How TLB Works |
Course Leader Canon William Barnwell | ||
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Come Join us 
Come join us as we “plow deep” into the meaning of the great literature of the
Bible. In seminars of twelve or fewer people, participants will listen to God
speak through the stories that have shaped our culture and our church.
They will learn from one another as they respond to the stories: what
they meant at the time of writing, what they mean for us today.
How TLB works 
Seventeen sessions explore the Hebrew Scripture, nineteen the Christian Testament. You may take either semester or both. Participants are given a full commentary for each session, and questions at the end of each session help participants relate the great stories and events of Scripture to their own lives and to the life of their church and their culture. The course was developed as a follow-up to the DOCC (Disciples of Christ in Community) program but DOCC is not a pre-requisite. Each seminar is led by a trained person skilled in leading groups. Seminar leaders receive nine hours of training offered by the Cathedral. Participants need to spend two to four hours of study to prepare for each session and to bring with them their responses to the biblical passages and the commentary. 
Twelve groups in eight locations have now completed the course and the evaluations are most positive. If you are interested in offering the Transforming Literature of the Bible (TLB) in your church or community, please take a close look at the documents available form the side bar at top right or see contact information for further questions. TLB is sponsored by the Cathedral College. Course Leader Canon William Barnwell 
The Rev. William Barnwell, canon missioner of the Cathedral, developed the program and wrote the course commentary (excerpts available via sidebar, top right). Before coming to Washington National Cathedral, Canon Barnwell was a professor in the English Department at the University of New Orleans, where he taught “The Bible as Literature.” He has written three freshman texts published by Houghton Mifflin: Writing for a Reason, The Resourceful Writer, and Reflections: A Thematic Reader. He is also the author of Our Story According to Saint Mark and In Richard’s World: The Battle of Charleston 1966 (Houghton Mifflin). He served as an editor for “Education for Ministry” a four-year course offered by the School of Theology at the University of the South. “This course is about transformation,” Canon Barnwell says. “Bring your hearts, minds, life experience, and a willingness to listen to the Divine Voice and to fellow participants, and the Bible will once again work its magic, as it has for many centuries.” Course Materials and Fees 
Each participant receives The Oxford Annotated Bible, New Revised Standard Version, and volume one of Listening for God, a book of short stories and narratives that will be used as parallel reading. These plus the two commentaries and a $50 administrative fee bring the total cost to $150 for each participant. Please see the syllabi and excerpts of the commentary, accessible from the sidebar links at top right. Available excerpts include the Preface, which explains what the course is all about, a sample session from the Old Testament and two sample sessions from the New Testament. For More Information To find out more about joining the TLB at the Cathedral, we invite you to view the documents available through sidebar links at top right. For more information, please contact:
The Rev. Canon William H. Barnwell (202) 537-5522 or To find out about starting a TLB program in your congregation, please contact:
The Rev. Canon William H. Barnwell (202) 537-5522 or
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