Assignment | Introduction and Syllabus | Orientation to the Forum
September 5, 2026 1:37 PM
Assignment | Discover the Forum
The forum will be used in many of your courses over the next nine months of study. This is the opportunity for you to make sure you know how to access the forum, interact with your instructor and peers, and for us to make sure we can accurately see your responses. Thank you for completing this portion of orientation.
In a simple sentence, tell us who you are, your congregation, and why this program is ideal for your life right now. Please respond to two of your peers.
Discussion (57)
Hi this is Chauncey Evans from oakland California. Love Center Ministries. Hi everyone and blessing
Thank you! My name is Elizabeth Mares. I am 71 years old & live on the Island of Kauai. I go by the pronouns she/her. My church is Kōloa Union. I am looking forward to growing in my Spiritual life in order to be of comfort to myself & especially others.
I am trying to open assignments and it will not let me
Hi Verdell! I grew up in Virginia and went to college in Maryland. I look forward to getting to know you!
Great! I'm on the East Coast with you!!
Hi. This is Teri Shepherd from Downs Memorial UMC, Oakland, California. Good to be taking this class with you.
I'm Kona, in Syracuse, NY, and I'm here as support for all of you.
I am Alika Kinimaka, Kona Hawaii. I am the Kahu Hiki at Kona Lanakila Church.
Hi Alika. What is Kahu Hiki? This sounds very interesting.
Hope you didn’t experience the hurricane to seriously! We’ve been without electricity or internet, but it looks like it’s coming back!
Hi everyone! I'm Stephanie Sisk-Hilton, and I'm a member of Epworth United Methodist Church in Berkeley, California. I'm former chair of SPRC and currently Steward of our Nurture Ministries. I've been pondering a call to ministry for about 30 years (I applied to seminary in 1995 and decided to go to grad school in a different field). My younger child is entering her second year of college, so I think now is the time to take this more seriously. :) I am looking forward to being in community with people on similar- and different!- spiritual journeys from so many different places. I also look forward to having a structured way to learn, reflect, and pause in a life where I often feel a bit overwhelmed and rushed. I am so excited to begin!
Stephanie, thank you for offering to help me today. I think I got it, now that I know MAC is designed differently than what they were saying. Hope to see you in Church. I appreciate the need to slow down and reflect. Yes.
Nice to meet you ,I am equally excited to learn and to be grounded in my faith journey,Blessings
Hello my fellow Methodist member looking forward to inter act with you and enjoy this journey Tim Harrison member of Downs
Loved your post & look forward to learning along with you!
I'm Yeshua, an Elder at RIM Fellowship UCC&TFAM. I'm located in NC and my church is in Atlanta.
Hi Yeshua, nice to meet you! My family is in Virginia and North Carolina (mostly the triangle area). I'm back in that area several times a year and I often miss the East Coast. Where in NC are you?
Hi Yeshua! What does TFAM stand for? What part of NC are you? I have family out there.
I am excited about being here. I am Lanita Mims-Beal in Oakley, California. I am a member of Taylor Memorial UMC. I am the hospitality team captain, and I host women's bible study small groups.
Aloha, Frank Mulec from Opihikao Cong. Church. Hawaii Island Association.
Hui! Anakala! Nice to have some 'Ohana from Big Island
Aloha Uncle Frank! Nice to see you in class.
My name is Kyrah Brown and I am a wellness coach and enthusiast. I'm currently in Berkeley, CA and I serve at The Way Christian Center. I'm very excited for this program, and particularly for next month's course on Pastoral Care.
Kyrah, I'm looking forward to this group and getting to know you.
You are inspiring your truth is being told i am so glad your with us
Hi, I'm glad to be moving in this new direction because I've always longed to study theology and practicum with others. I'm in a book group at Epworth and I love it when we read theology, such as Richard Rohr and Howard Thurman, but we also read fiction and I want more than that, especially if it can help my church community.
I am benhi !khabeb(he him his)I am a member at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Minneapolis MN that is located a couple of blocks from the George Floyd Square and Rene Goods Memorial.I serve on the Church Council,Out Reach Ministry,The Worship and Music Ministry Team.I am a Theo Artist in Resistance and am excited to embark on this theological journey .
I see your passion as a acviist i feel your passion i am in a zoom bible study called brother to brother out of Oakland California the last 26 years we have a brother from Johannesburg South Africa who keeps us updated on the political climate so i can feel the oppression
This program is ideal for my life right now because I'm helping my church with community engagement programs.
It is important to learn with others in similar situations and to be exposed to possible solutions from around the world.
I feel fortunate to be here. My spirit is lifted high!
hi church member we will see each other in the up coming weeks at church looking forward to this walk with God and you.
god wand you
Aloha! I'm Tiffany and I am the Christian Education Director at Koloa Union Church on Kaua`i. I am looking forward to all these classes as I begin my spiritual journey in new ways.
Hi Tiffany were in this together the challenge is real butlets stick and stay God Bless You Today and Always
Hi everyone, My name is Samuel T Poumele, and I live in Oceanside, Ca. I serve as a Lay Minister at the First Samoan Congregational Christian Church serving Oceanside/Vista. Being born into this very same church from its founding, I believe this course will further enrich my commitment to continue to answer God's calling to my fullest potential. His call, my duty. Jesus is the door. Great to be able to share with you all. Much to learn.
Hello Samuel this your brother in Christ Tim Harrison looking forward going on this spiritual journey with you
jesus is the way and this walk will strengthen us all let the grind mold us lets enjoy together have a beautiful day
My name is Timothy L. Harrison i am a member of Downs memorial united Methodist church in Oakland California its been on my heart for years to further my spiritual journey to get closer to my God and be able to pass on my teachings its been a long time since i been in school but im going to challenge myself
I am inspired by your commitment & look forward to growing in Spiritual knowledge along with you,
greetings everyone as anyone else having technical difficulties logging on to the first week of assignments?
I knew I would be challenged, but not this much! Definitely a lesson in patience & the fact that we need to ask for help, Best of luck,
Hi, I'm Susan Jardin from Epworth UMC in Berkeley CA. I was out of town last Saturday and not able to be at the orientation. Looking forward to getting to know everybody!
Hello Everyone!
Don't forget to complete your Lesson one assignment, see you on Saturday morning!
Tanisha
I am Ethan Toven-Lindsey, I am a trustee at Epworth United Methodist Church in Berkeley and I am very interested in grounding my spiritual and faith beliefs in a community and practice like this.
Hello my fellow student this is Timothy also untied methodist glad we are taking this journey together
I’m confused(as usual)! I posted my reply under my name(Elizabeth Mares) & replied to two fellow students!?!