Important Dates
- Nov 1: Spring Registration Opens
- Nov 3: Cheap Solidarity, White Awake, or Subversive Witness?
- Nov 4: Gathering for Students of Color & Chapel and Lament Gathering for Campus Students
- Nov 6: Faith and Health Symposium
- Nov 10: Purposeful Narrative: Engaging the Mosaic of Covenant History
- Nov 20: Last Day to Withdraw from a Class (with permission)
- Nov 25-26: Thanksgiving Break
Registration for J-Term and Spring 2022 Is Now Open
J-term and Spring registration in Self-Service is open! You can also see the full NPTS J-Term and Spring 2022 schedules on the website. If you need a refresher on how to register for courses through Self-Service, please refer to this tutorial video provided by NPU’s Center for Online Education. Free students interested in taking a course through the School of Restorative Arts should contact Vickie Reddy (vareddy@northpark.edu) and copy semacademicserv@northpark.edu for further instructions.
A few other items to note:
- CEDF 5100-01 Christian Education and Formation will be held at the ECC Midwinter Conference.
- HSTY 5230 Christian History 3 and SPFM 5211 Intercultural Spirituality will take place synchronously online this spring. They will not be offered as a summer intensive as was originally planned.
- Both MNST 5110 Religions and Cultures (Th 6:30-9:15pm CT) and THEO 5140 Advanced Seminar: Creation Theology & Ecological Justice (Th 9:30am-12:30pm CT) will be offered synchronously this semester for distance learners in addition to on the main campus.
- MNST 5125-01 Pastoral Care and Counseling will not be offered this spring. However, it will be offered as a summer intensive. Be on the lookout!
Having trouble registering? Please email semacademicserv@northpark.edu. Mackenzie Mahon is stepping in to oversee this email box for the time being. (Thank you, Mackenzie!) Please also reach out to your faculty advisor with planning questions.
Campus Student Gathering
The past nearly two years has been wrought with pain, suffering, illness, death, isolation, and disappointment for all of us. We know that for those of you living on or near campus this has been especially true. In light of this, we are seeking to create some space to name and lament these realities and pray together.
Please join us Thursday, Nov. 4 at 5:00 for Chapel and a time of lament, where we will gather together for this sacred work. We know this time will not be long enough, it is a beginning, and we anticipate having more opportunities to gather during the year.
Gathering for Students of Color
Professor Michelle Dodson will host a gathering for all students who identify as a person of color on Nov 4, 12:30-1:30 pm (CST). This is an opportunity for students to connect with each other for fellowship and support. This event is for the entire community, those who take classes in person and those who are a part of our online community or cohorts. For those who can attend in person, refreshments will be provided. Distance students, we will provide a ZOOM link to join. Please use this form to rsvp so that we can plan for food and an appropriate space as well as distribute the link. We hope that you are able to join!
Catalyst on Campus: Cheap Solidarity, White Awake, or Subversive Witness?
This event is sponsored by the North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS)
As protests fomented after the murder of George Floyd, large influxes of white people at local protests brought up challenging questions about performative expressions of allyship. In an interview by NPR, local organizer Benjamin O’Keefe stated, “It’s our turn to lead our own fight, to frame our own conversations…We exist in a white supremacy culture in which even people who want to do good do not necessarily want to be led by a Black person.” What role should white people play in advancing racial equity? For this session, we will be joined by key leaders who have helped address this question in the context of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Panel
Rev. Michelle Dodson is the Associate Pastor of New Community Church Bronzeville and a teaching fellow at NPTS.
Rev. Dominique Gilliard is the Director of Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation for the Love Mercy Do Justice (LMDJ) initiative of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) and author of Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice that Restores and Subversive Witness: Scripture’s Call to Leverage Privilege. Rev. Gilliard will be joining via Zoom.
Rev. Daniel Hill is the senior pastor of River City Community Church in Humboldt Park and author of White Awake: An Honest Look at What It Means to Be White.
Rev. David Swanson is the pastor of New Community Church Bronzeville and author of Rediscipling the White Church.
Moderator Dr. Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom is the NPTS Dean of Faculty, Professor of Theology and Ethics, and Director of the School of Restorative Arts.
This event is sponsored by the North Park Theological Seminary. All students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend. You may contact Catalyst Hub Program Assistant Andy Larson (alarson@northpark.edu) if you have any questions.
Lunch from Merla’s Kitchen will be provided.
RSVP is not required.
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 @ 12:30pm-2:00pm, JC 314
Purposeful Narrative: Engaging the Mosaic of Covenant History
November 10, 12:00-1:30pm (CST)
In this panel discussion, members of the Covenant’s Mosaic Commission—Mary Chung March, Juana Nesta, Bryan Murphy, and TJ Smith—and NPTS history professor Hauna Ondrey will dialogue on the work being done to document this critical chapter of the Covenant’s story.
Click here to register.
Financial Coaching Opportunity
Thanks to our partners at Covenant Trust Company, you are able to meet with a trained financial coach each semester. This is a great resource for you to take advantage of while in Seminary and it is at no cost to you! Degree-seeking students are expected to meet with a financial coach during their time in Seminary. Karen Palmberg will be providing financial coaching to NPTS students this year and will be available November 12-19, 2022. You can make a 30 minute or 60-minute appointment with Karen by clicking here. You will be able to indicate when booking your appointment if you would like to meet in person in Nyvall Hall or online.
