We have a group of about 18 from various backgrounds (including a retired minister, retired chemist, architect, teachers, and cattle ranchers) some traveling up to 75 miles to get to our meetings. We all live "in the sticks" and feel isolated. We know how different we are from most people and feel the isolation when we are in our own congregations. But we have each other and that helps. Your resources have made our cohesion, study and fellowship possible because of the wonderful material you provide. We laugh when we say, again, and over and over, "That was one of the best we have ever had" and we mean it... You have allowed us to learn that we aren't nuts. We have all grown up thinking differently from those around us, knowing we wanted to do our best to be caring Christians but knowing that much of what we learned was just not making good sense to us. That is no longer the case. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
I have completed Living the Questions and Eclipsing Empire. Within two weeks our group will also have completed First Light. We are looking forward to DreamThinkBeDo and Uppity Women in 2010. Please keep up the great work. This material is transformative.
Your materials are professionally produced; your material is based in Truth and I find it most inspiring! Keep up the good work; the world needs this!
We are in Summer hiatus at FUMC Corvallis and will return to LtQ2 in fall with an adult group of 20-25. We started 2 years ago with Saving Jesus, then to Eclipsing Empire, then the first 2 flights of LtQ2 this winter and spring. Your team has provided a wonderful way for followers of Jesus to learn stuff we mostly never hear from the pulpit. Tim Stover, our campus minister and I co lead the discussions each Sunday. We couldn't finish the whole series prior to summer break so we first followed Marcus Borg's suggestion to read Amos and used a terrific old book to help us hear the message. We also started on From Jesus to Christ and are half way through the PBS series. We are trying to pace ourselves so we don't run out of these terrific, spirit filled teaching aids. At least half our group are affiliated with our local university as are my wife and I. I would love it if more participated because the message is so well grounded.
Thank you and bless you for so enriching our understanding of the fundamentals of our faith, the ones Jesus imparted before others cluttered it all up with creeds and doctrines and hierarchies (well not all the creeds).
I’ve seen no tool that matches LTQ2 for in-depth discussion 1) demonstrating how “progressive theology” takes scripture and tradition seriously without making idols of either; 2) pulling together in one curriculum resource authors, teachers, preachers and story tellers – each one an exponent of one the various progressive theologies – liberation, process, experiential, existential, Feminist, Hispanic, Asian, African; 3) dignifying lay people as being intelligent and capable of handling the biblical and theological truths and tools being taught in every responsible seminary. Our folks love LTQ2 and can’t wait to start the next series.
I am a chaplain at a retirement community of approximately 500 residents, ages 62-103. We are using Living the Questions2 in our Spiritual Growth Program and our residents are loving it. It is challenging, eye opening and soul opening! One resident told me "This study is enriching my life, like never before!" Of course there are those who cry "heresy!" but they still come and share their opinions--wonderful discussion tool! Thanks, for all your work on this project!
Congratulations on a job well done. [LtQ2] is a marvelous resource for the promotion of justice as well as renewal for the Church.
Living the Questions is the most extraordinary adult education material I have ever used. Life changing - personally and collectively! Thank you and may you never stop putting out such marvelous and deeply important products.
We have had several students comment that they have waited 50 years for something like this since they had felt like heretics when they went to church. It has opened the eyes of many in our church. Thanks.
This is the most greatly appreciated video series I could have imagined someone could've created at this time. I've been teaching Borg and Spong for years - but to have this series with their colleagues as well dealing with the core topics - profound! and life-changing! I can imagine - you know the looks on people's faces after some of the stories and the tears that flow! I am so thankful to have the privilege of walking with people through the "classes" and witnessing how they very eagerly choose to go deeper in their faith and want others to experience it as well.
Rev. Lee Anne Ireland
Orange Congregational Church,
Orange,
CT
"Living the Questions" Testimonials
Living the Questions is producing high-quality adult education resources for people seeking pluralistic, inclusive expressions of the faith.
The Center for Progressive Christianity Newsletter
Spring 2007
This is it! Living the Questions is exactly what the progressive Christianity network (has) been looking for: an attractive and thoughtful expression of the progressive approach to Christianity.
James R. Adams, President
The Center for Progressive Christianity
The line-up of contributors is impressive and the content is engaging. I hope there will be many congregants who find irresistible your invitation to a spiritual journey.
