Anabaptist Learning Institute (ALI), a program of Mennonite Schools Council (MSC) and Mennonite Education Agency (MEA), is offering two courses this June. “Shaping a Community of Learners” will be held June 14-18, in Lancaster, Pa., and “Understanding the Roots of Community” will be held June 21-26, in Lansdale, Pa. These ALI courses are not only for faculty and administrators, but also for pastors, youth pastors, Christian education directors, Mennonite agency employees and public school teachers.
Students have appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the Anabaptist/Mennonite perspective. “I learned so much about where Mennonites have come from and was able to make a connection with the foundation upon which the Mennonite faith is based,” said one student.
“Shaping a Community of Learners,” will be taught by Dr. Donovan Steiner, Ph.D., director of Master of Arts in education program at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), with assistance from Myron Blosser, M.A., science instructor at Eastern Mennonite School. Students will be asked to reflect on their spiritual journey, to craft a personal mission statement for teaching, and to integrate faith seamlessly into their instruction. Faith development for children and youth will inform teaching practice that is content and grade specific. Pedagogical methods will be introduced and /or reviewed for their congruence with Anabaptist/Mennonite faith and practice.
Students enrolled in “Shaping a Community of Learners” can earn three graduate semester hours from EMU. Act 48 Credit is available for Pennsylvania teachers granted a letter grade. Audit credit is not honored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
“Understanding the Roots of Community” will be taught by Alan Kreider, Ph.D., retired professor of church history and mission at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS). Students will explore the theology and history of the Anabaptist movement while being encouraged to articulate the significance of this movement for themselves as persons and as teachers. Class sessions will include lectures by Dr. Kreider, discussions on the assigned readings from Anabaptist texts and current historians, and occasional dramatic readings of historical documents.
Participants enrolled in the course “Understanding the Roots of Community” can earn three graduate semester hours from AMBS. Act 48 Credit may not be available through AMBS.
Registration for one or both of the summer ALI courses is available now online. In addition to the registration fee of $600; those who attend the course are responsible for textbooks, course materials, and their own lodging. Call 574-642-3164, extension 15, if you have questions.
ALI is designed to provide an intentional Christ-centered orientation and professional education program for teachers, pastors and other leaders. ALI also provides teachers and other interested persons with opportunities to earn graduate credit from AMBS, Bluffton (Ohio) University or EMU (determined by who is teaching the course). Those who complete all four of the graduate level courses (10 semester hours) earn the MEA seal as an Anabaptist Educator. The other two ALI courses are “Learning the Language of Community” (1sh) and “Building Caring Communities” (3sh).