Vermont Academy of Spiritual Training (VAST)

The Vermont Academy of Spiritual Training holds classes in three locations. It is designed for laypersons, Licensed Ministers, and Certified Educators who wish to develop a greater understanding of the Christian faith. VAST is open to all denominations.

VAST is designed for persons of faith who wish to develop a greater understanding of the Christian faith.

VAST is open to all denominations.

VAST offers courses in three locations:

  • Richmond Congregational, UCC
  • Manchester First Congregational, UCC
  • St. Johnsbury North Congregational, UCC


The Vermont Academy of Spiritual Training has grown out of a need expressed by the laity for an in-depth study of the Bible, basic theological concepts and the nature of one's individual calling and spiritual journey. The courses are not designed to equip a person for ordination but to enrich laity in the struggle with their own spiritual identity and calling to Christian ministry. VAST is also designed to assist those called to Licensed Ministry and Certification as Church Educators in the UCC.

The program is three years in length. Classes meet from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on a Saturday in each month for the months of September through June. In the fall of 2007, classes will be held in:

  • Richmond - 2nd Saturday
  • Manchester - 2nd Saturday
  • St. Johnsbury - 4th Saturday

VAST offers the opportunity for open enrollment, i.e. a student may enter at the beginning of years 1, 2 or 3.

A retreat is held for all classes at the end of the program year.

An applicant must be prepared to devote the time necessary to do the homework assigned which requires a substantial amount of reading and other assignments. An 80% attendance is required in order to graduate from the program.

The cost of the program is $300.00 per year. One half of the tuition ($150) is due prior to the 1st class of each semester. Checks are payable to the Vermont Conference, U.C.C., 36 North Main Street, Randolph, VT 05060. Additional money will be needed to purchase textbooks.

Scholarship help may be available from your local church and/or association.


Courses of Study

Biblical Studies
(First Year) A survey of the Bible from the Pentateuch to The Exile- Patriarchs to Prophets.
(Second Year) A continuation of the survey: Psalms and Proverbs, post exilic writings, apocalyptic literature and the Apocrypha. Introduction to the Four Gospels.
(Third Year) A study of Acts, the letters of Paul and others, and the Revelation of John.

Worship: History and Practice
(First Year) A comprehensive study of the history of worship and liturgy in the Christian Church commencing with the early Church through the Reformation, the reformers and up to the present day. There is also emphasis on music, art, and architecture as part of worship.

Spiritual Formation
(Second Year, First Half) A course designed to help the individual to gain knowledge of and experience in a variety of spiritual disciplines.

Christian Ethics
(Second Year, Second Half) A study of contemporary ethical issues facing today's Christian: introducing techniques in identifying, analyzing, weighing, and responding to ethical challenges.

An Introduction to Theology
(Third Year) A course to help the student develop a theological perspective, using varied theological disciplines as bench marks. The purpose is to develop an understanding of the student's own theological ideas that are both dynamic and evolving.

Faculty

Biblical Studies

Rev. Jay Sprout is pastor and teacher of the North Congregational Church in St. Johnsbury.

Rev. Daniel Wright is pastor and teacher of the Weybridge Congregational Church.

Rev. Bruce Lee-Clark is a teacher, attorney and United Methodist minister.

Worship: History and Practice

Rev. Diana Scholl is the Chaplain for the Porter Medical Center(Middlebury) and a Spiritual Director at Institute for Spiritual Development (Burlington).

Spiritual Formation

Rev. Pamela Lucas serves as the Vermont Conference Associate Conference Minister. She is certified as a "Specialist" in Christian Education of the UCC.

Christian Ethics

Rev. J. Yorke Peeler is a retired UCC pastor and is the UCC Polity Seminar presenter for VAST.

An Introduction to Theology

Rev. Marcia Dorey is the pastor of the Wilmington Congregational Church and the West Dover Congregational Church.

Registration

To register please contact:

Dean of VAST
36 North Main Street
Randolph, VT 05060
(802) 728-4999

Registration Form for 2008-2009 is now available on line in both Word and Adobe versions. Click the link below to download!


If you have any questions or need more information, please E-mail us!

Deadline for registration is July 15th. (late registrations will be considered - call to confirm!)
 
Vermont Conference © 2007 | 36 North Main Street Randolph, VT 05060 | (802) 728-4999