Decatur, GA—Thompson Scholars 2017, Evangelism and Social Justice, will take place May 2-5, 2017 at the Center for Lifelong Learning on the Columbia Theological Seminary campus.
The United States and the global community have recently witnessed an amplified outcry for justice. This seminar will address the issues of social justice and evangelism as intersecting points for addressing this outcry. The call and role of the Church as a witness in this age, along with how we are to witness, become critical questions.
Adam L. Bond, Associate Professor of Historical Studies and American Baptist Liaison at The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University; andMark Whitlock, pastor of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church and Director of Community Initiatives at University of Southern California, Center for Religion and Civic Culture will be keynote speakers. Local pastors and community leaders will serve as panelists and workshop leaders. Dr. Ralph Basui Watkins, the Peachtree Associate professor of evangelism and church growth at Columbia Theological Seminary will serve as organizer, moderator and opening speaker.
“The seminar will empower church leaders to explore ways their churches can have conversations around evangelism and social justice, and equip them with the theological resources to guide this work,” states Watkins. “We’ll look at practical models that support congregations and faith communities as they seek to make a real difference in their communities in ways that are directly linked to their presence within those communities.”
To complete an application, click here. The application deadline is February 15, 2017 and applicants will be notified before the end of the month. Preference will be given to applicants who have not participated in previous Thompson Scholar seminars. For additional information, including a link to the application, click here.
A program fee of $150 covers all course-related fees, eight meals on campus during the event, refreshments, and access to the online course site. Pre-course preparation will include required reading and participation in online discussions. Participants are responsible for their housing and transportation; on campus housing is available.
The Thompson Scholars program is generously supported by an endowment in honor of Cecil Thompson, former professor of evangelism at Columbia, making it possible to offer the seminar at a lower cost to participants than comparable programs at the Center for Lifelong Learning.
Columbia Theological Seminary is “Cultivating faithful leaders for God’s changing world.” As an educational institution of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Columbia Seminary is a community of theological inquiry and formation for ministry in the service of the Church of Jesus Christ. Columbia offers six graduate degree programs and dozens of courses and events as a resource for church professionals and lay people through The Center for Lifelong Learning. For more information, please visit www.CTSnet.edu.