April 7, 2023
Want to learn more about how the understanding and interpretation of context can help you flourish in your vocation? We invite you to participate in the 2023 Hiller Lectureship sessions at Kairos University on May 2-4. Join us and gain new perspectives and insights as you think critically and creatively about the challenges and opportunities you face in the place God has called you to serve.
Taking place alongside the Spring 2023 Kairos Gathering, this year’s lectureship sessions will feature three online, afternoon-long plenaries on Tuesday, May 2; Wednesday, May 3; and Thursday, May 4 from 1:45 PM to 4:00 PM Central daily. With a focus on Exegeting Context, each day’s session will explore a different aspect of the topic and include opportunities for small group conversation. Guest speakers include Mark Swanson, Growing Hope Globally, and Wayne Stapleton, North American Baptist Conference.
Sessions
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
1:45 PM – 4:00 PM Central
Preparing for Theological Discussion: Engaging in “God Talk” within the Body of Christ
David Williams and Greg Henson, Kairos University
“God Talk” is, and always has been, a very important aspect of life in Christ. New Testament scholar Doug Campbell argues that given Paul’s description of the diverse and multifaceted Body of Christ in 1 Corinthians, we should expect our God Talk to be full of diverse and multifaceted perspectives. That diversity is an important feature because “if they were all one part, where would the body be?” How, then, do we engage in “God Talk” in ways that honor our personal convictions and traditions while welcoming and celebrating the convictions and traditions of others in the Body of Christ?
In this session, we will explore the questions above and then engage in some God Talk with each other around specific passages of Scripture. In part one, we will review why theological conversations are important, how biblical interpretation impacts those discussions, and why our “way of knowing” may impact those conversations, as well. In part two, we will look at Genesis in light of our discussion in part one.
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
1:45 PM – 4:00 PM Central
Leveraging Your Context for Missional Impact
Mark Swanson, Growing Hope Globally
Each of us has a unique context where we live and serve that is filled with assets that can not only help our communities and churches flourish but can also be utilized to empower them to make a difference. In this two-part session, we will imagine through lessons learned from “unexpected” places what assets, likely and unlikely, are available in our contexts that we can leverage for missional impact.
Thursday, May 4, 2023
1:45 PM – 4:00 PM Central
Preparing for and Practicing Reconciliation
Wayne Stapleton, North American Baptist Conference and David Williams, Kairos University
The church has been given the ministry and the message of reconciliation. This reconciliation involves peace between humanity and God, and between people. Yet un-reconciliation is rampant. We are going to discuss the foundation of Christian reconciliation as well as what it looks like practically to live lives of reconciliation.
The 2023 Hiller Lectureship sessions are free and open to the public. Email info@kairos.edu for registration information.