Upcoming Courses

Below is the schedule for upcoming face-to-face courses and the directed study in Site Administration. The two face-to-face courses below will be held back-to-back at Columbia Theological Seminary (near Atlanta, Georgia). Participants have the option of taking one or both courses.

March 10-13             Biblical and Theological Foundations

March 13-16             Program Design and Implementation

Directed Study           Site Administration

March 10-13

Biblical and Theological Foundations

About the Course

What makes our church camps so uniquely wonderful and sets us apart from other camping organizations is our firm foundation in our beliefs as Christians. This course will enable participants to deepen their knowledge and strengthen their understanding of our biblical and theological roots as the core value for all that we do in our outdoor ministry settings.

At the end of this course, participants will:
• Articulate Biblical themes that form the foundations of outdoor ministry
• Have tools for training staff to lead effective Bible Studies
• Learn how theology should shape the practice of ministry in each outdoor ministry site
• Engage in guided theological discussions
• Understand how campers/participants may encounter Christ through the mundane and extraordinary events of living in community

This course will be held at Columbia Theological Seminary (near Atlanta, Georgia) and will be taught by Dr. Martha Moore-Keish and Dr. Brennan Breed, faculty members of Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA.

About the Instructors

Martha Moore-KeishMartha Moore-Keish

Martha Moore-Keish grew up in Tallahassee, Florida. She attended Harvard College and Union Theological Seminary in Virginia (now Union Presbyterian Seminary), where she met and married her husband Chris. She earned the Ph.D. in theology from Emory University, and then worked for three years in the Office of Theology and Worship of the Presbyterian Church (USA). During 2003-04 she taught liturgical studies at Yale Divinity School, before moving to Atlanta in summer 2004 to take the position as Assistant Professor of Theology at Columbia Theological Seminary. She has published two books: Do This in Remembrance of Me: A Ritual Approach to Reformed Eucharistic Theology (2008) and Christian Prayer for Today (2009). Martha and Chris have two daughters, Miriam and Fiona, three cats, and a flock of chickens.

Brennan BreedBrennan Breed

Brennan Breed is the Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Emory University. Brennan is author of “Nomadic Text: A Theory of Biblical Reception History” (Indiana University Press, 2014), and co-author of the Old Testament Library commentary on Daniel with Carol Newsom (Westminster John Knox, 2014). Brennan serves as the Wister Cook Theologian-in-Residence for his local parish, The Church of the Epiphany. Much of his research focuses on the reception history of the Bible, which studies the ways in which biblical texts function in diverse contexts in liturgy, theology, visual art, literature, and politics.

Tuition, Lodging, Meals, and Transportation

The tuition for this course is $325.00. All of the details related to lodging, meals, and the airport shuttle have not yet been worked out, but please check back to this page for updates.

Questions?

If you should have any questions about this course or the certificate program in general, please contact Joel Winchip at joel@pccca.net or 803.322.0232.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS COURSE IS NOT YET AVAILABLE

October 19-22

Program Design and Implementation

About the Course

Program is the most important facet of outdoor ministry. From determining the need for a program to evaluating the final product, today’s camp and retreat leaders need to be knowledgeable in how programs are designed and implemented. This course will focus on an overview of human growth and development in relation to outdoor ministry, and will look at program models and how they serve as an extension of a ministry’s mission statement. Participants will also study how our summer programs can be part of a year-round ministry.

This course will be held at Columbia Theological Seminary (near Atlanta, Georgia) and will be taught by Dr. Kathy Dawson and Joel Winchip, faculty members of Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA.

By the end of the course, participants will:
• Identify the characteristics that differentiate program structures
• Analyze the progression we find in program offerings
• Consider how their program is portrayed through their marketing image.

About the Instructors

Kathy DawsonKathy Dawson

Kathy Dawson is currently serving on the faculty of Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia as Associate Professor of Christian Education and Director of the Master of Arts and Practical Theology degree program. Kathy holds the B.A. in liberal studies and music from California State University, Long Beach. She earned the M.A. in Christian Education in 1992 from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education and is a certified Christian educator. In 1994 she received the M.Div. from Columbia Theological Seminary, and in 2002 was awarded the Ph.D. in practical theology with an emphasis on Christian education from Princeton Theological Seminary. Her interests run from brain research to puppets. She enjoys teaching and learning with all ages and in all spaces.

Joel WinchipJoel Winchip

Joel Winchip is the Executive Director of the Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association (PCCCA). He also serves on the Adjunct Faculty of Columbia Theological Seminary, where he teaches their Camp/Conference Program and Administration and Introduction to Recreation Ministry courses. Joel attended the Presbyterian School of Christian Education, where he received an M.A. in Christian Education and an Ed.S. in Camp and Conference Ministry. He is also a certified church educator. Joel worked on the staff of 10 Presbyterian camps and conference centers in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. He has also served as an adjunct instructor at Presbyterian College and Union Presbyterian Seminary. Joel lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife, Tammy, and their three cats.

Tuition, Lodging, Meals, and Transportation

The tuition for this course is $325.00. All of the details related to lodging, meals, and the airport shuttle have not yet been worked out, but please check back to this page for updates.

Questions?

If you should have any questions about this course or the certificate program in general, please contact Joel Winchip at joel@pccca.net or 803.322.0232.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS COURSE IS NOT YET AVAILABLE

Directed Study

Site Administration

About the Course

The Site Administration course is a self-directed study that will involve you visiting a camp and retreat center and interviewing their staff related to hospitality, food service, maintenance, and communications/registrations/office management. The project will be a 5-7 page paper that pulls together what you learned from your visit. This paper is due one month after the visit is completed (no later than one month before your Capstone course if this is your graduation year).

Requesting the Curriculum

The cost for the course is $100.00. When you submit payment, you will receive a digital copy of the curriculum by email. You can pay by check using the request form. If you would rather pay by credit card, please contact Joel Winchip at joel@pccca.net or 803.322.0232 for a digital invoice.