The Gospel of Mark, once thought to be a mere summary of Matthew, is a powerful summons for the church to follow Jesus in the mission and ministry of the Empire (Kingdom) of God. As Mark portrays events, such as Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, and central characters, such as Jesus’ disciples, a call emerges for the church to resist a mindset of scarcity and to trust in God’s abundant provision.
This focused study offers participants a critical overview of the content and message of Mark and provides the opportunity to activate the gospel narrative for equipping and empowering the ministries and mission of our own communities today. Participants will be invited to connect Mark’s message to their own contexts, and to imagine how the call of the empty tomb to “go to Galilee” and the promise “there you will see him” can challenge and move the church today into ministries of Jesus’ compassion, justice, and love in the world.
Facilitated by Rev. Dr. Peter Luckey
Rev. Dr. Peter A Luckey served for 24 years as the Senior Pastor of Plymouth Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Lawrence, Kansas. During his tenure, the congregation took stands for social justice including support of the LGTBQ+ community, and in 2011 the church led an effort to successfully thwart Governor Brownback’s decision to close the Douglas County Social and Rehabilitative Services office.
Since his retirement from full time ministry, Rev. Luckey has continued preaching in many area UCC and UU congregations. In addition, he is preparing to be a Professional Certified Coach. Most of his clients are pastors. He is a published author including an essay on the death of his father in the January 2023 issue of the Christian Century Magazine. He and his partner, Linda, make their home in Lawrence.
Cohort content created by Rev. Dr. Deborah Krause, Professor of New Testament and President of Eden.
Dr. Krause's teaching and scholarship focus on methods of biblical interpretation and their roots in critical theory, theology, and politics. She teaches courses in the gospels, early Jewish exegesis, the Deutero-Pauline and pastoral epistles, and feminist-womanist, post-colonial, and postmodern biblical interpretation.
Students engage scripture critically in Dr. Krause’s classes to gain understanding of what the Bible has meant in the history of the church, and to gain insight into what it means and how they proclaim it today.
An ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Dr. Krause serves the church through social justice advocacy work, teaching, preaching and scholarship.
Dates: 6:30-8pm CT, Jan. 25, Feb. 22, Mar 22, and Apr 26, 2027
All Cohort meetings will be online
Ministry Cohorts
Ministry Cohorts allow you to sample many theological themes, offering peer learning with your ministry context in mind. Scholars have chosen a specific lens on a particular topic and share their expertise through digital content you watch on your own time. Four monthly online meetings are interspersed, where you and your Cohort members gather for facilitated discussion with an experienced church leader.
Cohorts support lifelong learning and are for anyone- authorized clergy, chaplains, Christian educators, lay leaders and anyone interested in the topic. UCC members will recognize the Marks for Ministry woven throughout the cohorts, though anyone from any denomination, or no denomination, is welcome to attend.
Completion of this Ministry Cohort provides 9 contact hours of continuing education, subject to approval by the participant's credentialing body.
