Soul Survivor
How Thirteen Unlikely Mentors Helped My Faith Survive the Church
by Phillip Yancey
"Christians are not perfect, by any means, but they can be people made fully alive. This is what they look like."  
Background on Holy Manners Holy Manners The background on the phrase and why we have adopted it. The guidelines for our studies.
Click to visit the St. David's Adult Ed Forum Internet Discussion Group at Yahoo - the St. David's Forum. Click HERE if you would like to join. You will then be emailed all notices and contributions. Click left to visit the archives of the site (read only). There are presently 75 persons.
Internet Links Internet Links to sites related to this Soul Survivor study - quality links are researched and gathered for further information on the topics raised or referenced by this study. They are added through the course. The internet is the most wonderful resource library - but a bit overwhelming - This collection will save you much time.
Book Review Yancy and his Mentors - Quotes and Links Page -There are samples of the reasons for their influence on Yancey's life.
Book Review Book Review - By Wayne Holst
Grounded Being Grounded Being - a poem about searching and finding. Jock.
      Course Outline and Links to the 10 Session Pages   
Section One Notes Introductory Session. Recovering From Church Abuse. Sharing of Expectations and Perspectives
Section Two Notes Martin Luther King Jr. - A Long Night's Journey into Day -- Dr. Paul Brand - Detours to Happiness
Section Three Notes GK Chesterton - Relics Along the Seashore -- Leo Tolstoy and Feodor Dostoevsky - Chasing Grace
Section Four Notes Dr. Robert Coles - Tender Lives and the Assaults of the Universe -- Dr. C. Everett Koop - Serpents and Doves in the Public Square
Section Five Notes John Donne - As He Lay Dying -- Annie Dillard - The Splendor of the Ordinary -- Frederick Buechner - Whispers from the Wings -- Shusaku Endo - A place for Traitors
Section Six Notes Henri Nouwen - The Wounded Healer
Section Seven Notes Mahatma Gandhi - Echoes in a Strange Land - Guest Presentor Tony Parel - Gandhi Specialist
Section Eight Notes Our Own Mentors - Noel Rae speaks on Phillip Yancey and Al Penner speaks on Stan Roberts
Our Own Mentors - Brenda Wallace and Art Hoffer share with us
Summary Session - the Meaning of Mentorship

Group Facilitator. Wayne Holst

I spent most of my life thinking like a church professional, rather than as a regular congregational member. My training as a pastor always had me asking myself 'how can I apply this discovery, insight, new information to a regular church setting?'

Often, clergy have been hesitant to share the discoveries they have made through a 'critical' approach to the Bible with their parishoners because they wonder how laypeople might accept it. I have found that many thinking laity are professionals in their own fields of endeavour and understand a critical approach very readily. What they seek are ways of relating faith to daily living.

I am grateful for the journey I have been taking through ordained ministry to teaching at the university and serving as a fellow layperson at St.David's United Church. Here we find that questioning and honest expression of our faith and doubt is readily accepted and supported.
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Group Facilitator. Jock McTavish

I am a student and a poet, a democrat and a techocrat, an eclectic eccentric. I grew up in a loving Baptist community, so in my heart I'm still a Bible loving evangelical. As I grew in learning I found a new home in the United Church whose tolerance embraces the broadest range of Christian understanding. I most enjoy the illumination of our ancient traditions by modern scholarship. For they show in clear novel ways that the perspectives of the Special Ones were seldom the understandings of those that followed. They show all knowledge to be in relationship .

There seems a lack of understanding in our secular world for religious practices. The reasons why I still gladly - even necessarily - attend church are difficult to voice to those unfamiliar with church, or those injured by church. Elliott got it right. We find our way back to the place we started from. But with new understanding.
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September 19, 2004