ADULT
FORMATION

DIFFERENT WAYS TO LIVE INTO OUR PRACTICE OF FAITH

At Park Avenue we recognize that we are all in a process of becoming and growing and that this is a vital part of the life of faith. We believe that the practice of our faith can build our capacity to be maintain our compassion in the world and in this way faith practices build resiliency. Evolving in our belief systems is essential to continuing the spiritual journey. With this in mind we want to help people who are deconstructing toxic belief systems and we aim to offer new paradigms for taking social justice beliefs and translating them into action in radical church community. We have focused classes that augment the teachings in each sermon series. We have trainings and core practices that form foundational language of many gatherings and worship.

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LEARN FROM OUR MVSKOKE MEKKO CHEBON

We are building a relationship with Mekko Rev. Chebon Kernell and the Mvskoke people. This is a part of PABC’s commitment to landback, decolonization and all movements to protect the land.

Mekko Chebon offered a training on protocols for being and connecting with the land. This training offers more insight into theologies of Mvskoke people. We have so much to learn and this wisdom is invaluable.

Take the time to watch the training here or on our Facebook page.

SOMATIC PRACTICE AS A PATHWAY
TO CENTERING PRACTICE

Park Avenue is a community of people who have experienced trauma; many traumas occur in religious contexts, and systemic racialized violence causes extreme trauma. We are committed to educating and growing toward healing and wholeness.

Community Resiliency Model is a method to begin to balance emotions and trauma responses, which are natural to those of us who have been traumatized.

The Trauma Resource Institute

www.traumaresourceinstitute.com
www.communityresiliencymodel.com

Community
Resiliency
Model

Community Resiliency Model Training

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CRM

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The study of the Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault has formed a foundational understanding for our congregation of why we practice Centering Prayer and how we interpret scripture. For a great recap of the book visit this website:

Centering Practice - Core Faith Practice

CENTERING PRAYER,
AN ANCIENT CHRISTIAN PRACTICE

"How good it is to center down," the refrain from the Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman is how the Park Ave. Community plugs into centering prayer, an ancient Christian practice.

For those of us who have experienced trauma or those of us with trans experience, meditation can feel like a dangerous experience. Many of us spent years running away from the quiet center that has now become our guide; a reflection of the divine connection within us all.

Want to know more about Centering Prayer?

What is Centering Prayer?

Here's a roundtable by the curators

and PABC leaders about this journey.

Centering Prayer

Welcome

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Empire Christianity has infused our faith practice with toxic theology. We as a community seek to unpack this theology and in the process rediscover a faith that liberates us all.

UnPacking Toxic Theology

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Unpacking Session 5

27:46

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Upacking Session 4

39:03

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Unpacking Toxic Theology Session 3

38:07

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Abolition Church

The community of Park Avenue has practiced anti-racism for many years and through this work and reconciling our history in the Southern Baptist Church, we have come to recognize that the state is the purveyor of so much violence that a pathway toward healing and wholeness must include constellation of care that embody the practice of abolition.