Rev. Bob Edgar, General Secretary
National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Biblical literalism and blind allegiance to ancient creeds and traditions are impossible for many modern educated people to continue believing. “Living the Questions” are new DVD based Christian programs that ask us to consider the hard questions that lead to faith. These courses have remarkable ways to bring us to a “Huge Thanksgiving” in our Theology including a place for science and evolution that enriches our own faith journeys.
Pastor Harold P. Martin
La Porte City,
Iowa
A while back, my church offered this program. I had watched the first session and it interested me enough to go to the class. I found that the material being covered was exactly what I was looking for in my faith. It seemed to fill the gaps that just were usually avoided by usual teaching. Every day, it gave more perspectives into my own faith and helped me grasp other concepts. Personally, I think attending those classes was the best thing I could have done in years.
Chad Spence
College Student in Nebraska
It's been especially powerful for some of our newer folk from other traditions who are just astonished that we're allowed to talk about these things in church, allowed to ask questions.
Rev. Petra Malleis-Sternberg
First Cong. UCC, San Bernadino, CA
LtQ conveys the richness of the Christian tradition in the various personalities, stories and cultures presented. It also succeeds in lifting up the importance of social justice in Christian faith.
The Christian Century
April 5, 2005
In the congregation I currently serve, we have been asking our own questions and discovering our own answers for some time. You can't imagine how much delighted and grateful we were to participate in Living the Questions – to read the excellent materials and watch the DVD – to learn new information and have some of our own discoveries confirmed. It's a wonderful tool and it has given us hope and encouragement that churches like ours are not alone. Thanks for developing Living the Questions.
Rev. Barbara Nixon
Junction City United
Methodist Church,
OR
I wanted to pass on to you the excitement and enthusiasm we have for LTQ! WOW! I have been a UM pastor for 16 years and this is by far the very best study I have ever participated in. We have 32 in our class and everyone is on fire about the content, questions and DVD portion. Every week we just keep saying, 'Just when we think it can't get any better, we do the next chapter and it's so good.'
Teri Johnson
Brookings First United Methodist Church
625 5th St. Brookings, SD
I've been a Resource Center Director for 17 years, and I can honestly say "Living the Questions" has generated more excitement than any other resource. We purchased five copies and they have been out continually for two years. A number of churches and individuals didn't want to remain on a waiting list, so they purchased their own copies. Young adults to senior citizens have all contributed to the positive buzz on this excellent resource.
For too long, the marketplace has been saturated with video studies that provide simplistic answers to difficult faith questions. Thankfully, Living the Questions has been a breath of fresh air for liberal, progressive and mainstream believers. I'm sure the Holy Spirit guided the LTQ producers to take a risk. The results have been a phenomenal journey in faith.
Thank you for all the LTQ studies. The demand for them has outpaced their availability.
Mary Rockwell
Resource Center Director for the Wyoming Conference of the UMC
Just a quick note to let you folks know we are about 6 weeks into the Living the Questions study and have had a great response. At 14 plus me, the class is a little large, but we manage. We meet in my home on Thursday evenings for dinner (thanks to my amazingly understanding, industrious, and creative spouse!) and study.
Thus far the DVD sessions have inspired thought-provoking questions and thoughtful comments. Please share our thanks with whomever you are able.
Thanks again!
Matt Seargeant
Brea United Methodist Church
Brea, CA
We are so pleased with Living the Questions!
I coordinate the small group ministry at our church, Circular Congregational Church, in Charleston, SC and have been doing so for the last three years. We have had outstanding response to Living the Questions with four groups of 12-14 participants in each group. The groups got off to a good start with the orientation session and met with very favorable reactions.
I've never experienced such a response to any group. The only advertisement was a short paragraph in our weekly newsletter for several weeks before the sign-up. We also showed the demonstration video following the worship service on 3 different Sundays. Obviously, this is something that our members have been wanting and needing. Thank goodness you've come up with a study that meets the needs of our people--and the facilitators.
I met with the facilitators for a weekend planning session where we had the chance to participate and share facilitation. We were unanimous in our positive regard for this program.
I only have one question. What's next?
Sarah Jayne
Circular Congregational Church
Charleston, SC
This is the very best study we have ever done at our church. We only have 50 members and we have had up to 22 people show up for the study.
We are very grateful for this material.
Bonnie Frost
Coral Isles Church
Tavernier, FL
I couldn't help but cry and laugh and praise God for this video. I have struggles with these question for so long - and by the time I graduated seminary I came to a sort of peace about the questions.