If you have questions for Karen prior to meeting with her, you can reach her at, kapalmberg@covenanttrust.com. For general questions about the financial coaching opportunity reach out to Luke Palmerlee, lrpalmerlee@northpark.edu.
Chapel
If you are a distance student or are unable to make it to the chapel service in Isaacson Chapel, join us for chapel on Zoom! We live stream services on Zoom and would love for everyone to join us! The Zoom link is included below. See Chapel Corner posts or the “Events” page for more information on weekly chapel services.
To join chapel just copy and paste this link into your browser:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84027751253?pwd=R1dxUmhSRStlckw2ckxtSG40WS9vdz09
Or enter this information into your Zoom app- Meeting ID: 840 2775 1253 Passcode: 458159
Want to stay on top of your homework AND build community?
Study with Procrastinators Anonymous!
In these dynamic study sessions, we either discuss study skills (such as notetaking and following the rubric) or break into small groups to catch up on reading, discuss class content, or build community. This space will be what the group desires and needs for it to be. We meet in front of the writing center (inside the library) on
Mondays 11:00am–1:00pm and 6:00pm–7:00pm
Fridays 11:00am–1:00pm and 6:00pm–7:00pm
Questions? Email Antonio Pizarro, Assistant Director of the Writing Center at apizarro@northpark.edu.
Student Boxes
The Student Boxes in the basement of Nyvall Hall will be reassigned to account for new students. Look out for a new list next to the boxes coming soon!
Accessible to All? A Faithful Response to Disabilities A virtual conference
Saturday, November 6, 2021, 10 am -3:30 pm CST
Join us to imagine how the well-being of everyone in the church would be strengthened and better reflect the kingdom of God by being fully welcoming of persons of all abilities. The keynote speaker is Benjamin Conner, Ph.D., Professor of Practical Theology and Director of the Center for Disability and Ministry at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI and author of Disabling Mission, Enabling Witness: Exploring Missiology through the Lens of Disability Studies (IVP Academic, 2018). Plenary sessions and workshops will provide the opportunity to explore how congregations and healthcare professionals can collaborate in responding faithfully to the challenge of disabilities, considering what can be done together that neither can do alone.
This fourth faith and health symposium is offered by North Park Theological Seminary and North Park University School of Nursing and Health Sciences with support of the Good Shepherd Initiative.
Registration is now free for NPTS students using coupon code FH2021_Free
For more information go to: https://www.northpark.edu/event/accessible-to-all-a-faithful-response-to-disabilities/
Covid Symptoms, Exposure, or Positive Test
If you experience symptoms of COVID-19, are exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, or if you test positive for COVID-19, contact healthservices@northpark.edu or call 773-244-4897. Health Services staff will talk with you to determine next steps and notify professors if you are required to miss class. For more information on COVID protocols on campus this fall, check out the Fall Guide.
Internship Opportunities
Are you looking for some internship credits? If so, please contact me! There are some very interesting opportunities/options that have come my way and I would love to share those with you. My office is Nyvall 316 and my email is bmwidman@northpark.edu.
Fall Counseling Support Services
Counseling Support Services is offering a variety of counseling support options for students this semester. If you are experiencing unmanageable anxiety, sadness, difficulty adjusting, problems in relationships, or if you are hurting due to the many challenges before us, Counseling can help. We also offer Mental Health First Aid Training so that you can learn how to help friends and family that might be experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis.
Individual Counseling Support – Free, confidential, short-term individual counseling support is available via telehealth and in-person. Request counseling via the counseling request form at northpark.edu/counseling, or by walking into our offices at 3317 W Foster, #24 on the campus map.
Group Counseling Support – Black Student Support Group – Thursdays 5:30-6:30pm, 9/16/21-12/2/21 (bi-weekly) – A space for Black identifying students to process the implications of being Black in America in an effort to cultivate healing and gain a sense of empowerment. Group is led by Black professionals. Grief Support Group – Tuesdays 4:15-5:15pm, 9/21/21-11/9/21 (weekly) – A group for students who’ve experienced the death of a family member or loved one. A time to come together for healing, to share stories, and to find resources. Contact Adrian Battle to register or for more information about groups.
TAO – TAO is an anonymous, self-service digital mental health support tool that is available free 24/7 to all current North Park students, faculty, and staff. Information and registration link at TAO
Let’s Talk – In collaboration with campus partners, Let’s Talk is an informal, walk-in support service that offers confidential meetings with a North Park counselor free for all NPU students at various locations around campus. Students can drop-in (no appointment necessary) to speak with a counselor on Mondays 1-3pm at Helwig Rm 208A, Tuesdays 2-4pm virtually at doxy.me/northparkletstalk, Wednesdays 12-2pm at the Collaboratory Rm 121, and Thursdays 1-3pm in Anderson Hall Rm 108. Additional information at Let’s Talk
Mental Health First Aid – Students, faculty, and staff are invited to register for this free training opportunity that is designed to teach you how to approach, assess, and assist a person who may be experiencing a mental health challenge or in a mental health crisis. A variety of training dates and formats are available this year. The next training date is November 10th. Sign up today! Request Training