There is much in the nature of Anglican identity and understandings of our Christian history that has changed in the church and in academia in the last several decades.  In response to this changing world Bloy House has made several important curriculum alterations, adding a new course and renaming two others to better reflect the nature of the material being discussed in our contemporary class settings.

Our church history class has been redesigned to be one semester in length and to also include the voices of many who have not been included in classical church history course work.  By taking into account the history of lay leaders, members of the global church, and those whose voices were often discounted by the political and religious establishment, students have the opportunity to gain a fuller sense of the ways in which the history of Christian persons has progressed over the course of the last two millennia.

A Grassroots History of Christianity

"A Grassroots History of Christianity" examines "who we are" today by tracing the history of that multifaceted phenomenon, Christianity, through the centuries. In addition to exploring influential people, developments, and ideas in that history, the course includes persons whose voices have not always been heard in the councils of the church, those of women, the laity, those living in non-Western nations, even heretics! The failures as well as the achievements of Christianity receive special attention.

This class, taught by the Rev. Dr. Pat Ash (pictured above left), will offer stimulating, provocative, and transformative perspectives on the history of Christianity, inviting us all to more deeply embrace our Christian tradition while still courageously and truthfully confronting the ways in which Christianity has not always been able to live up to its own ideals.  Through the wit and acuity of Dr. Ash, students will gain a deeper appreciation for the nature of "the tradition" and the ways in which contemporary Christian leaders are being called upon to make history in our own day and age.  There are no prerequisites for this class and EEL students are welcome to enroll.

For decades Bloy House has taught Anglicanism I and II and it is now time to recognize the many ways in which these classes have gradually been revised to reflect the needs of contemporary Episcopalians. "Global Anglicanism" will help participants understand what it means to be part of the larger Anglican Communion with its roots in Celtic Spirituality, Medieval piety, Reform theology, and the many diverse iterations Anglicanism has taken on since its dispersion through the colonial activities of the Church of England. Now the majority of Anglicans live in the global south and the Anglican Communion stretches across the globe, with each cultural and geographic region reshaping its expression of Anglican identity to meet the needs of its worshipers.  Come learn about what it means in 2015 to be part of the Anglican Communion, and why despite our shared heritage we all see the world so differently from one another.

"Episcopal History and Polity" explores the question of what it means to be part of the Episcopal Church in the 21st century.  It has become clearer to all Episcopalians as we seek to dialog with other denominations we hope to be in full communion with and with our global Anglicanism partners, that the Episcopal Church, a church made up of dioceses from sixteen different countries (the majority of which are situated in North, Central, and South America) has developed its own unique polity and ecclesiology.  Much of that understanding of the nature of our church has grown out of our engagement with the baptismal covenant and the Christian identity and theology it has helped us to communally construct. This class offers students the opportunity to explore what it means to be a part of a church that is both a member of the Anglican Communion, and deeply rooted in the baptismal ecclesiology outlined in our own 1979 Book of Common Prayer.  This class also offers students the opportunity to learn about the governing structures of our church and the canons (church laws) that circumscribe our actions and decisions. Both of these Anglicanism classes are open to Education for Episcopal Leadership students and no prerequisites are required.  They are taught by the highly engaging, highly experienced Dr. Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook (pictured above left).

Most everyone knows that priests go to seminary prior to their ordination. And many people know that in the Diocese of Los Angeles deacons are also formed for their ministries in the Bloy House seminary setting.  But what about lay people?  The Education for Episcopal Leadership track was added to the Bloy House curriculum in 2009 to strongly encourage lay Episcopalians to consider attending classes at Bloy House to help equip them for their important ministries in the church.  If our church is to flourish in the coming decades and centuries, it is vitally important that it be built upon the ministries of strong, well educated, well-formed lay leadership.  We believe that there are countless Episcopalians and other Christians who have a deep yearning to know more about Holy Scripture, the theologies of the church, and the traditions and values of the Episcopal Church they have chosen to be a part of.  EEL is designed to both encourage and support lay persons seeking to grow in knowledge and wisdom so that they, too, may be more effective leaders and ministers of the church.  

The EEL track includes several programs.