To hear the brightest minds in Christian thought ask and address these same questions is a blessing. Thanks...
Rev Pam DeFusco
High Point United Church Of Christ
Union, KY
We are delighted with the program after having used the Alpha program once and found it to narrow in orthodoxy.
We completed the program a month ago and with 18 people involved the response was overwhelmingly positive. In the group were people who had read Marcus Borg and Bishop John Spong. Others in the group had not encountered anyone of their theological perspectives. All however found the information and insights provided as being very helpful to their journey of faith.
Comments received:
I feel affirmed...Id like to see some of it over again...The whole thing was a wonderful, positive, healing experience.
The program will be repeated again in the fall. It is the best resource I have been able to find that brings a liberal (we can use this word in Canada!) mindset to the material that is offered. We will also be following this program up with Borg's Book The Heart of Christianity that has now a study guide and DVD program.
We are a Cathedral Congregation in the Anglican (Episcopal) tradition.
The Very Rev. R.J. (Bob) Osborne
Cathedral Church of St. John
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Thank you very much for creating Living the Questions. A small group in our church just finished the experience and we find ourselves profoundly thankful. I have sought for and not been able to find this type of approach to faith development and discussion until LtQ came along. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this material and the presenters. Marcus Borg, Bill Nelson, John Spong, and Stanley Hauerwas were fantastic people to hear and watch. I will enjoy them even more the next time I have the honor of seeing them in person. It was great seeing Minerva Carcaño again (having been a classmate of hers at Perkins Seminary). Who could not love Tex Sample? I enjoyed listening to the mysticism of Siyoung Park and the comments of John Dominic Crossan, Emilie Townes, and Nancy Ammerman. The discussion and thought it has provoked has been life affirming. LtQ is freeing, guilt deflating, and faith strengthening. LtQ is excellent! We will be starting another group or two soon.
I have been looking for something more in the progressive line for our confirmation groups. I do hope there will soon be something similar available for the youth.
Thank you again for this excellent study.
Pastor Butch Lewellin
Byron United Methodist Church
Byron, MN
Our church has been looking for a curriculum with a progressive voice...something that celebrates the questions life offers, rather than providing pat answers that no longer speak fully to the 21st Century mind.
Living the Questions provides a framework for open, honest faith discussion...a dialogue essential for the church to remain relevant in individual hearts and community action. We are grateful for your efforts, and hope this is one of many programs to come.
Stephen Walden
Green Mountain UMC
Lakewood, Colorado
Our group has just completed four sessions of the course and I once again want to tell you what a joy this course is, and to thank the speakers and organizers for putting together such a well thought out course. It is a delight! We currently have 6 older adults involved (including one fundamentalist friend). At this stage, everyone seems to be enjoying the course equally regardless of conservative or liberal disposition.
With gratitude to all!
John Jacobson
Theology Study Group
Volusia County, FL
Greetings from Colorado,
On behalf of the class using Living the Questions as an adult spiritual formation curriculum here at Plymouth Congregational UCC, I want to thank you for the thoughtful, progressive, inspiring DVD series that is LTQ. This class has brought many people to the understanding that they are not alone, and that they are still a very real part of the body of Christ despite (even because of) their beliefs that do not fit into the traditional understanding of Christianity. We are all grateful for the people who worked to bring us and the world this study series.
Thank you again for Living the Questions, so that we may also live them and love them.
I unreservedly recommend this program to all churches seeking a way to talk about Christianity in light of a liberal theology. I believe Living the Questions has come to us at the right time, as people are ready to begin anew their journeys with Christ and his Gospel.
The Reverend Sharon A. Benton
Plymouth Congregational Church, UCC
Fort Collins, CO
"Saving Jesus" Testimonials
Facilitating small group discussion using these materials is one of the joys of my ministry!
Rev. Sally Iberg
Glenview
Community
Church
Glenview,
IL
Saving Jesus has been the most inspiring and thought-provoking adult education series I have ever experienced in my 38 years of ministry. The presenters encourage us to ask important questions about our faith... Such an invitation serves to strengthen our understanding of the profound significance Jesus of Nazareth has on our lives and on our own spiritual awakening. It also encourages us to embrace a greater understanding of faith that is inclusive and reconciling rather than unique and exclusive. The course... speaks to the twenty-first century Christian and a twenty-first century global family. If you are not planning to enrich your church with this new curriculum you are missing an opportunity to set your Church on fire.
