Karam Forum 2020 was a landmark. If pastors see themselves as CEOs, the call to justice and vocation – which rocks our placid organizational boats – will feel like a threat. But if pastors are shepherds, they can see that the call to justice and discipleship is essential to the flourishing of the flock. Discipling people in the new economy involves justice, entrepreneurship, economic vision, and reconciliation to make the kingdom visible and impact communities. All of which calls us as theological educators and scholars into “traditioned innovation” and a new ecclesial vision for theological education.
We’re not mousing around!
In addition to two days of powerful presentations and catalytic network connections, we also released our new impact report, including great news on rapid growth in classroom use of our Economic Wisdom Project Talks.
We share more memories below. But before you get too caught up in nostalgia, mark your calendar for Karam Forum 2021!
Mark Labberton, John Nunes, Darrell Bock and Jack Miranda will join us in Los Angeles on Jan 5-6, 2021 for the next Karam Forum. Watch this space for more announcements, and make your plans to be with us.
Now the fun part!
Gathering once again for Karam Forum – it’s the people who make the meeting what it is.
Karam Forum 2020 was richly blessed to meet at Intown Community Church, where congregants walk past this striking artwork as they enter the sanctuary.
Three Atlanta pastors share their experiences as they begin connecting faith and work more intentionally.
Charisse Jones came from Orlando – land of the Mouse – to summon us to a bigger vision of how entrepreneurship can sanctify believers and bless communities.
Churches can provide vital theological and community support for entrepreneurship, and the academy can prepare church leaders to help.
Donald Guthrie welcomes our annual visitation from our Australian friends.
Greg Jones casts a vision for “traditioned innovation” to carry the past into the future in theological education.
And now a word from our consultant.
If you want to wake people up to whole-life discipleship, sometimes you have to make a little noise.
From a hurricane in Puerto Rico to a casino in Waukegan, Il., reconciliation makes the kingdom visible.
What’s so funny? It’s not like somebody came out wearing a pair of mouse ears. That part came later!
Welcoming Rachael and Jacob Denhollander, and a special guest. Sometimes special guests need special attention . . . and that’s okay!
Justice and vocation need each other. A grown-up conversation about how the theological academy can improve the preparation of future leaders to do justice and protect people.
The Oikonomia Network and the speakers at Karam Forum honor the Denhollanders’ work promoting justice, under the civil law and the gospel, with a gavel bearing a unique inscription.
Okay, okay, time to let everybody in on the inside joke. Back in 2016, Greg gave a talk using Pixar as an example of how entrepreneurs can bring new life to moribund cultural structures, creating new products and practices that embody the good, the true and the beautiful in new ways. Charisse Jones happened to be in the room that day. So when Charisse came up from Orlando to speak to Karam Forum 2020 about the kingdom value of entrepreneurship, she brought a little piece of Orlando for Greg!
We were excited to hear from – and even more to drink the product of – Kitti Murray of Atlanta’s Refuge Coffee, which hires refugees and helps them transition to a sustainable and flourishing life – and hopes to bring a more beautiful refugee story to the whole nation.
Discipling people in the new economy means connecting with traditionally underserved groups and equipping people to face a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous economy and culture.
Who is God, who does God say I am, and why do I do what I do? Hearing from a variety of voices on discipleship in the new economy.
We have come a long way, and we have a long way to go. Rich Mouw brings encouragement and exhortation to the Oikonomia Network as it looks forward to future opportunities – like making more space in “the guilds” for scholarship that connects theological knowledge to life.
We had a powerful and prophetic time at Karam Forum in Atlanta. Hope to see you in Los Angeles next year!