Online Course: Awakening the Church to Social Justice

This is an online course is co-sponsored by the Center for Social Justice & Reconciliation (CSJR) and the Leadership Institute of Union Presbyterian Seminary.

Online Course Title: Awakening the Church to Social Justice

Course Dates: Mondays, May 2 – June 13, 2022, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET (No class meeting on May 30)

Course Description: This six-week, online course is designed to provide exposure to some foundational issues of Social Justice, with a view toward encouraging activism in local churches and communities. While historical and theoretical issues of injustice will be the doorway to engaging a more activist life, the focus of the course will ultimately be on possible avenues of practical application for social justice within the context of ministry.

Presentation and class discussion will be complemented by various special guests invited to engage the class each week. These nationally and internationally renowned scholars and practitioners, who have successfully implemented historic Ministries of Social Justice, will provide insight into their methods and theology through weekly structured and facilitated conversations. Course participants will be provided the rare opportunity for Q&A and interaction with these historic figures.

This course, open to all, will expose participants to various forms and methods of enacting social justice within their own churches, ministries, and communities.

In addition to weekly class meetings, this course will include both reading and written assignments. However, as a continuing education course, no grades or degree credits will be issued. Certificates of completion for the course can be provided to those course participants who fulfill the course requirements.

Led by: Rev. Dr. Peter Wherry, Senior Pastor, Mayfield Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC

Leader Bio: The Rev. Dr. Peter M. Wherry is a 43-year veteran pastor, community leader, social activist and scholar. Since January of 2007, he has been Senior Pastor of the Mayfield Memorial Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC.

Through his work as Founding Moderator of the United Missionary Baptist Association, Dr. Wherry provided leadership in Charlotte and its surrounding counties to 70 churches, mostly Baptist, having a constituency of over 40,000 persons. He is one of the pioneer foot soldiers of the Forward Together Moral Movement under the leadership of Rev. Dr. William Barber, having been among the first two groups of people who submitted themselves for arrest while petitioning the North Carolina General Assembly for economic and social justice, including the fight against voter suppression.

He has served as guest lecturer and featured preacher in several seminaries, including Gordon Conwell in Charlotte, NC, Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte, NC, Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA, and the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA.

Online Course Format:  Weekly class meetings via Zoom Technology, along with assignments posted on Blackboard, the seminary’s learning management system (login credentials provided). Participants will need an electronic device equipped with a reliable Internet connection, built-in or external microphone, and a built-in or external webcam.

Cost:

$175 per individual, if register by April 10, 2022. (Note: Beginning, April 11, 2022, individual price increases by $50. Register early and save!).

CEUs: 3.0 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) for this event. Note: CEU certificates can be generated upon request at the time of the event.

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Online registration is open. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

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Waiting List: Space is limited. Register early to reserve your spot. Once event reaches capacity, a waiting list will be started.