Summer 2021

Advanced Topics in Gender and Religion Intensive – July 26-30 and Aug 2-6

This course will explore ancient and modern constructions of gender and how that impacts an understanding of sacred texts, not only in questions of translation and gender performance but in the pressing need for safe inclusive spaces. Trans and intersex people have been violently victimized, ostracized, and demonized by oppressive readings of sacred texts. Understanding ancient physiology demonstrates that our “scientific” or “natural” conceptions of gender change; they are not fixed but shaped by culture and society. We are currently at the cusp of a broader cultural/social paradigm shift as scientists are more clearly and publicly making known that a focus on two sexes cannot be supported biologically, further supporting the work that gender theorists such as Judith Butler have pioneered. While many welcome the possibilities that are on the horizon, others are using religion as a cudgel to continue to promote the concept of gender binaries. The required text, Brooke Holmes, Gender: Antiquity and Its Legacy, should be read before the start of the course, there will be a writing assignment on it to be submitted prior to the first class. In addition to the required text, there will be readings assigned through Moodle once the course begins. The first week of the course will be setting the historical, cultural, and literary context for the course which will center on Greek, Roman, Jewish, and Christian sources. The second week will be student-led with presentations based on the individual research interests of the students, resulting in a variety of collective resources on gender and religion (not limited to Jewish and Christian traditions). [Monday & Tuesday August 2nd and 3rd will be student research days for their presentations, no synchronous meeting.] Relates to Thresholds # 2, 3, 4. Not open to incoming students.

This hybrid course will meet 3 hours synchronously M-F July 26-30 and W-F Aug 4-6 from 10am to 1pm PT on zoom paired with daily asynchronous lectures and activities. 3 Units. 4000 level course. [18 max enrollment; Auditors excluded]

ChI Chaplaincy Electives

For joint-program students participating in Chaplaincy Institute (ChI) courses as part of the Interfaith Chaplaincy & Ministry Certificate. Students enrolling in ChI electives earn credit based on the total number of courses completed in a term. Please contact the SKSM registrar for a manual adjustment of credit level based on electives chosen. The following electives are offered in Summer 2021: Eco-Ministry (Jun. 3-5; 1.5 units); The Business of Ministry (Jun. 11-12; 1 unit); Healthcare Chaplaincy (Jul. 12-14; 1.5 units); Being with Dying & Death Jul. 15-17; 1.5 units). Some additional coursework will be conducted online.

ChI electives are only for students who have been admitted to the SKSM-ChI joint program and are not available to other SKSM students or to students from other GTU schools. Relevance for SKSM thresholds and MFC competencies varies by elective. Max. enrollment 15; auditors excluded.

ChI Ministry Basics 3

For joint-program students participating in Chaplaincy Institute (ChI) courses as part of the Chaplaincy Program Certificate. In this course, areas of focus include: projection, transference and countertransference, spiritual care and addiction, ministry with the ill and dying, grief and loss, trauma-informed care, ministerial boundaries, dreamwork, and self-care in ministry. The ChI curriculum incorporates lecture, dyad/small group work, various art modalities, and site visits to deepen our many ways of learning and integrating new awareness.

This course is only for students who have been admitted to the SKSM-ChI joint program and is not available to other SKSM students or to students from other GTU schools. Meets June 7-10 + additional online coursework. Relevant for SKSM thresholds 1, 2, and 6; MFC competency 3. Max. enrollment: 10; auditors excluded

ChI Spiritual Direction III

For joint-program students participating in Chaplaincy Institute (ChI) courses as part of the Interfaith Spiritual Direction Certificate. This course is the third of four quarterly classes in the 2021 program. The certificate is designed to inspire, nurture and educate those who are called to serve as Spiritual Directors in our increasingly diverse world. Our innovative program focuses on a combination of the study of world religions, an exploration of personal spirituality, and spiritual direction skills….all in a creatively infused context. Each course focuses on the development of practical skills and competencies for offering spiritual direction to persons of varying religious beliefs and backgrounds. This immersion in the arts of ministry combines pedagogies of theoretical, practical, and artistic learning.

This course is only for students who have been admitted to the SKSM-ChI joint program and is not available to other SKSM students or to students from other GTU schools.

ChI Spiritual Traditions 1

Global Spiritual Traditions 1: for joint-program students participating in Chaplaincy Institute (ChI) courses as part of the Interfaith Chaplaincy and Ministry Certificate. The first of a two-part series that introduces students to ChI’s core philosophy and learning approach as well as an introduction to World Religions and/or spiritual paths that have their origins in earth-centered, indigenous practice (Africa, Pagan, First Nation and other indigenous worldviews), as well as ancient Eastern philosophy and belief systems (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism). While engaging with the world’s knowledge, beliefs, traditions, scriptures, and practices, the ChI curriculum incorporates lecture, dyad/small group work, various art modalities, and site visits to deepen our many ways of learning and integrating new awareness. This course is only for students who have been admitted to the SKSM-ChI joint program and is not available to other SKSM students or to students from other GTU schools.

