Personal Flourishing

"What the Bible says about how the story of creation will end." That's my simple way to describe "biblical eschatology." The short answer is that the story will end with a whole new beginning, the rebirth of the whole of creation. We will talk about how prophets of the Hebrew Bible envisioned God's dream and give focused attention to how Jesus and his earliest followers told the story of God's dream for a New World. But we won't stay locked in the past. We will also study the explosion of interest in this "story of the end" in the past 200 years and take a candid look at how this renewed interest in eschatology turned God's dream into nightmare for many people. We will conclude with an exploration of how Christians who have awoken from the nightmare can focus again on God's dream and work with God to make the dream a reality.

Wednesdays: Jan. 14, 21, Feb. 4, 11 (no class Jan. 28)
6:15-7:30 p.m.
Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Rd., Prairie Village, KS (Room 132)

Dr. Chance was born in Topeka, Kansas, and grew up all over the United States, as his father served our country in the Marine Corps. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, his Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and his Doctor of Philosophy in religious studies from Duke University. He began to teach at William Jewell College in 1982 and fully retired in 2021. He has worshiped within numerous Christian traditions: Baptist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, and is currently an active member of Peace Christian Church (UCC) in Kansas City. He has enjoyed the opportunities offered him to teach the Bible in both academic and faith settings. 

This course explores Shakespeare’s late romance through the theological and cultural imagination of redemption, asking how art dramatizes the possibility of renewal in a world marked by loss and fracture. Situating The Winter’s Tale within conversations about grace, forgiveness, justice, and the mystery of restoration, we will draw from Christian thought as well as early modern and contemporary interpretive lenses. Students will engage the play through close reading, performance analysis, and theological reflection, considering how Shakespeare invites audiences to reckon with the cost—and gift—of transformation.

Tuesdays: Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24
6-7:30 p.m.
Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Rd., Prairie Village, KS (Room 230 – Heritage Dining Room)

Dr. Morrison received a B.A. in English and Religious Studies from Swarthmore College and her M.A. and Ph.D. in English from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her area of specialty is Renaissance/Early Modern literature; her interests also include women writers, gender studies, film, and critical theory. She co-edited the book Staging the Blazon in Early Modern English Theater (Ashgate Press, 2013) and contributed an essay to that collection. She is currently interested in relic qualities of the blazon in early modern drama and poetry and in early modern women’s wills. Dr. Morrison teaches British literature and critical theory.

Drawing upon a Dr. Linda Burks’ recent work Navigating Transitions: Embracing Change and Finding Purpose, this class will explore proven tools for clarifying what truly matters to you in times of transition, growth, decline, and change, options for embracing change with confidence, curiosity, and compassion, and practical ways to step forward from what no longer serves you while welcoming what’s next. Biblical parallels and spiritual practices will be included in each session as well.

Wednesdays: May 6, 13, 20 
6:15-7:45 p.m.
Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Rd., Prairie Village, KS (Room 132)

Rev. Dr. Hemmen was born to South Dakota dairy farmers and grew up going to church three times a week (or more), the rhythms of twice-a-day chores, eating her Grandma’s cookies, and a longing for autumn to come so school would start again in their town of 400. Her love of learning, community, and cookies continues to this day. Her gratitude for God’s welcome and presence keeps growing broader and deeper.

Diane is a graduate of the University of Sioux Falls, The Divinity School at Duke University, the University of North Carolina Hospital’s Clinical Pastoral Education program, Princeton Theological Seminary Youth Ministry Institute, Columbia Theological Seminary, and the PC(USA) Transitional Ministry Education Consortium. She also completed training with Healthy Congregations in familial and organizational systems theory, becoming a facilitator and a facilitator trainer. She has served the Presbyterian Church in many roles, including a trauma level-2 hospital, hospice, and home health chaplain, but she mostly recently served as head of staff at First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Diane is married to Rev. Dr. Gregg Hemmen. They have two grown children, Ainslee and Eli, who were born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, while Diane served at University Presbyterian Church—the congregation that ordained her. Diane loves her family, a good puzzle, celebrating diversity, nurturing the flourishing of others, and chocolate.