Rev. David Wilkinson
Pastor, St. Francis in the Foothills UMC, Tucson, AZ
Where over 100 people recently completed the 12-week "Saving Jesus" series
As a participant in a Living the Questions group for the winter season (06-07) and Saving Jesus last spring at our UCC Church, I write to thank you -- for taking the risk and helping so many of us work through our journey in the Spirit. I was familiar with many of the speakers from their books, lectures, etc., so it was extra good to see them speak in this format with a group of seekers just like me. We all derived great benefit and growth through the series. THANK YOU!
Susan Voith
St. Peter's United
Church of
Christ,
Carmel,
IN
"Victory and Peace or Justice and Peace?" Testimonials
John Dominic Crossan's course was full of substance and wit. It was very well received by our group. The Justice Course was a perfect finishing touch on the theology work we had been pursuing over the past four years. Crossan put all the miscellaneous historic and theological research we've been doing over the years into an important clarifying theological perspective.
These courses produce an excitement that goes beyond mere intellectual stimulation. Repeatedly, after every session, everyone seems to pause before we leave and express thanks for having had the chance to participate.
I pass this love back to you for producing these great courses!
Thanks!
John Jacobson
Theology Study Group
Volusia County, FL
"Eclipsing Empire" Testimonials
Just a minute to say thank you for your excellent work and to say Bless all of you for what you have created. Our group is currently doing LTQ2 and Eclipsing Empire in two separate group meetings. Most of us are already familiar with many of the contributors, predominately Borg, Crossan and Spong and I have now started collecting books from several other contributors. I continually hope that this work has the changing effect on all users as it has had on me. In those great words of Dr. King, "Free at last." Thank you again.
Charles Rickabaugh
Cathedral of the Air in Lakehurst, New Jersey
We just finished Dom Crossan's Eclipsing Empire Series Sunday night here -first ones in Connecticut to get it, and it was fabulous. This was our third year of using LtQ material for adult education, and people can't get enough of it. We have large crowds, people from the Congregational church next door, and folks now coming from other churches, or who attend no church at all. I've waited thirty years for this kind of material to come out, and I can't thank you enough for presenting and distributing it.
Rev. Jeffrey S. Dugan
St. James Episcopal Church
Farmington, CT
"First Light" Testimonials
This was the best presentation we have viewed by Borg and Crossan! Thank you for such excellent material. It has meant a lot to me and to the people who have attended the classes.
Al Gordon
Cocoa
Beach
Community
Church, United
Church of
Christ
Cocoa Beach,
FL
"Matt & Lucy's Version Births" Testimonials
This is a fabulous script. We adapted it by dividing up Matt and Lucy's lines between about 6 other theater staff to create more speaking roles. It was convenient that the theater people could rehearse separately from the choir. We had choir members play the character roles. The theology was outstanding, and meaningful to the kids as well as the adult audience. The rhythm of songs and spoken lines kept it all interesting. Our audience clapped after each song, which gave us lots of time for transitions. This script format is really a masterwork, and we look forward to more productions like this. Thank you very, very, much.
Sue Ellen Braunlin
First Congregational UCC,
Indianapolis
Dear LTQ, We did Matt and Lucy's Version Births yesterday at church. Parents and my senior minister agree that it was the best program the church has ever produced. The script was clever, the kids loved the songs, it was very easy to put together, and the parents were proud as could be. Thanks for making our holiday program great!
Dan Rodriguez Schlorff
Director of Religious Education
Bradford
Community
Church Unitarian Universalist
Kenosha,
WI
We absolutely loved this program. Traditionally the
Church
School would hold a "Christmas pageant" after lunch on the Sunday before Christmas, followed by an all-church party. We decided what "Matt and Lucy's Version Births" had to say was too important for anyone to miss: our children took over the sermon slot so that everyone could hear. We have a tiny, but enthusiastic, Church School - in fact we used the large puppets the young people had created for telling other stories in church, as the holy family, to help us out when one family of several children could not attend at the last minute. The songs are catchy and fun. The backing music is provided. It does not take memorization so much as stage directions, and those are not complicated. The message fits our preaching and it opened doors to encourage people, once again, to our Living the Questions stable studies. Thank you!
Janet Douglass Assistant Pastor
Christ
Church, United Methodist
Troy,
NY
