Faulkner University has invited three prominent experts in higher Christian education to speak this Thursday and Friday for the school’s tenth annual Institute of Faith and the Academy.
An initiative that began on campus a decade ago, the IFA has grown and continues to be devoted to the research and reflection on how the Christian faith shapes and informs the study and teaching of all academic disciplines.
Faulkner believes that the Christian faith unites all fields of teaching and learning and each professor on campus works to impress that on their students.
The IFA conference is one way to highlight that approach directly through hands-on student engagement, in addition to a biannual journal, faculty development reading groups, presentations and discussions, said Dr. Joshua Fullman, Director of Faith and the Academy and associate professor of English.
“We host scholars from around the country to share their research and discuss how Christianity influences the discovery, the creation and the dissemination of knowledge,” Fullman said.
“Believing all knowledge belongs to and flows from God, we want to explore the world He has created in all of its facets. We want to find new ways to become better learners, better teachers and better scholars as we view everything through the prism of Christ.”
This year’s conference is themed, “Building the City of God: The Past, Present, and Future of Christian Higher Education.” To mark the milestone event, the IFA committee has invited James Estep from Lincoln Christian University, Matthew Spalding from Hillsdale College and Micah Watson from Calvin College to speak to faculty, students, and administrators.
They will all deliver presentations on the past, present and future of Christian higher education respectively.
Unique to this year’s conference, a creative scholars workshop for creative writers and a separate student panel describing their experiences with Christian education are also scheduled.
Students, faculty and other scholars in the area are welcome to attend.
Registration starts at $75 and includes three meals in the cafeteria.
To register, visit https://www.faulkner.edu/e-events/building-city-god-past-present-future-christian-higher-education/
Schedule of events
- Thursday, 4:00 p.m. The Past: A narrative of Christian Higher Education from the church fathers to today. Jim Estep, Lincoln Christian University
- Friday, 10:45 a.m.. The Present: Current legal challenges and opportunities surrounding religious liberty and academic freedom. Matthew Spalding, Hillsdale College.
- Friday, 2:45 p.m. The Future: What the Christian Higher Education will look like in the 21st century.
- Thursday, 2:45 p.m.: Student Panel: The Value of Christian Higher Education.
- Friday, 8:00 a.m.: Creative Scholars Workshop. Discussing the integration of faith and fiction.