Summer 2014

Animal Rights Readings of the Quran

The first part of this course will examine the Quranic texts pertaining to non-human animals. The remainder of the course will examine the growing Muslim theological literature based in readings of the Quran that argue for an inter-species ethic of care and mutuality with all creatures and places Quranic intra-species ethics within the framework of an inter-species ethics. Pre-requisite readings will be announced and written assignments will be due four weeks after the course ends.

Introduction to Womanist Theoethics

This August intensive will provide students with an introduction to womanist approaches to the study of theology and ethics. Focusing on rehumanizing methodologies grounded in the lived experiences of women of color in Diaspora, this class will offer an intersectional, counter-oppressive lens on moral questions in the day-to-day world. Womanist scholars such as Emilie Townes, Katie Cannon, Delores Williams, Monica Coleman, and Melanie Harris will be used to explore the dismantling of oppression around issues of race, gender and sexuality, and class. Prerequisite readings will be announced.

Sacred Texts Across Traditions

Sacred Texts Across Traditions is a survey of orature from Indigenous People’s oral traditions, the Hebrew Bible, Christian Scriptures, Upanishads, Qur’an, Tao te Ching, as well as secondary hermeneutical texts. This course examines creation, genders and sexualities, peace and justice, spiritual body and celestial earth, environment and embodiment in texts and orature from the perspective of multireligious intertextuality. This perspective allows us to present the sacred texts in conversation with each other. This provides a context for reading them in a manner that allows recognition of interconnections between texts that might not be immediately identifiable. We will expand this by using the interrelation between hypertextuality, interdiscursivity and oral tradition to deepen the notion of “text”.

Symposium 2014

Starr King’s third Symposium will be held on August 27-28, 2014.

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• This urban retreat is an annual gathering of our entire student body, faculty, staff and trustees for two days of learning, ritual, celebration, food, music, community-building and service.
• This 2014 Symposium is led by Provost, Dr. Ibrahim Abdurrahman Farajajé in collaboration with other SKSM faculty and community leaders. Starr King students are requested to enroll.
• Graduates are warmly invited to participate.
• Several public events in connection with the Symposium are open to all.
• Students please note: This is a two (2) step process (1) Complete the registration form on the SKSM Symposium website (www.sksmsymposium.org) for event needs; and (2) Enroll for the Symposium as a course through this SKSM website to ensure course credit. See How to Register for a Starr King Course.
• Travel fellowships for low residency students available. Look for the full program, which is posted on the SKSM Symposium website.
• This is a required course for all SKSM students. Students please go to the SKSM Symposium website (www.sksmsymposium.org) under Symposium Leaders tab and select “Recommended Reading” section on that website to see what reading is required before Symposium.
• 1.5 units of credit will be given to students who are currently enrolled in a degree program.
• In order to obtain credit, students must read all required readings before Symposium, SIGN the attendance roster for each event, and be active in large and small group discussions.
• In addition, students are asked to work at least ONE work shift before or during Symposium. Making certain that you are signed in is the student’s responsibility.
• Everyone is required to complete the Registration Form, so we can prepare for your presence and address any special needs.
• For further information, please contact Dee Ward, Coordinator of Academic Programs (dward@sksm.edu).

View a slideshow of highlights from Symposium 2013 “Loving Our Earth”

Unitarian Universalist Religious Leadership in Congregation and Community Contexts

We will examine the roles and responsibilities and theologies that inform contemporary Unitarian Universalist conceptualizations of religious leadership, both ministerial and lay. Our focus will be on community and congregation case studies as we consider generational, cultural and traditional frame works that inspire and inhibit religious leaders to understand their authority and their accountabilities as agents for change.  This course is the M.Div. UU Ministry Core Intensive.