Learning

All of our learning opportunities reflect our effort to answer these two questions: “What is a mature Christian?” and “How do we as a church love, call, encourage, and challenge one another to mature as Christians?”

Historic Christian denominations such as Orthodox, Roman, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Congregational, etc., give slightly different answers to those questions. Some emphasize obedience, some tradition, and some compassion for the poor. Evangelical and nondenominational groups also give a variety of answers. One fellow stands outside the Marquette University residence halls and tries to get students to convert from Roman Catholic or other historic denominations to evangelicalism. He believes the best way to show his love of Christ is to save people, and he is sure that only born again evangelicals are saved.

So What Does It Mean to Be a Christian?

What is a mature Christian?  How would you answer that question?  Would you include obedience to God’s law in your answer? Attention to the ways our ancestors sought to live as faithful Christians, also known as tradition? Compassion for the poor, exploited, and oppressed? Telling others about God’s love in Christ Jesus? What would be your attitude toward those who do not believe as you do--conversation, conversion, condemnation? And once you have settled on a definition of a mature Christian, how would you go about instructing, guiding, and strengthening others, and yourself, to continually mature in Christ’s image?

To help us answer these questions, we entered into a three-year covenant with Alverno College. Founded by the School Sisters of St. Francis, Alverno has an international reputation for excellent education. Now in the third year of our consultations with Alverno, we have incorporated several practices to help us mature as Christians. These practices include: Hospitality, defined as the ability to make deep friendships; Compassion, defined as the ability to recognize suffering and injustice and to act with the resources one has; Biblical and Theological Literacy, defined as the ability to read, understand, and incorporate the teachings of scripture in one’s life; and Worship and Prayer, defined as the ability to open oneself to be shaped by the living Christ and by other people of faith.

The above expresses the purpose that drives all our educational offerings.  For a list of current classes, book studies, retreats, etc. for adults and children, click here.