture (i.e. lectio divina).

Suitable for a workshop of up to five hours.

Speaking of Jesus: Bearing Witness to our Experiences of Jesus Christ

Participants will be guided into a conversation about the pitfalls and possibilities of speaking about Jesus with friends, neighbours, and colleagues. The following questions will be considered. What are our own experiences of knowing Jesus? Where and when do we hear people talking about Jesus? What can we promise to people who trust Jesus? How can we commend faith in Jesus without being coercive or colonialist?

Dan Epp-Tiessen | Emeritus Associate Professor of Bible

Reading the Bible in Light of Same-Sex Relationships

Many congregations desire sound Biblical reflection and honest conversation about human sexuality, particularly given the church’s strain related to LGBTQ questions and issues. Dan has addressed these themes from various perspectives and in different contexts. He is willing to walk with congregations in a session or workshop format focused on how understandings of Scripture, Confessions of Faith, the church, family, relationships, and gender can inform our own convictions and questions about sexuality.

Surviving and Thriving Despite Cancer (and other major life crises)

Dan and his wife Esther are both double cancer survivors, and they had a son, Tim, who did not survive cancer. Dan shares stories of what it is like to be a family that “does” cancer, and he explores the biblical and faith resources that have sustained him and Esther, and helped them not only survive but thrive, despite their journeys with cancer, loss, and grief. Dan’s hope is that these biblical and theological resources will comfort and strengthen persons who are hurting and will prepare others for the pain and struggle that come with the territory of being human.

Creation, Ecology, and the Bible

Human-caused ecological destruction is the greatest threat currently facing the planet and its many life forms. This session explores a variety of biblical texts that can inspire respect and proper care for God’s magnificent creation. Some of the topics covered include: what kind of world does God create and what are the implications for human action; creation’s praise of God and God’s delight in creation; Jesus as the Cosmic Christ through whom God brings healing not just to humans but to all of creation; why do many Christians believe the Bible teaches that creation is expendable and merely a backdrop to the divine-human relationship.

Brian Froese | Associate Professor of History

The Mennonite Brethren Story (Winter/Spring 2024 only)

This Portable provides an orientation to the historical experience, denominational identity, and contemporary priorities and challenges of the Mennonite Brethren Church. Beginning with a brief historical exploration of the origins and development of the 16th-century Anabaptist movement, and the subsequent development of the Mennonite Church within the wider context of Protestantism in Europe, special attention is given to the origin and growth of the Mennonite Brethren Church in Russia, North America, and its emergence as a global movement during the 20th century. The historical survey will serve as the backdrop against which to interpret cultural, theological and sociological forces, and factors that shaped Mennonite Brethren faith and life, theology, worship, ecclesiology, and ethics.

Gerald Gerbrandt | President Emeritus & Professor Emeritus of Bible

Joyful Wrestling: The Art of Reading Scripture

It is the faith of the church that through Scripture God speaks to us. But all too often when we read Scripture, we hear ourselves rather than God. A fundamental need in the church today is to learn again how to read Scripture. The church must learn “afresh to acknowledge the Bible as the functional center of life, so that in all our conversations, deliberations, arguments, and programs, we are continually reoriented to the demands and promises of the Scriptures.” (Ellen Davis). This session will consider what factors and assumptions undermine hearing the God of Scripture, and how we might read it again with integrity and effect, keeping in mind two themes: 1) that reading the Bible can be a delight and joy, and 2) that at the same time, it inevitably is a struggle or wrestling match.

Denominations: Who Needs Them?

Denominations have become a standard feature of North American church reality, mediating between the local congregation and the global church. In this session, questions like the following will be considered: Are denominations a necessary element of church life, with a positive role to play? Or are they a distraction and waste, weakening the larger mission of the church? What are the strengths and weaknesses of placing primary emphasis on the local congregation?

 

Hidden Content

 

 

Who are "We"? - Mennonites and Anabaptists within a Global Church

Pierre Gilbert | Associate Professor of Bible and Theology

Cultivating a Biblical Worldview

How can those who have to spend most of their time in the world remain faithful to Christ? By cultivating a biblical worldview. In this session, we will examine three topics that are fundamental to developing a Christian mindset: 1) The trustworthiness of Scripture and the challenge of scientism (Genesis 1:1); 2) human dignity (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 8); 3) the importance of gratitude and joy as a way of life (Psalm 84).

