The goal of adult ministry is to form mature disciples of Jesus Christ in word and in deed. Through a variety of classes that incorporate a diversity of learning styles, adults at Idlewild come to know Christ’s love, peace, and justice through study of scripture, spiritual practice, literature, fellowship, and critical engagement with contemporary issues. At Idlewild, the questions are as important as the answers, and faith is understood as a lifelong journey.
Associate Pastor - Temporary Supply
901-259-4346
mgale@idlewildchurch.org
Summer Forum Series
Sunday Mornings @ 9:40 in Room 303W
Join us on Zoom: Summer Forum Series
Join us on Sunday July 18th for Don’t We All Matter? How We Unconsciously Perpetuate an Us Versus Them Mentality.
Our world is more divided than ever and although we know it, we are unclear of the actions to take because we still prefer to be with people like ourselves. This training will talk about how our unconscious drives an us versus them mentality and simple steps to raise our consciousness.
Speaker: Ericka DeBruce has held leadership positions where she was responsible for diversity, inclusion, employee engagement and corporate citizenship at organizations including Sedgwick, International Paper, BAE Systems, American Red Cross, Blood Services, American Cancer Society, and Talbots, Inc. Currently she is the Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer at Unum headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Ericka has facilitated diversity, inclusion and unconscious bias trainings to Fortune 500 organizations, nonprofits, and educational institutions in 26 states and 10 different countries.
Ericka holds a degree in Speech Communication from Bradley University located in Peoria, Illinois and a Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Management Certification from Georgetown University located in Washington D.C.
Word on Wednesday
July 7 & 14 at 7:30pm
This is a 2 part Mini-Lecture and Conversation with Dr. Aaron Stauffer, Louisville Institute Postdoctoral Fellow at Vanderbilt Divinity School, primarily working with the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice. He is a recent PhD graduate in social ethics at Union Theological Seminary in the city of New York.
What, if anything, does the Christian tradition have to say in response to society’s deep racial, economic, and political injustices? Over a hundred years ago, Christians triumphantly answered that the social gospel called them to transform the structures of society in the direction of justice. Idlewild Presbyterian Church invites you to a primer and conversation on the history, legacy, and current state of the racial social gospel movement in the U.S.
July 7: Introduction and History of the Radical Social Gospel
July 14: What is to Be Done? Continuing the Economic, Political, and Racial Struggle Today
Backyard Bible Study: The Enneagram and the Fruits of the Spirit
Are you longing to reconnect with your Idlewild family after this year of isolation? Looking for a way to deepen your faith, or just curious about the Enneagram? This summer, Idlewilders will gather weekly for a time of fellowship, as we study what the Apostle Paul called the “fruit of the Spirit:” the gifts of love, peace, patience, joy, and more! As we explore each of these gifts and identify them within ourselves, we will be guided by the ancient wisdom of the Enneagram, a personality typology system that helps individuals journey towards wholeness, discovering their true selves beyond ego and default behaviors. Every bible study group will be led by a facilitator, and participants are highly encouraged but not required to participate in a full day workshop on the Enneagram via Zoom led by licensed instructor and fellow Presbyterian, Beth Mueller, on Saturday, June 5. These “Back Yard Bible Studies” will complement this summer’s sermon series “Fruits of the Spirit”, beginning the week of June 6th. Don’t worry if you’re going to be traveling some this summer, just sign up for the group that works best for your schedule!All Backyard Bible Studies groups are closed.
Tuesdays from 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Spring Study: Starting May 4. N.T. Wright’s commentary: Paul: The Prison Letters-Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. (available through Amazon)
Conveners: Ted Mealor and Jim McClanahan
4th Thursdays at 2 PM except where stated.
June 24 Selection: A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabelle Allende
July 22: Selection: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Facilitators: Joyce Webber and Dana Brandon
Updated Weekly on Thursday.
Join Anne Bradley Thomas and the Contemplative Sunday School class in a guided meditation on the Book of Psalms.
