The Oikonomia Network is excited to announce the Karam Forum, a two-day gathering for theological educators and Christian academics. The Karam Forum will be held at Trinity International University, outside of Chicago, from March 2-3, 2017. Speakers will include: Kevin Vanhoozer, Con Campbell, Darrell Bock, Amy Sherman, Tom Nelson, Bruce Fields, and many more. Admission to this event is open to the public, but space is limited, so register today!
How can Christian educators form future leaders so they are prepared to contribute to the flourishing of the world? Faithful discipleship to Christ involves working every day in homes, workplaces, and communities to help God’s world flourish. At this conference, leading Bible and theology scholars will help you train a new generation of Christians who follow King Jesus by loving their neighbors in their daily tasks.
Karam, the Hebrew verb meaning “to tend vineyards,” communicates the vast range of work that goes into creating a healthy and flourishing vineyard. Vineyards need tending – bearing fruit, flourishing, requires careful and creative work. (Since we chose a Greek name for our network, we went with a Hebrew name for our big new event!)
Note: Don’t forget registration is also open for the Faith@Work Summit in Dallas, Oct. 27-29! For more on the Oikonomia Network’s presence at the Summit, see here.
After surviving the Flood and making a covenant with God, Noah planted a vineyard. Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is described as a vineyard, a people planted and tended by God. The gleaning laws require that vineyards be places where people of all social stations have the opportunity to flourish interdependently, through a combination of generosity and diligent work.
Most important to us, of course, is our Lord’s uses of the vineyard image. In particular, Christ said that he was the vine and we were his branches. That image sums up the ON’s commitment to whole-life discipleship as the root of all we do.
Please join us for a fruitful time of insight, networking, and equipping. Also, you can encourage fellow faculty and administrative leaders, both at your own school and at peer institutions beyond our network, to attend. We look forward prayerfully to what God will accomplish in theological education through this gathering of our community.