Meets Aug. 17-21 + additional online coursework. Relevant for SKSM thresholds 1, 2, and 6; MFC competency 3. Maximum enrollment: 10.​; auditors excluded

ECO Core Intensive – Aug.16-20 and Aug 23-25

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 8 day 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. All readings assigned are to be completed before the course begins. Please note, the readings for this course are extensive, and involve both the required texts as well as readings available online in the student platform. Please start the readings early. In addition, one prerequisite writing assignment is due by Friday August 13th in order that all students have the opportunity to read each others’ papers before the first synchronous gathering. This intensive course will utilize Moodle as a means to access resources, post assignments, as well as share materials and resources before and after the intensive session. This hybrid course will meet synchronously M-F Aug.16-20 and M-W Aug 23-25 from 10am to 1pm PST. Two hours of additional daily asynchronous online discussion and exercises will be part of the 8 day intensive session. Students will have the opportunity to lead a five minute opening or closing ritual during the synchronous time together. Signups for leading a ritual will be available through the course Moodle site. Following the intensive week, students will write a final 7-9 page integrative reflection paper.

Relates to Thresholds #2,5,7 and 8 and MFC Competency #4.

The August 2021 ECO Core Intensive will have a special focus on economic and racial justice, addressed intersectionally.
3 Units .Minimum 6 Limit 20. Online.

Multi-Religious Core Intensive

This course will present a framework for the practice and understanding of multi-religiosity, in a collaborative and pluralist environment. It will draw upon contemporary texts and guest lectures representing a diversity of faith traditions to provide an integrative context for understanding religious identity as non-binary and multifaceted. Students will be encouraged to participate in multi-spiritual practice and share their own multi-religious experiences and rituals to foster discussion about non-binary religious identity from a variety of perspectives.

Course Format and Evaluation: intensive, with final presentation and research paper or project on a specific topic or theme relating to multi-religiosity. Intended audience: all degree programs.

Required for the M.Div. and/or MASC. Relates to Thresholds: I, II, IV, VI, VII. Relates to MFC: I, III, VII. Course meets daily, 8/16/21-8/20/21 and 8/23/21-8/27/21, 2 hours synchronous (10am-12pm PST) and 2 hours asynchronous per day. [25 max enrollment; Auditors excluded]

Seminary 101: Group Learning

This course orients incoming SKSM students to the seminary curriculum and learning environment; discusses introductory readings (connected to major courses in the curriculum); establishes habits for critical reading and writing in graduate school; as well as offers an understanding of the history, Unitarian Universalist tradition, multi-religiosity, and educational thresholds of our school. Learn how to be successful in learning online, meeting seminary course requirements, and contributing as a responsible member of a learning community. This self-paced course can start instantly with flexible deadlines and rolling engagement to fit your Summer schedule. It includes four 1-week modules,which each take 10-15 hours to complete. The course can be completed in as few as 4 weeks, beginning on Monday, June 28, July 5, July 12 or July 19. Online, asynchronous, with 2-3 Zoom sessions. Relates to Threshold 7.

Songs for Survival: Music and Religion

This course explores the relationship between music and religion in human experience. In order to do this, we will start with a broad look at the development of written music in the worship setting, as well as music as a component of thought and a vehicle for ideas. We will turn to the role music plays in social movements by looking closely at the 20th century in the United States with special attention to the role of songs in the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Liberation Movement. We will also explore popular music that arises out of African American traditions of resistance and the ways it functions in society today. We will explore the religious dimensions of popular music as well as the importance of music for social movements. This course will have one two-hour synchronous session a week of lecture and guest presentations. It will include another hour-long asynchronous section supplementing the lecture material. There will be weekly asynchronous online discussions as well as 4 short papers. There will be the option of a final project or research paper depending on the level and interest of the students. This class is intended for MDIV and MASC students, but can be modified for any students who are interested in the topic.

This course fulfills SKSM Thresholds #2.7,and 8 and MFC competencies #1 and 4. This course starts on June 3 and ends on July 22nd.

The Sacred and The Substance

This synchronous online course seeks to formulate a history of psychedelia today, including modern history while at the same time attending to some of the inherent harms associated with the movement. We’ll explore how traditional communities association with sacred plants has been both respected and exploited by new practitioners, some of them with the best of intent. We’ll look at technical practices with sacred plants and explore the role of exotification and Global tourism. We’ll look at the division between the religious and the spiritual and the notion of Spiritual bypass. We’ll also pay attention to the laws governing substance use, from mandated 12 step meetings to the role of the DEA in regulating what is considered Sacred. Finally, we’ll be exploring the new crop of Guide training programs to see what they say about the future of psychedelia in the movement. This course will feature queer, indigenous, and POC perspectives. We will have guest lecturers from some of the prominent voices in this psychedelic community today. Reflection papers, final projects, and/or a final paper will be used for evaluation. This course is intended for all of those with an interest in the topic. Previous experience is not a prerequisite. The course will meet twice a week from 7/5 to 8/5 (Monday and Wednesday, 10-1 PST)

UU Ministerial Leadership Core Intensive – August 11-13 and 16-20

This CORE intensive course is co-taught by Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt and Rev.Tera Klein and focuses on the theological foundations and habits of mind necessary to be a self-defined leader among Unitarian Universalists, either in congregations or in other UU settings. Students will have the opportunity to test their current skills in a series of real-world challenges likely to be faced in parish or community settings. The goal is to allow student the chance to confront possible issues while the stakes are low. Role playing, small group work and reflection papers will be required. This is a required course for the M.Div. program.
Relates to SKSM Thresholds 1 & 5 and MFC Comps 2, 5 & 7.

ECO course is required.

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

Course meets August 11-13 and 16-20. The course will include three hours of synchronous work (10:00 am PST to 1:00 pm PST) and two hours of asynchronous work each day. [20 max enrollment; Faculty Consent required; Auditors excluded]