In-Person and on Zoom at 9:45 on Sunday mornings.
“Striving for a Christian Vision of Love and Action”
Q & A
1. What are your content and learning behavior goals?
We have two primary goals that are couched in the spirit of Christian love and activism:
(a) to understand and explore ways to solve problems in the contemporary world while gaining insights from experts in various fields and/or from each other
(b) to grow in service to—and in love for—God and our fellow human beings
2. What is the teaching and learning format?
We encourage democratic participation by means of thoughtful, open, and honest dialogue.
3. What drives your curriculum?
Our curriculum focuses on four main themes of religious commit
(a) prayer, devotion, personal relations to God
(b) theological/Biblical history and issues
(c) social, political, technological, economic, and ecological issues, needs, and affairs approached from a Christian perspective
(d) interfaith dialogue and relations in an increasingly global world
4. How are study materials selected?
Members nominate and vote on materials that represent each of the four themes by ranking their choices on Survey Monkey.
5. Why is the class named “Betty Phifer”?
Betty Phifer was a social and political activist in Tallahassee, who taught religion at Florida State University. She founded the class and was its driving force until her premature death from cancer.
6. Why do you call yourselves “advanced”?
As a request when she was ill, Betty asked that the class always be referred to as “advanced.”
In addition, because all class participants are considered valuable resources with unique perspectives and contributions, we encourage our members to think deeply, ask questions, and freely express their opinions based on careful reflection. We also hope that our members engage in church and community activities that inspire growth, spiritual guidance, and ethical deeds.
In short, advanced as a descriptor of our class denotes support of each other in striving to go beyond merely occupying a seat in class on Sunday mornings to being active and deeply thoughtful participants.
7. Do you have any service projects?
Our service projects have included microfinancing through KIVA, purchasing and assembling care bags for our friends who are homeless, and providing financial assistance to Guardian ad Litem.
8. Who leads the class?
Don Crosby leads the discussion, and Pam Crosby is class administrator, and others are always invited to take part in leading.
9. How can persons learn more about the class?
Contact Pam at [email protected]
List of Current Studies and Descriptions
Betty Phifer Book Selections
Class Projects
Before COVID, we maintained an ongoing partnership with HEO at church, but HEO has been discontinued. We look forward to becoming a part of a new project after we return to in-person class.
We continue to be involved in a continuing investment in Kiva, a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Small loans are made to beginning entrepreneurs.
Get Inspired
Methodist Federation for Social Action
Online Bible (all translations)
Current Schedule
Come be a part of the discussion! While we often agree on issues and concerns in our discussions, diverse viewpoints add to the ongoing richness, growth, and complexity of the conversation. Each one of us is a seeker, and we take seriously the journey on which every member embarks to achieve further understanding.
Current Study
What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Jewishness of Jesus: A New Way of Seeing the Most Influential Rabbi in History
Rabbi Evan Moffic
The author argues that by learning more about the Jewishness of Jesus, one can know him better and gain a better understanding of his message for living our lives today. This book offers readers a different way to look at the teachings and practices that are rooted in his Jewish faith. Much of what Jesus taught was an important part of Jewish tradition and faith.
Selected Studies for 2022
Theme One: Prayer, Devotion, Personal Relations to God
Secrets of God: Writings of Hildegard of Bingen [200 pages]
The Difficult Words of Jesus by Amy Jill Levine [176 pages]
The Hours of the Universe: Reflections on God, Science, and the Human Journey by Ilia
Delia [274 pages]
The Kingdom of God is Within You by Leo Tolstoy [224 pages]
Theme Two: Theological/Biblical History and Issues
The 7 Wisdom Books: An Introduction to the Wisdom Books of the Old Testament and
the Apocrypha by Francis Brown [125 pages]
The Shaking of the Foundations by Paul Tillich [192 pages]
Accidental Theologians: Four Women Who Shaped Christianity by Elizabeth A.
Dreyer. The four women are: Hildegard of Bingen, Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila,
and Te’resa of Liseux [171 pages]
The Triumph of Christianity by Bart Ehrman [353 pages]
Theme Three: Social/Political/Practical Problems, Ecological Issues, Needs,
and Affairs Approached from a Christian Perspective
Wilderness Essays by John Muir [270 pages]
The Sacred Universe by Thomas Berry [181 pages]
Moral Man and Immoral Society by Reinhold Niebuhr [152 pages]
Reverence for Life: The Words of Albert Schweitzer [124 pages]
Theme Four: Inter-Faith Dialogues and Relations in an Increasingly
Global World
I and Thou by Martin Buber [194 pages]
The Story Of My Experiments With Truth by Mahatma Gandhi [384 pages]
Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh [256 pages]
When Christians Were Jews: The First Generation by Paula Fredriksen [272 pages]
Past Studies
Click here for some examples of past studies.
For more info on our class, just drop a line to Pam Crosby.
Past Photos
