Below you will find a complete listing of SFTS courses for Fall 2012. As one of the founding members of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, SFTS is proud to be able to offer our students the opportunity to take GTU classes as well.

>> Click here to see theological educational opportunities through the GTU

>> For information about registration see the Academic Handbook

• GTU Intersession classes Jan. 2-Feb. 1
• SFTS Intensive language courses Jan. 2-25
• Spiritual Direction Diploma courses Jan. 7-26
• DASD tuition due Jan. 11
• Instruction begins at UC-Berkeley Jan. 15
• Orientation for new GTU MA students Jan. 17
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day: No classes/Library closed Jan. 21
• PC(USA) Standard Ordination exams Jan. 25-26
• Intersession grades due; last day to make up incompletes Feb. 22

Courses taught in San Anselmo unless otherwise noted.

BS-1003 Basic Greek II (3 Units) - The second (intensive) half of a course aimed at enabling students to achieve a basic reading knowledge of biblical Greek. (BS-1002 or equivalent)
Professor:	Polly Coote
Class Schedule:	Mondays-Fridays 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Textbooks:	Click here for textbook info

BS-1121 Basic Hebrew II (3 Units) - The second (intensive) half of a course aimed at enabling students to achieve a basic reading knowledge of biblical Hebrew. (BS-1120 or equivalent)
Professor:	Bob Kramish
Class Schedule:	Mondays-Fridays 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Textbooks:	Click here for textbook info

SP-2465 Art of Christian Listening (3 Units) - This course will concentrate on the development of contemplative sensibilities and skills necessary for the practice of spiritual direction. Students will explore how one notices and attends to the experience of God's presence within oneself, through others, and in the larger world as revealed in prayer, contemplation of scripture, the witness of tradition, and through a growing awareness of mind, body, feelings, and desire. Lectures, discussion, sharing and contemplative listening groups; spiritual direction practice. Final integrative paper required. (Prior admission to DASD program; Auditors excluded)
Professor:	Sam Hamilton-Poore
Class Schedule:	Mondays-Fridays 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Textbooks:	Click here for textbook info

SP-2470 Spiritual Direction Practicum I (3 Units) - Students enrolled in the SFTS Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction Program are engaged in the practice of spiritual direction during the time between their January Intersession courses. During Year I, the student is expected to function as a spiritual director for 2-3 persons in an ongoing spiritual direction relationship under appropriate supervision. 10 written reflection forms are the basis for conversation with the supervisor. The student and supervisor provide the program faculty with an evaluation of the student's progress at the end of the year. Credit is received upon satisfactory completion of the work. (Prior admission to DASD program; completion of SP 2465 and SP 2680; Auditors excluded)
Professor:	SFTS Faculty
Class Schedule:	NA
Textbooks:	NA

SP-2471 Spiritual Direction Practicum II (3 Units) - Students enrolled in the SFTS Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction Program are engaged in the practice of spiritual direction during the time between their January Intersession courses. During Year II, students continue to see 2-3 persons for ongoing spiritual direction. In addition, students are expected to engage in some form of group direction, preferably with a group that meets several times a year. 10 written reflection forms are the basis for conversation with the supervisor. The students and supervisor provide the program faculty with an evaluation of the student's progress at the end of the year. Students register for this course at the end of this year, and credit is received upon completion of the work. (Prior admission to DASD Program; completion of SP 2465 and SP 2680; Auditors excluded)
Professor:	SFTS Faculty
Class Schedule:	NA
Textbooks:	NA

SP-2496 Contemporary Issues in Spiritual Direction (3 Units) - This course will address a variety of issues faced by spiritual directors in the contemporary church and society, as well as re-emphasize the fundamental skills of the practice of spiritual direction. It will consist of a series of modules, each taught by a different person or persons (presenter/s). A lead teacher-facilitator will oversee the shape and sequence of the course. The presentation of each module will include: 1) contextualization of the issue within the practice of spiritual direction and contemporary church/culture; 2) material to be taught, including Biblical/theological insights; 3) a demonstration or series of demonstrations connecting the issues to the practice of spiritual direction, with opportunity/ies for class debriefing; 4) use of the Experience Circle to notice arenas and dimensions of the human experience of the Spirit. This course is offered to students in their second or third year of the DASD program. (Prior admission to SFTS DASD program; Auditors with faculty permission)
Professor:	Sam Hamilton-Poore
Class Schedule:	Mondays-Fridays 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Textbooks:	Click here for textbook info

SP-2680 Fundamentals of Spiritual Direction (3 Units) - This course concentrates on the skills and concepts essential to the practice of spiritual direction. Listening, responding, noticing, assessing, discerning, enlarging, and savoring. Concepts discussed range from initial meetings with directees, psychological issues, ethics and liability, special issues in direction and supervision. Classes will consist of lectures, discussion, demonstration, and spiritual direction practice. Final paper synthesizing readings, lectures, discussion, and experience required. (Prior admission to DASD Program)
Professor:	Susan Philips
Class Schedule:	Mondays-Fridays 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Textbooks:	Click here for textbook info

SP-2685 Discernment: Systems & Nature (3 Units) - In this course, we will extend our understanding of discernment and discernment processes into the arena of systems, structures, and institutions. We will each work with a "Social Discernment Cycle," a process of prayerful reflection and small group sharing that helps individuals become clearer about how God is at work in systems and structures and might be calling the discerners to respond. We will deepen our understanding of the theological basis for the Social Discernment Cycle, the linkages between experiences in systems/structures/institutions and our spirituality and the linkages between various arenas of the Experience Circle (a tool developed for spiritual directors that helps them notice multiple layers of simultaneous experience). Most importantly, we will seek to develop awareness, vocabulary and strategies to assist directees in this important arena--i.e., to think, imagine, pray and discern systemically. Discernment in the fourth arena, Nature, will be touched on explicitly through the opening Contemplative regathering on the first day and one of the post-class essays. (Prior admission to DASD or DMin/PSL programs; Auditors with faculty permission)
Professor:	Elizabeth Liebert
Class Schedule:	Mondays-Fridays 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Textbooks:	Click here for textbook info

FT-2528 Church Administration: Survival Skills (1.5) - This will be a 1.5 unit "hybrid" course with one face-to-face in class meeting with the remainder of the course taught online and asynchronously through Moodle. The course will focus on a range of administrative skills and topics important (and often overlooked) in the preparation of those who hope to serve as clergy-leaders in a congregational setting. Topics to be covered include the role of planning in the life of the church, church budgeting and finance (along with personal finance for clergy), how to work effectively with volunteers and how one takes care of themselves in the midst of all these demands. There will be a final paper required to be submitted in the week following the class sessions.
Professor:	Dave Tomlinson
Class Schedule:	Mondays-Fridays (Jan. 21-26)
Textbooks:	Click here for textbook info

FT-2536 Church Administration: Leadership (1.5) - This will be a 1.5 unit "hybrid" course with on face-to-face in-class meeting with the remainder of the course taught on-line and asynchronously through Moodle. The course will focus on the role that leadership- especially the leadership of clergy -plays in the life of the local congregation. Topics to be covered include models of leadership style, the use of power and authority in the church, the role of individual personality in leadership and managing conflict in the church. There will be a final paper required to be submitted in the week following the class sessions.
Professor:	Dave Tomlinson
Class Schedule:	Mondays-Fridays (Jan. 7-12)
Textbooks:	Click here for textbook info