God Never Meant for Us to Die: The Emergence of Evil in the
Light of the Genesis Creation Account

The most incisive indictment against Christianity resides in the notion of a God who created a world in which there is untold suffering and death. Is this the best God could do? In response, most Christians will mutter something about free will or the necessity of evil to bring about God’s plan for humanity. Theologians often reply by challenging the very legitimacy of the question: God only requires that we persevere. Biblical scholars, who might otherwise be expected to offer a scriptural perspective, nervously denounce any suggestion that the presence of evil may have had something to do with a primordial couple and a fruit tree. Is it any wonder that most people believe that evil must surely be an intractable component of human existence introduced, perhaps, by the very God Jews and Christians worship? In this session, I propose a response to the problem of evil that unconditionally affirms the goodness and power of God. I contend, based on a new assessment of the Genesis creation account, that God never intended for humanity to experience suffering and death.

The Prophets of Israel: The Lord’s Firefighters

The most challenging and confusing books of the Old Testament must certainly be the prophets. And for good reason. Unlike the psalms or the wisdom books, which can generally be accessed with relative ease, the interpretation of the prophetic books is greatly dependent on a basic understanding of the overall prophetic genre, the forms of speech used in these writings, and the historical context of the books. In this session, we will examine the prophetic literature of the Old Testament in the light of its cultural and historical context. While we will explore the relevance of the prophetic discourse for the Christian community, we will also give special attention to the possible implications of these texts for a postmodern and secular culture.

Choosing the Way of Life in an Age of Freedom: The Wisdom
Literature of the Old Testament

The most challenging and confusing books of the Old Testament must certainly be the prophets. And for good reason. Unlike the psalms or the wisdom books, which can generally be accessed with relative ease, the interpretation of the prophetic books is greatly dependent on a basic understanding of the overall prophetic genre, the forms of speech used in these writings, and the historical context of the books. In this session, we will examine the prophetic literature of the Old Testament in the light of its cultural and historical context. While we will explore the relevance of the prophetic discourse for the Christian community, we will also give special attention to the possible implications of these texts for a postmodern and secular culture.

The Problem of Prayer

Prayer can be a very confounding practice. Why do we pray? Why do we often have the impression that God doesn’t answer our prayers? Does prayer really make a difference? We will explore this question by first examining the Lord’s Prayer as found in Matthew 6:9-13. Second, we will look at the flipside of the issue and consider what happens when God does indeed answer our prayers, but in ways we didn’t expect. Habakkuk, a seventh-century prophet, once received an answer to an urgent prayer. But God’s response shocked him—beware what you pray for. Matthew 6:9-13 and the book of Habakkuk will provide a foundation for understanding more adequately the nature of prayer and will give us some insights into the basic principles we need to consider as we anticipate God’s response.

Chris Huebner | Associate Professor of Theology and Philosophy

Exploring the Martyr’s Mirror

The Martyr’s Mirror is arguably the most well-known book in the Anabaptist  tradition. But while many are familiar with a story or two, few contemporary  Mennonites have explored the entire book. This Portable will embark on such an exploration—taking a look at what’s in this big book and what’s not as well as a number of other things in between. 

Karl Koop | Professor of History and Theology

Reconsidering Anabaptist Origins after 500 years (Winter 2024 only)

In the last several decades, scholars have radically challenged Harold S. Bender’s standard “Anabaptist Vision” narrative that has so profoundly shaped Mennonite self-understandings. These presentations will examine the research with the goal of providing a revised view of Anabaptist origins and identity—an identity and orientation that may provide some new directions for the present day.

Anabaptist Theological Impulses Influencing Mennonite Today (Winter 2024 only)

These presentations critically examine three impulses that have dominated the theological discourse among Mennonites since the mid-20th century: the  Anabaptist vision impulse, the confessionalist impulse, and the liberation/postcolonial or decolonial impulse. All three have profoundly shaped Mennonite  theology and spirituality in the last 60 years and gives insight into the nature of Mennonite identity.

