Academic Courses (honours and graduate)

Role Perceptions of Women in Children’s Literature

All ages and cultures have used story as a means of telling new generations about the past and educating children about desired codes of behavior. Story telling seems to have been important to human beings even before writing became a means to preserve these tales.  Accordingly this course will begin by examining the oral and written narratives used by mothers to inculturate their daughters. 

You will learn to decipher the hidden wisdom and to discern the social conditioning implied in stories such as "Little Red Riding Hood."  Then, once learned, these skills will be applied to modern English literature designed for children.  Overall, this course will enable women to recover their past in order to better design the future for their mothers, sisters, and children. 

up & running

course begins 8 September 2008

Women’s leadership according to Christian tradition

The course outlines the main stages of women’s involvement in Christian ministry. It sketches the background and details of the ordination of women deacons. It describes the various social and cultural prejudices that gradually caused the ban on women’s leadership functions to be enshrined in Church law. The course also provides a professional approach to the rules of assessing what is, and what is not, genuine Christian Tradition.

up & running

course begins 8 September 2008

Women's ministries according to the Sacred Scriptures

In many major Christian Churches, such as the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, women are still excluded from church leadership. This means that women:
* cannot be deacons, priests, bishops or popes
* cannot run a diocese, preside at the eucharist, forgive sins through confession or the anointing of the sick, impart authoritative teaching on faith or morals, etc.

The traditionalists claim that the exclusion of women from church leadership can be proved from the inspired scriptures. This course aims to show that they are wrong. Sacred Scripture does not ban women from church leadership.

first test run in the fall

course begins 8 September 2008

A prophetic spirituality of justice

"What does it mean to minister today? It means awareness, authenticity, and transfiguration, transfiguration, transfiguration" ( Joan Chittester).

Spirituality is …“that which ultimately moves you- the fundamental motivation of your life.

Spirituality is…"inclusive and holistic. It crosses frontiers and makes connections. It is characterised by sensitivity, gentleness, depth, openness, flow, feeling, quietness, wonder, paradox, being, waiting, acceptance, awareness, healing and inner journey" (Neil Paynter).

Clare and Francis--Mutual Influence of Two Kindred Spirits

How is it possible that, in the midst of an economic boom, Francis of Assisi (and others) could have become enamored by the mystique of poverty. How was this mystique of Francis both a powerful medicine and a severe critique of the quest for wealth that fueled the 12th century (and our own as well)?

As for Clare, this wasn't the first time that a charismatic figure attracted women who, despite strong social prohibitions, passionately insisted upon following his example. What did Clair contribute to Francis and his brothers? To what degree did Francis expand or alter the roles permitted to women within his society? How do Clare and Francis provide a model for ministerial collaboration in today's society?