Intersession 2021

ECO Core Intensive: January 11-15

Educating to “Create Just and Sustainable Communities that Counter Oppressions” (“ECO”) is a core goal of Starr King’s M.Div. and M.A.S.C. degree programs. In this required core intensive, M.Div. and M.A.S.C. students work together to form a framework for counter-oppressive spiritual leadership. We will ask: how can spirituality, ministry, and religious activism respond to the multiple and intersecting realities of injustice, suffering, and oppression in our lives and our world? What models of justice and sustainable community invite our commitment? Drawing on Unitarian Universalist and multi-religious sources, we will explore how in the midst of a world marked by tragedy, sorrow and injustice there remain abiding resources of beauty and grace that nourish resistance, offer healing and call us to accountability and community building. Reading and writing assignments to be completed before the course. Final paper. This course has a special focus on economic and racial justice addressed intersectionally. Relates to Thresholds #2,5,7 and 8 and MFC Competency #4. Please take within your first year. Limited to 20 students.

Introduction to Preaching in a Cross Cultural Context: January 19-23

Introduction to Preaching in a Cross Cultural Context: This non-lectionary, thematic preaching course embraces counter oppressive ministry through worship and the arts. Hands on learning will combine the sharing and peer review of brief homilies with exercises aimed at identifying your authentic preaching voice. Each student will also deliver two full-length sermons in class. Questions of how to make our worship services more relevant in today’s culturally shifting world will be explored through thea/ological study of homiletics through a libratory lens and an engagement with issues of cultural appropriation and misappropriation in Unitarian Universalist liturgical practice. Students from all traditions welcome.

Pre-requisites: ECO core intensive or equivalent. Starr King thresholds 1, 2, 6 and 7, and MFC Competency 1. This course is for M.Div students and will be evaluated based on sermons and class participation. Maximum enrollment: 10

Students must contact the instructor via e-email prior to enrolling in order to receive permission to register. Registration is contingent upon faculty approval.

Multireligious Core Intensive: January 11-15

Multireligious Intensive: Amidst the Blessing of the Ancestors weaves teachings on organic multireligiosity from Shaykh Ibrahim Baba / Dr. Ibrahim Abdurrahman Farajaje with practices of ancestral engagement. Organic multiregliosity “interrupts practices of considering religions as monolithic, rigidly-separated traditions in conflict with one another [and] understands them as having complex and constantly-morphing relationships…” (Ibrahim Baba). This intensive focuses on multireligiosity in personal practice, in spiritual leadership, and toward countering oppression and cultural (mis)appropriation. This course includes conceptual exploration and embodied practice with work in ancestral lineage engagement, reverence and healing. Students complete readings and watch / listen to recordings and submit a reflection post prior to the intensive, and complete a second reflection paper after the intensive. Required for MDiv and MASC degrees. Limited to 20 students. Intended audience: All degree programs. Relates to Thresholds: I, II, IV, VI, VII. Relates to MFC: I, III, VII. Maximum enrollment: 20

SKSM Symposium

Starr King’s 9th Annual Symposium, will be held January 9th, 2021. This urban retreat is an annual gathering of entire student body, faculty, staff, trustees, and friends for a day of learning, ritual, celebration, food, music, community-building and service. The academic course is required for all SKSM students: M.Div candidates must register for at least two Symposia and MASC students for one. Students who have completed their Symposium academic credit are welcome to attend the event without registering for course credit. Symposium registration is a two (2) step process: (1) Enroll for the Symposium as a course through Populi to ensure course credit AND (2) Complete a separate event registration form on the SKSM Symposium web page. In order to obtain credit, students must read all required readings before Symposium, participate fully in the event, and complete the reflection paper, which must be submitted to your advisor. [Auditors excluded]