This year’s Lenten Forum will be an exploration of something the Western Church holds as doctrine, but which is not shared either with the Eastern Church or with Celtic Christianity. Since our Episcopal Church has roots in both the Western and the Eastern Church (via Celtic Christianity), we’ll be looking at where this doctrine comes from, questioning it through the lens of our history and scripture, and discussing what we, as Episcopalians in the 21st century think about it all. Come to learn, question, discuss, and share in this five week face off between the two branches of Christianity that formed our inquisitive and faithful Episcopal Tradition!

• Session 1: What is Substitutionary Atonement Theory (and how do you even pronounce that)? 

• At this first session, we’ll learn what Substitutionary Atonement Theory is, who Augustine was as a person and as a leader of the early western church, and how this doctrine shaped western Christianity for thousands of years, including the reformation and Christianity today.