Classes

Whitehead International Film Festival/Faith & Film class

This annual festival, held in January, includes ten feature films selected for their artistic excellence and their promotion of the common good. Each film celebrates human dignity, probes human problems, and offers hope for creative transformation.

The Faith & Film class that accompanies the festival teaches film analysis and the theological interpretation of films. The class also serves as a jury and selects recipients (feature and short film categories) of the Whitehead Award.

Both the festival and the class acknowledge that:

  • Films have enormous power to shape the conscience of their respective cultures.
  • They demonstrate and develop the acceptable mores of a culture.
  • Their power is based upon the resonance between the viewer and the portrayal of the human situation depicted in the film's story.
  • Resonance is affected by the psychological depth of the story, the universality of its themes, and the artistic excellence of its visual imagery, music, and technical sophistication.
  • By creating a film festival that particularly honors those films that meet our criteria, the International Process Network can raise public conscience concerning the importance and power of films, and add a voice to those who encourage film makers to use their power toward the common good.

Offered every January in Claremont, CA, usually during the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.

Summer Process Institute

A week-long immersion in process theology, including several class offerings, such as:

  • Exploring Process Theology

An introduction to process-relational theology, especially as it relates to the nature and power of God, incarnation, community, and eschatology. M-F, 7-9 p.m. Instructor: Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki.

  • Topics in Process Theology

Relevance of Whiteheadian process thought to contemporary issues. Previous topics have included: economics, global crisis, science and religion, the problem of evil. 2012 topic: Religions in the Making: The Actual and Potential Role of Process Thought in the Multiple Faiths and Beyonds. M-F, 9-11 a.m. Instructor: John B. Cobb, Jr.

  • Process Theology and Biblical Interpretation

Biblical interpretaion from a process perspective. Previous texts have included Revelation and Genesis. 2012 focus: embodiment and incarnation in the Hebrew Bible. M-F, 2-4 p.m. Instructor: Jon L. Berquist.

  • Noontime Plenaries: Process Theology in Practice, or How Does This Work in the Church?

A facilitated discussion open to all registrants. Topics include preaching, music and liturgy, faith formation, pastoral care, and sacraments. M-F, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Instructor: Jeanyne B. Slettom.

Offered in June in Claremont, CA. 2013 dates are June 3 - June 7.

For more information about any of these classes, contact Process & Faith.