As an EEL student one can audit course work at Bloy House paying a dramatically reduced rate from those preparing to receive Master's degrees, Certificates of Diaconal Studies, or Certificates of Anglican Studies.  All courses offered at Bloy House are open to EEL students, although pre-requisites must be met for some classes before they can be taken.  Sometimes classes have been designed specifically with a target audience of lay leaders.  These include classes like "Media and Ministry", "Greek", "Jesus, Judaism, and Christianity," and some of our scripture electives.  (EfM or its equivalent are required for the scripture elective classes.)  EEL students pay $400 per semester class.  Scholarships of $100 are available based upon need.

As an EEL student one may choose to participate in Fresh Start for Lay Leaders.  This program which was originally developed through the work of the Church Pension Fund and Episcopal Church Foundation offers a semester long curriculum designed for lay leaders in congregations that are seeking to navigate an experience of transition.  This might include a change in pastoral leadership, a change in mission strategy, development of new programs, worship services, or newly forming ethnic ministries, the development or revitalization of lay leadership roles and responsibilities.  This program meets from 9 to 3 on teaching weekends in the spring, giving participants the opportunity to learn in the classroom and also be a part of the community life of Bloy House. Fresh Start tuition is $260.  Fresh Start for lay leaders meets every spring semester and is taught by Canon Joanna Satorius (pictured above left).

As an EEL student one may pursue a lay certificate in specialized areas of interest.  These include a certificate in Lay Preaching, a certificate in Christian Formation, and a certificate in Liturgical Leadership. English versions of these certificates are earned by taking classes or attending lectures and workshops at the Bloy House Claremont campus. There are also specific certificates given to lay persons who attend either the Instituto de Liderazgo where classes are taught in Spanish for those seeking to equip themselves as lay leaders or the Li Tim-Oi Center for those seeking lay leadership classes taught in Mandarin Chinese.  

Education for Episcopal Leadership Lectures also allow Episcopalians to come and do short-term ninety minute courses on subjects that may be of particular interest to them.  These lectures are always advertised well in advance through Bloy Houses News. This fall's lectures will include a lecture on our church canons and a lecture based upon seminarians' experiences at Cristosal Global School in San Salvador, El Salvador.

By Sylvia Sweeney

Do you remember the old bumper sticker that said "Think globally, act locally"?  Perhaps we have learned that was a little over simplistic.  We know now that we have to act globally too, that if we concentrate exclusively on what's going on in our own backyards then much of the world will not benefit from the wisdom, resources, and energy that together we can bring to big global problems.  Nevertheless, I think that one of the great comforts of life is knowing that what I do locally does, even in unseen ways, impact the greater good, the global picture.  We have just come through a General Convention that over and over again invited us to re-imagine the church, to begin new initiatives, to provide substantial (millions) to endeavors we have waved a little money at for decades in hopes that would be enough.  We've focused a lot on the big picture.  But now perhaps it is time to act locally.

If we are to re-imagine the Episcopal Church doesn't that suggest a need to re-imagine life in the Diocese of Los Angeles?  In what ways does our own backyard need reinventing, re-imagining, and reforming?  If the Episcopal Church has made a significant commitment to Hispanic and Latino ministries, how does that impact our life here in this diocese?  If the whole church is launching into the first stages of the development of a new prayer book, how should we be participating in that endeavor in our own congregations?  What might need renewal within our own worship life if we are to be about articulating a church for the 21st century? If the church is continuing to find ways to express a baptismal ecclesiology that calls for models of shared power and shared leadership, how might that impact the way we do business in our local congregations and in our diocese?

General Convention has invited us to think globally, but the good work of General Convention will only be realized if it now invites us to act locally.  Together let us ponder how the decisions of General Convention, many of which sprang from clearly rising valuation of models of mutuality and as Bishop Tom Breidenthal describes it "an exodus from privilege," are inviting us to think and to act in our own homes, our own congregations, and our own diocese.  Ponder and when you are done pondering -- now, before it is too late! -- take those ponderings to the next Bishop Coadjutor Search Committee Listening Session. If we want to build a future for our church one place to act is here, and the time to act is now.