Our class meets in room 235 in the Education wing of Evangel Temple.

Download the 2022 Christmas book from Life Together members

Thanks to the class members who wrote for this, to Lois Olena who edited and created the book, and to Stan and Ruth Burgess who funded the publication of the work.


Spring Session 2023

The class has selected:

Do I Stay Christian: A Guide for the Doubters, the Disappointed, and the Disillusioned by Brian McLaren

This book is new this year and has three sections. The first is the No answer, the second, Yes, and the third How. This book is both apologetic for Christ and Christianity and gives fair reason for Church critics. I don't suppose this will be an easy read, but it would be good for those who wish to have a conversation about Christ with insiders and outsiders.

Please volunteer for one or more of the weeks below marked "Volunteer." Let Doug or Marty Know. Thanks!

DateInstructorTopic
Part I The “No” Answer
February 5Doug OlenaIntroduction to Do I Stay Christian, setting up the Spring study.
“Introduction” and Chapter 1. “Because Christianity has Been Vicious to Its Mother
(Anti-Semitism)”
February 12Catherine McGee2. “Because of Christianity’s Suppression of Dissent
(Christian vs. Christian Violence)”
3. “Because of Christianity’s High Global Death Toll—and Life Toll
(Crusader Colonialism)”
Presentation
February 19Don Tosh4. “Because of Christianity’s Loyal Company Men”
(Institutionalism)
5. “Because of Christianity’s Real Master
(Money)”
Presentation
February 26Don Tosh6. “Because of the White Christian Old Boys’ Network
(White Patriarchy)”
7. “Because Christianity Is Stuck
(Toxic Theology)”
Presentation
March 5Eric Friesen8. “Because Christianity Is a Failed Religion
(Lack of Transformation)”
9. “Because of Christianity’s Great Wall of Bias
(Constricted Intellectualism)”
10. “Because Christianity Is a Sinking, Shrinking Ship of Wrinkling People
(Demographics)”
Part II The “Yes” Answer
March 12Marty Mittelstadt11. “Because Leaving Hurts Allies
(and Helps Their Opponents)”
12. “Because Leaving Defiantly or Staying Compliantly Are Not My Only Options”
13. “Because … Where Else Would I Go?”
Notes
March 16-18This is the SPS meeting in Tulsa. We have decided to cancel class on the 19th.
March 19There will be no class today
March 26Lois Olena14. “Because It Would Be a Shame to Leave a Religion in Its Infancy”
15. “Because of Our Legendary Founder”
16. “Because Innocence Is an Addiction, and Solidarity Is the Cure”
Notes
April 2Volunteer17. “Because I’m Human”
18. “Because Christianity Is Changing (for the Worse and for the Better)”
19. “To Free God”
April 9There will be no Sunday School today. ET will be hosting a visiting day and we are invited to be hosts.
April 16Doug Olena20. “Because of Fermi’s Paradox and the Great Filter”
Part III The “How” Answer
21. “Include and Transcend”
April 23Volunteer22. “Start with the Heart”
23. “Re-Wild”
April 30Volunteer24. “Find the Flow”
25. “Re-Consecrate Everything”
May 7Marty Mittlestadt26. “Renounce and Announce”
27. “Stay Loyal to Reality”
28. “Stay Human”

Summer Session 2023

This season, we will be asking the class to provide meditations on the book of Psalms. This may be personal, devotional, literary, scientific, or any approach that you have found edifying. Please feel free to volunteer for as many weeks as you want. Let Marty or Doug know if there is a week that suits you.

DateInstructorTopic
May 7Marty MittelstadtIntroduction to The Book of Psalms
May 14VolunteerThe Book of Psalms
May 21VolunteerThe Book of Psalms
May 28VolunteerThe Book of Psalms
June 4VolunteerThe Book of Psalms
June 11VolunteerThe Book of Psalms
June 18VolunteerThe Book of Psalms
June 25VolunteerThe Book of Psalms
July 2VolunteerThe Book of Psalms
July 9VolunteerThe Book of Psalms
July 16VolunteerThe Book of Psalms
July 23VolunteerThe Book of Psalms
July 30VolunteerThe Book of Psalms
August 6VolunteerThe Book of Psalms
August 13VolunteerThe Book of Psalms
August 20VolunteerThe Book of Psalms
August 27VolunteerThe Book of Psalms