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I have friends who have said to me “Oh I couldn’t be Christian. I can’t just turn my brain off and not believe in evolution.”  I reply as you might expect that you don’t have to turn your brain off to be a Christian.  If you do not read the Bible literally as a black and white document that appeared from God’s pen to the human page, you absolutely must use your brain to understand your faith.  The Bible is the inspired word of God, but that means that we must take into account the historical time period in which a letter or gospel was written, as well as the point of view of the person who wrote the Biblical story.  There is much critical analysis to be done when approaching the Bible. 

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As my faith continues to grow and mature, so too does my need to continually refresh my knowledge. I need to be reading the latest theology and to attend workshops and conferences that not only feed my soul, but challenge me to think hard about and work to understand my faith.

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In recent years I have participated in the following Continuing Education events:
The Festival of Homiletics is a preaching conference that brings in some of the best preachers in the country.  I attended “Why Christian?” a conference dedicated to helping progressive liberal Christians struggle with the question “Why do I continue to be Christian given all the abuses done in the name of Jesus.” 

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I have also completed a two year Contemplative Spiritual Direction Training program through the Alcyon Center in Maine. I attend local continuing education events like the New Hampshire Conference’s “Prepared to Serve” and “Clergy Days.” 

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Taking courses online has also been amazing. I have completed “The Eyes of the Heart: Spiritual Photography” through Abbey of the Arts in Ireland; Spirituality and the Senses from Hamilton College and am currently taking “Religious Literacy: Traditions and Scriptures” through Harvard University.