Rachel Krause | Associate Professor of Biology

NEW Science for our Time: Science, Faith, and the Environment (Winter 2024 only)

Today, science has taken on an increasingly important role in understanding and addressing the most urgent issues that face us, from climate change to emerging infectious diseases and more. At the same time, the practice of science is often shrouded in mystery and jargon, making it difficult for the non-expert to evaluate, and leading to confusion over what to do with what the experts tell us. The result has been that issues like climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic have been simultaneously declared by some as important threats to civilization and by others as massive hoaxes. Together in this Portable, we will unpack some of the confusion associated with science, discuss what "science" and the "scientific method" have to offer, and decode the language used by scientists to communicate with each other, policymakers, and the public. Finally, we will discuss what a faithful Christian response to environmental degradation might look like in light of present-day scientific advances.

This Portable can be done as a single session or multiple sessions.

Wendy Kroeker | Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Transformation Studies

Being the Church Even When We Disagree (Fall 2023 only, in person only)

Conflict is a normal and inevitable part of congregational life and yet many feel illprepared to handle conflict in the church and choose to avoid working with it. The conflict can emerge from changing times, diverse expectations, differing styles of leadership, or disagreement over theological issues. This session will explore some of the root causes of conflict and its impacts on interpersonal dynamics in the community. As well, various models for working with conflict and transforming conflict will be presented. Some topics will include approaches for handling difficult persons and conversations, styles of conflict, and communication skills for enhancing interactions. Learning methods will utilize presentations, participatory activities, and small/large group discussions.

James Magnus-Johnston | Instructor, Political Science and Business

Sacred Economics (Winter/Spring 2024 only)

Contemporary social, ecological, and financial challenges might be viewed as symptoms of a deeper spiritual and cultural conflict: separation from one another, our inner-beings, and the land. We’ll consider acts of justice through re/connections to people and place, including the appropriate use of technology, the concept of work, gift cultures and the social safety net, and other demonstration projects from around the world.

Sue Sorensen | Associate Professor of English

NEW Writing, Creativity and Faith: In conversation with Author Dora Dueck

In 2022, CMU Press, under the direction of Dr. Sue Sorensen, published Return Stroke: essays & memoir, a book of creative non-fiction by fiction author and lay historian Dora Dueck. Within Return Stroke, one theme in particular resonates—change. Dueck writes: “When I send inquiry into my past, it sends something back to me.” Both Dora Dueck and Sue Sorensen are novelists and have worked closely together as writer and editor on several projects. This portable offers a public engagement between the two authors on themes such as the variety of ways stories insist on being told, how past and present shape each other in the writing of our personal histories, and how curiosity and imagination can enrich a Christian life. They can also speak about the various topics within Return Stroke (motherhood, mortality, the ethics of biography) as well as the process of shaping Dueck’s memoir of her family’s 1980s life in the Paraguayan Chaco.

This portable is available to congregations in southern BC and Alberta and offered in-person. It is expected that participants will acquire copies of Return Stroke, offered by CMU Press at a group discount, and become familiar with the book before the presentation.

Conrad Stoesz | Archivist, Mennonite Heritage Archives

NEW - Conscientious Objection

More information coming soon.

NEW The Archives and the Power of Story

More information coming soon.

 

Portable CMU Options

Portable CMU sessions can be offered in an in-person or virtual format, congregations are asked to consider a structure that works best in their setting. Options may include, though are not limited to, the following:

  • Up to three ~one-hour sessions offered over a week or on a weekend (Friday-Saturday ‘retreat’, or all in one day)
  • A ~one hour adult Bible study or Sunday School class, either on a one-time basis, or up to three sessions scheduled over a few weeks
  • In some cases, a Portable CMU session may include a Sunday morning sermon (within a ~one-hour worship service)

Regardless of form, it is essential that congregations be in direct conversation with the faculty member who is offering the Portable. Faculty want to tailor Portable options to the particular needs and interests of individual congregations in ways that are also feasible for themselves. Please contact Hilda Nikkel to help facilitate this connection with CMU faculty.

Portable CMU Cost

  • $100 per session (Note: one Portable CMU session is equivalent to about 60 minutes of input and facilitation from faculty)
  • There is limited budget to cover travel expenses. Churches cover transportation, housing and meals.

Inquiries and Booking

For further information, to inquire about reserving a session, or to speak with a faculty member, please contact

Hilda Nikkel
Canadian Mennonite University
Email: PortableCMU:@:cmu.ca
Phone: 204.487.3300
Toll-free: 877.231.4570

Please call early to make a booking since some offerings will be in high demand. We welcome bookings both by individual congregations and by two or more congregations working together.

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