Fourth Presbyterian Church: A Light in the City

Adult Education Opportunities

The adult education programs of Fourth Church provide short-term and ongoing education for our members, friends of the church, and the wider community, through both in-person and Zoom options.

Included among them are the January 31 Michigan Avenue Forum featuring bestselling author Robert P. Jones talking about “The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Future of American Democracy.”

Class Offerings
Michigan Avenue Forums
Adult Education Video Archive
Top Ten Bible Podcast

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CURRENT CLASS OFFERINGS

If you want to tap into the rich resources of previous classes, simply click on this link to find all the adult education classes that were recorded.

UPCOMING ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Sermon Discussion, Feedback, and Fellowship
Sundays, April 7, 14, 21, and 28
12:15 p.m.
Borwell Dining Room (in person only)
Register for April 7 here

Matt Helms, Associate Pastor for Children, Family, and Welcoming Ministries, will lead us in table group discussions of the Sunday sermon and lectionary texts while sharing a light lunch. The goal is to grow our faith, build fellowship, and deepen our understanding of the text and sermon topic by listening to what others have heard.

We kindly request that you register for these sessions in advance (registration links will be available in March) so that we are sure to have enough lunch for everyone. This class could be extended by popular demand.

Troublesome Texts and Gender
Interpretive Strategies across the Abrahamic Faiths
Sundays, April 14, 21, and 28
11:00 a.m.
Borwell Dining Room and via Zoom
Register here

Susan Ross, Professor Emerita, Department of Theology, Loyola University of Chicago, will lead a discussion of how certain troublesome texts in scripture on matters of gender and gender roles have been interpreted differently within our Christian tradition (now and over time) and across the Abrahamic faiths. Dr. Ross will offer some new perspectives on recent scholarship on some of the more troublesome texts relating to gender.

Dr. Ross has taught numerous courses including “Feminist Theology” and “Women in Religion” at Loyola. She will draw upon her experience discussing gender issues with her students from different faith backgrounds.

Food and Religion
Sunday, May 5 • 11:00 a.m.
Borwell Dining Room and via Zoom
Register here

As a predominantly Christian culture for several centuries, daily life in medieval Western Europe became closely entwined with religious practices. Food, in particular, reflected Christian beliefs and actions in both quotidian and extraordinary ways. What, when, and how people ate was partly determined by the liturgical year and the calendar of saints. Personal prayer and sacrifice was reflected by fasting and abstinence from specific foods. And every Church celebration, however solemn or joyous, was demonstrated by culinary practices.

Sarah Kernan, food historian and Scholar in Residence at Newberry Library, will explore the role of food in religion through the ages including:

The Mass as a Eucharistic meal;
The centrality and symbolism of bread and wine at medieval tables;
The practice of fasting and abstinence to reflect personal and Church-mandated sacrifice and prayer;
The importance of meat and fish recipes in celebrating the liturgical year;
The production of specialty Christian foods, such as Communion wafers and convent-produced pastries dedicated to saints and religious orders; and
The depiction of food and culinary practices in religious art, including literature, music, and visual art.

In everyday and extraordinary culinary customs, Christians in medieval Europe acted out their faith through food, continually shaping and understanding liturgical practices.

Perseverance of the Saints
Sunday, May 5 • 3:00 p.m.
Chicago Temple (First United Methodist Church) and livestreamed
Register here
Meet us at the Chicago Temple to see a staged reading of “Perseverance of the Saints” by Kat Evans. The play is set in 1874 during a tumultuous time in Fourth Church’s history – the heresy trial of the Reverend David Swing. The running time is 2 hours 20 minutes with a 10-minute intermission.

Transportation is not provided.

“Thanks to the Ladies Society and the church’s progressive pastor David Swing, Jennie begins to utilize her gifts, help others, and make her first true friend, Maggie. Jennie’s place with the ladies, her relationship with Maggie, and the entire Presbytery of Chicago is thrown into turmoil when the head of McCormick Theological Seminary charges David Swing with heresy.”

Discussion of play Perseverance of the Saints
Sunday, May 12 • 11:00 a.m.
Borwell Dining Room and via Zoom

A discussion with playwright Kat Evans about her play Perseverance of the Saints, which dramatizes a conflict that was crucial to Fourth Presbyterian Church in the early years of its history. The play was commissioned by the church and given a reading as part of its 150th anniversary celebrations. After considerable revision, the play was given a staged reading in early May at the Chicago Temple. With John Clum as moderator, Kat will discuss how the play moved from research to revision to the final product.

You have two opportunities to attend a reading of the play before this class:
Perseverance of the Saints: A New Play Reading in Two Acts
First United Methodist Church Sanctuary at Chicago Temple
77 W Washington St
Chicago, IL 60602
Sunday, May 5 at 3:00 p.m.
Register here
Tuesday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Register here
Cost: Free!

The Injustice of White Silence
Sunday, May 19 • 11:00 a.m.
Borwell Dining Room and via Zoom

Teri Ott, publisher and editor of the Presbyterian Outlook, will lead a follow-up discussion on the issues raised at the January Michigan Avenue Forum on the hidden roots of white supremacy. She will teach us to value risk-taking as the path toward a more equitable and just world.

Building on skillful memoir-like stories, Ott explores ten risks (including learning, teaching, leading, following, going, and staying) with which she has wrestled in her work with diverse populations as the chaplain of a liberal arts college and as a volunteer in a men’s state prison.

View the Adult Education calendar

Give Us Your Input

To make an inquiry for information or to send evaluative comments, or to suggest a future course offering, email the Adult Education office.

Recommendation Form for a class or speaker
Proposal Form to submit a class of your own for consideration

Staff/Contact Information

Jana Blazek
Adult Education Administrative Assistant
Email