Back to school!

Parishioner Jenn Ashton, who is discerning for ordination to the diaconate with the Anglican Church of Canada, is heading back to school this week. With her is the Reverend Helen Dunn, priest at St Clement's. Jenn will be taking two classes through Vancouver School of Theology's, Indigenous Studies Summer School, an holistic and interdisciplinary program. Courses examine sacred scripture, theology, and philosophy through the lens of Indigenous thought. Courses achieve this by examining social data, literary-oral tradition and the artistic cultural aspects of Indigenous spirituality. Jenn will join the Rev Dr. Ray Aldred in week 1 for 21st Century Theology: Modern, Post-Modern, and Indigenous, and the Ven. Katene Eruera in week 2 for Exploring Indigenous Perspectives in Church Leadership: A Māori Lens.

Helen will audit Vancouver School of Theology's, Critical Theories and the New Testament with Dr Angela Parker. Considering what the church (and minister's) role is in providing language to transform society, this course will explore postmodernist philosophies, feminist theory, multiculturalism, queer theory, masculinity studies, cultural studies, critical race social theories, postcolonial interpretations, and womanist thought in relation to the New Testament.