Michael O. Minor is a pastor and proponent of wellness and health centered on faith. Minor, who hails from Hernando, Miss., has been recognized nationally by Michelle Obama, who invited him to speak at a conference in March in Washington, D.C., but he’ll first be bringing his message to Columbia.

Time/Date: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday, March 5

Location: Second Baptist Church, 407 E. Broadway, Columbia, MO

Cost: Registration is $25, but there are scholarships available to cover some of the cost of attending.

For more information: Call or visit the website of the Missouri School of Religion, (573) 635-1187 or www.missourischoolofreligion.org.

Shakir Hamoodi is serving three years in federal prison for sending money to help cover medical costs and basic necessities of family members in Iraq while the U.S. had sanctions on sending funds to that country during the Iraq war. Hamoodi was prosecuted as a terrorist, but it was found that he had only humanitarian interests in sending money overseas. There’s now a Columbia group working to reduce his sentence. Now, his attorney, Kansas City’s J.R. Hobbs, will talk about Hamoodi’s case and the role discrimination plays in federal prosecution.

Time/Date: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30

Location: MU School of Law, Hulston Hall, Room 7

Cost: Free

For more information: 

http://www.insidecolumbia.net/August-2012/The-Complicated-Case-Of-Shakir-Hamoodi/

http://www.helphamoodi.org/

The presentation is sponsored by the Missouri Civil Liberties Association, the Bias-Free Columbia Coalition, and the Missouri Association for Social Welfare Human Rights Task Force

Dr. Anne Blankenship, a postdoctoral research associate at Washington University’s John C. Danforth Center on Religion & Politics, will give a talk entitled “Before the Civil Rights Movement: Christian Responses to the Incarceration of Japanese Americans.”

Time/Date: 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5

Location: 236 Arts & Science building

Cost: Free

For more information: Contact MU’s Department of Religious Studies at (572) 882-4769 or email rsinfo@missouri.edu.

The Columbia Values Diversity Celebration, an annual event honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and community members who uphold his vision of peaceful cultural pluralism, will be held Thursday, January 17. The event is sponsored by the Columbia/Boone County Department of Health and Human Services. The Rev. King’s son, Martin Luther King III, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the 2013 celebration. Breakfast will be served at the event.

Time/Date: TBA, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

Location: TBA (Has been held at the Holiday Inn Expo Center in recent years, map)

Cost: Registration is available through 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11. Tickets are $14.

For more information: Visit the city’s webpage for the event, or contact the Division of Human Services with more specific requests via email or by phone (573-874-7488).

The Missouri School of Religion, based in Jefferson City, offers a number of CPM courses open for enrollment to all interested applicants, whether they be lay persons or licensed ministers. These courses vary in cost, content and dates offered. Course descriptions are provided by the school. Visit the Courses/Events page on the School of Religion’s website for more information.

Understanding the Bible

This online course focuses on the historical timeline of biblical events, the development of the canon, and the challenges of interpretation. The use of commentaries and study Bibles is discussed as well as responsible use of the scripture in preaching and teaching. The class is prerequisite for those entering the Certificate of Pastoral Ministry program, but other laity are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Instructor: Fran Schnarre, ordained minister for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Columbia
Offered:  Online
Dates:  Oct. 2 to 30, 2012
Cost: $140

Christian Education

Gone are the days when Christian Education is understood as what happens only on Sunday Mornings for children. While Sunday morning remains a critical timeframe in the life of the church and  for congregational learners and disciples, Christian Education embraces a diverse context and a wide variety of participants. This course will focus on the call of congregations and leaders to equip young and old in the development of their spiritual lives as individuals and in community. With a look at our own experiences of growth and deepening, we will also consider scriptural encouragements, learning styles, rites of passage, small groups formulation techniques and spiritual gifts identification processes.

Instructor: Kim Gage Ryan
Offered: Online
Dates:  Nov. 20 to Dec. 18, 2012
Cost:  $140

Evangelism in Your Local Context

Evangelism in the North American context has “lost its luster” in many respects. Because faith is considered a “private” matter, many in our churches and parishioners have foresworn to simply let it be – no faith-sharing for them. And yet, this stands in complete contrast to Jesus’ great commission to go and make disciples of all nations (people groups).