Northeastern Seminary and The Canadian-American Theological Association welcomes scholars, practitioners, students, and ministry leaders to explore the topic of Creation Care & Justice with noted biblical scholar and speaker Dr. Sylvia Keesmaat. Engage in a time of interdisciplinary learning and discovery. Register here.
“If you care about the world God has made, if you have pain about the suffering of people in this world, and if you have a vision of what God can do, or you want to have vision of a hopeful future, I invite you to come attend this conference.” - Dr. Richard Middleton
Highlights of the conference include:
A webinar titled, Creation Care, Justice, and Formation hosted by Dr. Sylvia Keesmaat and Dr. Marlena Graves. Together they will explore the intersection of creation care, social justice, and spiritual formation, and how they shape our faith and communities. Noon on Friday the 18th. Free to attend, registration required.
A lecture by Dr. Keesmaat titled, Torn Between Grief and Hope: Biblical Wisdom and the Climate Catastrophe. This talk will explore the grief over creational destruction present in our lives and the biblical story, but also how a future of possibility and renewal shaped the biblical imagination of those who lived with that grief. 7:30 pm on Friday the 18th. Reception begins at 6:45. Free to attend, registration required.
A second lecture by Dr. Keesmaat titled, The Lament of the Land and the Tears of God. This talk will explore a few texts that highlight the grief of both the Creator and creation, alongside an imaginative hope that calls us to be servants of restoration. 9 am on Saturday the 19th. Registration required.
To attend the full conference schedule on Saturday the 19th please register here. There will be three scholarly paper presentations, and at the end of the day one scholarly paper will receive The Jack and Phyllis Middleton Award for Excellence in Bible and Theology. On Saturday a light breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!
Dr. Sylvia Keesmaat
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Sylvia C. Keesmaat is a biblical scholar, activist, and farmer. She obtained her doctorate at Oxford University, studying with N.T. Wright. She was the Senior Member in Biblical Studies and Hermeneutics at the Institute for Christians Studies from 1994-2004, before leaving to more deeply ground her academic work in environmental issues. She has taught at Oxford University, Canadian Mennonite University, Wycliffe College and Trinity College (both part of the Toronto School of Theology) as well as for the Creation Care Studies Program in Belize.
Sylvia is the co-author, with Brian Walsh, of Romans Disarmed: Resisting Empire, Demanding Justice (Brazos Press, 2019) and Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire (IVP, 2004). She is also the author of Paul and His Story: (Re)Interpreting the Exodus Tradition and editor of The Advent of Justice. She has also authored many academic articles and book chapters, as well as popular articles.
She speaks frequently on topics related to the Bible and economic justice, climate catastrophe, gender justice, and Indigenous justice. Sylvia lives at Russet House Farm, an off-grid permaculture farm in the Kawartha Lakes on the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg, with her husband, Brian Walsh, and a fluctuating number of people and animals.
Location
The Theology Conference will be held in the Golisano Community Engagement Center at 2280 Westside Drive, Rochester, NY 14624. Signage for event parking will be visible from Westside Drive. Parking will be available in Lot H behind the Community Engagement Center, Lot I in front of Beeson Apartments, and Lot J outside of Davison Hall.
Conference Partners
This conference has been made possible due to the generous support of David S. and F. Avis Barnes and the Barnes Science and Faith Symposium at Roberts Wesleyan University.
