On-Line Distance Learning
May 5 - August 22, 2008
Sacred Storytelling: Spirituality & Technique
an intensive seminar on the art of sacred storytelling for beginning & experienced tellers
Lesson 1 - May 5 - How Story is a vehicle for Revelation and a Gift of God's Grace
Understanding storytelling's relation to ordinary day-time talking and night-time dreaming. The characteristics of storytelling as a sacred "twilight" language
Lesson 2 - May 19 - The Life-cycle of the Teller -- Religious Belief in Childhood, Adulthood, and Elderhood
The rituals of storytelling as part of spiritual maturation. The three stages of life and what they mean for both storytelling and storylistening
Lesson 3 - June 2 - Witnesses to The Word: How Tellers model behavior and shape character
Finding the significant Storytellers who have shaped our unique gifts for telling and listening. How they have mentored us. What they offer for our future.
Lesson 4 - June 16 - The Wellspring of Images: What Listeners Seek in Stories
Connections between "ideas" and "images" in storytelling. How images heighten the listener's involvement in the story. How the mind is "wired" to listen
Lesson 5 - June 30 - Discovering our Treasure Trove of Tales -- from Life, from Scripture, from Culture
Moving from scarcity to abundance in our spiritual life. Discovering unexpected resources to expand and enrich our storytelling in ministry.
Lesson 6 - July 14 - How to Master the Story Plot -- the steady discipline of Third-Person Telling
What is the "single narrative line" that is the key to keeping the Listener focused on your story. The place of perpective in "rounding out" the story
Lesson 7 - July 28 - How to Develop the Characters -- the emotional content of First-Person Telling
Using the art of drama to enhance your storytelling. The place of "doubling" in storytelling for both intensifiying and contrasting character development
Lesson 8 - August 11 - Polishing Your Craft by knowing "where" to Begin and "when" to End
Getting your Listeners "in" and "out" of the story. Putting your story into a context without beginning too soon and ending too late. The art of timing.
Seminar Ends - August 22
Weekly Format - Every Other Monday the instructor emails a number of documents to the students. These include (1) a written text, (2) a sound-file, and (3) a short assignment. (Also, the weekly issue of the "Lectionary Storybook" which is an enrichment resource but not assigned reading or listening.) During the next few days the student completes this short written assignment and emails it back to the instructor. The instructor comments on the assignment, and sends both the original assignment and the comments to all of the students by email. There is open discussion over the two weeks. Estimated time per class every week is about 2 hours, determined and self-regulated by the student alone. There are no scheduled online meeting times - Everyone works at their own pace whenever they have the time. To receive credit, all eight assignments need to be submitted and accepted. There is no marking or grade system. Each course is a simple "complete" or "incomplete." Students who cannot complete assignments by the calendar date of ending can automatically request an 8-week extension. Key values in these courses are (1) one-to-one personalized learning between the instructor and each student, (2) Free and open discussion among the entire community of learners in the class. Key goals are (1) deepening knowledge and mastery of sacred storytelling skills, and (2) application of these skills to the student's life, work, or ministry. The online seminar is designed to be enjoyable as well as informative.
Credit towards the Apprenticeship in Sacred Storytelling
This online seminar consitutes one (1) unit toward completion of the Apprenticeship in Sacred Storytelling. A total of ten units (10) completes the requirements for graudation and award of a Certificate as Master Storyteller. The nine units include:
3 Master Classes (on site)
3 online preparations for Master Classes
3 elective seminars or retreats (on site or online)
1 independent apprenticeship project
Limited to Nine Participants.
Register Here for On-Line Seminar. Tuition is $495
(Includes a one-year subscription to the Lectionary Storybook, a $199 value, FREE)
Free One-Year Subscription to Parables Today: The Lectionary Storybook
As a registered student in the School for this online seminar, you will receive Parables Today for an entire year
For each additional online course, you receive an extension of your subscription for another year.
Parables Today, the Lectionary Storybook includes 156 stories for the Sunday lectionary readings over a three-year cycle.
Each issue contains written texts and audio sound-files
"The Small Print" - Online courses are tutorial, meaning that the instructor is committed to individualized instruction to help the student discover unique gifts and strengths as a storyteller. At the same time, a small community of learners, limited to 9 students, is at the heart of the seminar. In return for written and audio resources, and weekly discussion and evaluation, the student is expected to complete assignments and pay tuition. The tuition is due before class begins and is not refundable. Completion of course requirements can be delayed, because of illness or other serious cause, by agreement between the instructor and the student. All courses are applicable to the Apprenticeship or Fellows programs of the School of Sacred Storytelling for certification in ministry.