Later this week, I’ll be in Southern California at the Transforming Theology for the Church consultation. A couple of the events are public, so I encourage you to come if you live in SoCal. But if not, there are lots of ways to follow our doing. I’ll do my best to blog here; there’s a YouTube channel; a Twitter hashtag (#TT4C); and the Transforming Theology blog.
program to address the crisis of theology
in mainline churches and seminaries.
Church
Friday, March 13th: 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Mudd Theater, Claremont School of Theology
Foothill Blvd. at College Ave. in Claremont
Tony Jones, Doug Meeks, Mary Fulkerson, Dwight
Hopkins, and Harvey Cox
Panel Participants:
Doug Ottati, Gary Dorrien, Joseph Bracken, Helene
Russell, & Dawn DeVries
Saturday, March 14th: 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Mudd Theater, Claremont School of Theology
Discussion Leaders: Bill Dean, Mayra Rivera, Glen Stassen, Jonathan
Walton, & Emilie Townes
Panel Participants: Ignacio Castuera, Ellen Armour, Joerg Rieger, Laurel
Schneider, & Victor Anderson
The Ford Foundation is helping to fund Transforming Theology,
a program lead by Philip Clayton and Marjorie Suchocki that aims to
rekindle theological imagination and to support progressive theologies
that can transform churches and society. In partnership with
theologians, denominational leaders, and seminary presidents,
Transforming Theology is working to break down the walls between
academic theology and the church, putting theology back in the hands of
pastors and laypersons.
This first meeting brings together leading progressive theologians from
across the country. The two evening sessions offer constructive new
suggestions on how theology can transform the church and contribute to
progressive social transformation of our society. We invite you to
attend, listen, and make your voice heard.
For more information, please visit our website at
transformingtheology.org.
posted March 9, 2009 at 10:02 am
Wow! That’s looks like an interesting and insightful collection of formal theologians. And Gary Dorrien is one of the smartest formal theologians I have met. That should make for a good conversation. Enjoy it!
posted March 9, 2009 at 3:23 pm
I am curious. What “crisis of theology in mainline churches and seminaries” is happening? Where is the crisis? How is this crisis manifesting itself within the “mainline churches and seminaries”? What exactly are the “mainline churches and seminaries”?
posted March 9, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I should add, I am Brian (the other). Not the same Brian as in comment #1.
posted March 9, 2009 at 4:41 pm
A couple of points: (1) “Mainline” is now “Oldline.” (2) It’s only nationwide in-so-much as it includes people from a variety of locations around the US. (3) There is a disconnect between the theology in congregations and the theology in seminaries that is approaching the level of crises. That’s true. But the quality and dignity of the theologies in the “Oldline” Church are high.
With all that stated, I would re-work Tony’s introduction to the conference a bit: “A dialogue amoung formal theologians to discuss the future of theology in ‘Oldline’ churches and seminaries.”
Also, Tony has only mentioned one day of a two day conference. Both days look like they will have outstanding theologians and conversations that will be worth following. My blog has a link to all the participans if anyone is interested: http://ephphatha-poetry.blogspot.com/2009/03/transforming-theology-rekindling.html
posted March 9, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Tony, any chance this will be streamed live and/or recorded?