In Matthew 5:17, Jesus explains that he has come not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. As a Jew, Jesus’ consciousness was deeply informed by Torah and its legal codes. To better understand what he meant by fulfilling the law, it is necessary to become familiar with the nature and function of these codes. This course begins there, ultimately shedding light on the subversive nature of Jesus’ encounters with others and the complexity of his work on the cross.

 Brendon Benz is an associate professor of history and religion and theologian-in-residence with the Center for Faith and Culture. Originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Benz was raised in the Lutheran Church and attended Lutheran school from kindergarten through 12th grade. He earned his B.A. in Sociology from Taylor University before teaching history at Martin Luther High School in Queens, New York. He later received his M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, where he was awarded the Goethe Institute Fellowship and the Henry Snyder Gehman Award in Old Testament. In 2013, he earned his Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies from New York University, where he also received the NYU College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award. Benz is the author of The Land Before the Kingdom of Israel and is currently working on a book exploring the Greek philosophical tradition and the interpretation of the imago Dei in Genesis 1. His passion lies in teaching the Bible’s message, history, and context in ways that help communities of faith flourish.

The Beatles were famous for many reasons, including their bold claim of being “more famous than Jesus.” Despite tension between rock music and some Christian traditions, the band embraced spirituality in various ways throughout their career. In this course, we will first examine examples of “secular” music with clear spiritual dimensions. Then, we will analyze three classic Beatles songs musically and lyrically, exploring how the band’s ability to blend music and storytelling created unforgettable and deeply moving art.

 Ian Coleman grew up in Bristol, England, attending Counterslip Baptist Church before leaving for college at 18. His evangelical background was influenced by the house church movement. Coleman later joined the Episcopal Church and has worked as a church musician since his teens. Now a professor of music theory and composition at William Jewell College, he teaches courses on music, culture, and composition.

Science and technology increasingly shape our lives, making basic science literacy essential for responsible citizenship. This course introduces core scientific principles, explores key discoveries, and offers strategies for staying informed. Topics include human origins, our place in the universe, and the future of life on Earth—along with the implications for health, democracy, economy, faith, and daily life.

Blane Baker is a professor of Physics at William Jewell College where he has taught since 1999. He is the author of "Science in the Arena" and "Critical Thinking in the Physics Curriculum" and serves as president of Sigma Pi Sigma, the national physics honor society. His interests include electronics, sustainable energy, and materials science. He is an active member of Second Baptist Church in Liberty.
 

Drawing on 1 Corinthians 13, the writings of Marcus Borg, and James Fowler’s stages of faith, this class explores how adults can form a faith that embraces life’s complexities. Using tools such as the Search Institute’s research, participants will discover what it means to grow and live an adult faith in all aspects of life.

Rodger Nishioka is the senior pastor of Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village and former professor of Christian education at Columbia Theological Seminary.

Agrarianism is more than farming—it is a worldview that values all creation and recognizes humanity’s responsibility within it. In an era of increasing urbanization, agrarian values provide a counterbalance to industrial priorities of production and efficiency. This course invites participants to explore their relationship with the earth and learn from agrarian wisdom.

Mark Buhlig is pastor at Englewood Church in Gladstone, Missouri, as well as a farmer, community organizer, and student of Agrarian Spirituality. His Agrarian work is expressed by way of Community Growers Network, an organization that encourages collaborative opportunities for churches, schools, and individuals to grow and distribute healthy food to those who struggle to find or afford healthy food.
 

Based on Ross Douthat’s "Believe," this course explores reasons why people might move from doubt toward belief. Topics include the cosmos and reason, humanity’s unique place in creation, and the persistence of supernatural experiences across cultures. No prior philosophical background is required—just a willingness to engage in open and respectful dialogue.

Tom Petrizzo is the former CEO of Beacon Mental Health and has spent over 30 years in nonprofit behavioral health leadership. He holds degrees from Georgetown University, the University of Texas Law School, and the University of Houston. A long-time member of Church of the Resurrection, he enjoys hiking, jogging, and spending time with his family.