FALL 2010 Course Offerings

Christianity in America: Puritans to the 20th Century Joseph F. Kelly, Ph.D.

Six Mondays, October 4 to November 8, 2010 | $90 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Church of the Saviour | 2537 Lee Road | Cleveland Heights, Ohio | 44118

Dr. Kelly brings his incisive knowledge of Christianity to trace its unfolding history in this country under the influence and impact of American values such as democracy, free speech and the separation of church and state. This timely topic will increase our understanding of where Christians are now and why. From the earliest colonies, through the Salem Witch trials, through the growth of Protestantism, the effects of the Enlightenment and western expansion to Modernism
and Fundamentalism, Dr. Kelly will present it all with wit, clarity, and enthusiasm. (Click on "Reviews" in the left margin).

Joseph F. Kelly, Ph.D., is a Professor of Christian History in the Religious Studies Department of John Carroll University. He has written over a dozen books, including The Origins of Christmas (2004), and The Birth of Christ According to the Gospels (2008).

From Parchment to Canvas: Painting the Bible George Matejka, Ph.D.
Workshop Saturday, November 13 | $40 | 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Add $10 for a box lunch
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral | 2230 Euclid Avenue | Parking off 22nd & Prospect Avenue | Cleveland, Ohio | 44115

Some of the most well-known paintings of all time have as their subjects characters or scenes from various books of the Bible. Our workshop will explore first the biblical texts and then various paintings based upon those texts. Our goal will be to appreciate better the formative influence that artists have had on our interpretations of many biblical texts. Among other texts, we will look at the eating of the forbidden fruit in Genesis 3, the “Flight into Egypt” in Matthew 2, and Paul on the road to Damascus in Acts 9. In our study, we will consider how an artist’s interpretation of a text has influenced the Church’s appreciation of that same text. Are artists similar to theologians in this regard?

George Matejka, Ph.D., has served as the Chair of the Philosophy Department of Ursuline College since 1999. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Duquesne University and a License in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy where he specialized in biblical studies. He is the 2005 recipient of the Ursuline College Teaching Excellence Award.

A Dialogue on Race—Not the Same Old Conversation Elizabeth Welch Robenalt, M.A.

Five Tuesdays, September 28 to October 26, 2010 | $75 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Plymouth Church | 2860 Coventry Road | Cleveland, Ohio | 44120

Expect more “ah-ha” moments of self-discovery and find opportunities for further insights when you participate in this course of interactive dialogues about personal and social identity! This course will function as a beginning for first time attendees and as a follow-up for anyone who has taken any of her courses before. This series requires no prior experience, but will also be of interest for anyone who has taken Ms. Robenalt’s first course using Beverly Daniel Tatum’s book, Why Do All the Black Kids Sit Together in the Cafeteria? It continues the conversation about racial identity and the meanings we make about it, and how we engage each other across it. Through small group and paired conversations, you will discover for yourself how the use of your own experience within guided dialogue supports personal and professional learning, and authentic communication across and through identity differences.

Elizabeth Welch Robenalt, M.A., C.D.P., returns to CEIRS with her deep insights on racial awareness, identity and dialogue. Elizabeth is a diversity management and organizational consulting professional in Cleveland. In addition to her own practice, she is also an inclusion consultant at Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, designing and guiding numerous Dialogues on Race for administrators, faculty and staff. She has served as a Professional Development Specialist with The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio.

A New Kind of Christianity by Brian McLaren—a Book Study Ralph Hise, Ph.D.

Five Mondays, October 18 to November 15, 2010 | $75 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Fairmount Presbyterian Church | 2757 Fairmount Boulevard | Cleveland Heights, Ohio | 44118

Brian McLaren conducted a workshop and lectured at First Baptist Church of Greater Cleveland this past May to about 250 attendees. This course is a follow up to go more deeply into the ten questions he began to address and that are addressed in his latest book: A New Kind of Christianity. In his book, Brian sees the questions kicking off a quest for new ways to believe and new ways to live in serving faithfully in the way of Jesus. McLaren describes a quest in which the disciple (or believer or Christian) moves from an orthodoxy of “right beliefs” to one in which orthodoxy is characterized by believing in a loving, sacrificial, Christ-like manner.” The course will be conducted in the spirit of such a quest.

Ralph Hise, Ph.D., earned his doctorate at Northwestern University. He has spent forty years teaching a scholarly approach to: New and Old Testaments, the writings and life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Apostles Paul and John, the ancient history of the Hebrew people, and the Dead Sea Scrolls.  Recent book studies he has led include: Kenneth Miller’s Finding Darwin’s God and Brian McLaren’s Generous Orthodoxy. He is the recipient of a CBA teaching award. He has been a lecturer at The Chautauqua Institute and for the Cleveland Ecumenical Institute for Religious Studies.

Isn’t it time you visited Italy? Save these dates—May 23 – June 3, 2011

Southern Italy—A Road Less Traveled: History, Caravaggio, and Social Justice.

Join Fr. George Smiga and Mr. Joseph Cistone of International Partners in Mission (IPM) for a twelve day experience of Italy from May 23 to June 3, 2011. This trip takes the road less traveled. Beginning with a brief stay in Rome we will move south through Naples, Reggio di Calabria, Sicily, and Malta. Historically, we will visit the National Archeological Museum in Naples, the recently discovered Riace Warriors (the most perfect Greek bronzes in the world—5th century B.C.E), the Greek theater in Syracuse, and the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. Artistically, we will see and discuss Caravaggio’s
Judith Beheading Holofernes, The Raising of Lazarus, The Burial of St. Lucy, and The Beheading of John the Baptist. Consistent with the mission of IPM we will also examine world issues of social justice and visit the Nigerian Sisters of the Sacred Heart who work to rescue women in forced prostitution. The trip will include comfortable accommodations, superb Italian food and wine, and a full day of relaxation in Taormina, Sicily. [Click on "Photo Gallery" to see scenes of Taormina].
The cost for the trip is $3,000 per person (double occupancy) excluding airfare. For further details and registration contact Tiffany Lee ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 216-932-4082).