True Confessions: What Presbyterians Believe and Why
led by Rev. Dr. Quinn Fox
Sundays through May 17, 2026, 9:30 a.m.
The Presbyterian Church USA describes itself with 3Cs: Constitutional: we follow a Book of Order; Connectional: we are part of larger groups of church in Presbytery, Synods and the General Assembly; and Confessional: we are guided by such as the Apostles' Creed. Some may be new to us.
Week 1: The Confessional Nature of the Church Ancient Creeds
Week 2: Reformation Creeds
Week 3: Early Modern and Modern Creeds
Dr. Fox is an Associate Pastor for Discipleship, National Presbyterian Church; Associate Director, The Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology; Presbyterian Chaplain, American University; former Adjunct Faculty, Fuller Theological Seminary; Visiting Professor, The Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt; and earned an M.Div., M.A.(Theology), Fuller Theological Seminary; Th.M., Princeton Theological Seminary; Ph.D. (Religion: History of Christian Thought), Graduate Department of Religion, Vanderbilt University.
Roots & Resonance: The Spirituals as Sacred Art
by Dr. LeeLee Hunter
Sundays: May 3-17, 2026
What does it mean to sing freedom when you are not free? This three-week course invites participants to explore the Negro spirituals — one of America's most profound and enduring sacred traditions — through the lenses of musicology and theology. LeeLee Hunter, who holds a doctorate in musicology, will use her musical training to show the compositional sophistication of the spirituals: their modal harmonies, rhythmic complexity, and themes of lament and defiance.
War, Christian Nationalism and American Patriotism: Some Reflections on Memorial Day
led by Linton Brooks (In-person only)
May 24-June 7, 2026, 9:30 a.m.
Memorial Day honors men and women who have given their lives in defense of the country. Because the United States is engaged in war, this is an appropriate time for a three-week study of war, which while always tragic is sometimes necessary. Our Memorial Day class will examine Christian attitudes toward war, giving particular attention to just war concepts. Most of our emphasis in our second class will be on Christian Nationalism, which for some implies that the United States has a special mission from God, was founded and should be governed on Christian principles, and that therefore whatever the United States does in foreign affairs is likely to be the will of God. Some have invoked these ideas with respect to the war in Iran. Our final class will consider how America’s “civic religion” - love of country while recognizing our flaws, a tradition of separation of church and state, and a recognition of ethnic and religious pluralism – should deal with these contrasting issues. Our examination will focus on ideas, not individuals.
The leader will present background material and pose discussion questions, but most of the class will involve participant discussion. To encourage maximum candor, there will not be a Zoom option, nor will the class be recorded.