Karam Forum is where you’ll find conversations that will shape the church’s witness in the coming generation. That doesn’t just go for our speakers, like Chris Brooks, Jennifer Powell McNutt, Gavin Ortlund, David French and Michael Wear, in plenary addresses, panels and our signature “TED-style” talks. When Karam Forum gathers at Doxology Bible Church in Ft. Worth this November 18-19, you’ll have a chance to discuss research papers that are on the cutting edge of theology for human flourishing in every theological discipline. Join us live or via Zoom!
Check out our schedule to see what we’re cooking up.
Need information on hotels, Zoom participation, transportation to San Antonio, etc.? We’ve got you covered, below and on our FAQ page.
Register for Karam Forum today! You can gather with us LIVE and in person in Ft. Worth, OR join via Zoom from wherever you are!
Theology for human flourishing is a vital need across the disciplines of the theological academy. However, while Christian history is a storehouse of the theological resources we need, contemporary theological scholarship still needs to do the work of exploring those resources – not to mention the tough work of thinking through what these legacies mean for us in the 21st century.
At Karam Forum 2021, you’ll have the opportunity to join small-group conversations centered on new research papers. Each paper includes original scholarly work that is pushing the boundaries of theological knowledge in a critical area. Participants will select a paper breakout to join during the conference.
This program of original scholarly papers at Karam Forum is building toward our new peer-reviewed journal on theology for human flourishing, launching in Spring 2022. We also plan to release an open call for papers to be discussed at next year’s Forum.
We’ll be circulating the papers (confidentially) to conference attendees beforehand, so you can make the best use of your time during the conference breakouts. And we’ve worked out a method for facilitating the discussion that will allow a focused and smooth conversation in the room in Ft. Worth, while allowing Zoom participants not only to listen in, but to submit their comments and questions to the group without disrupting the flow of the live conversation.
Here are the papers we have lined up already:
Ryan Darr, Princeton University: Kathryn Tanner’s Economy of Grace argues that the meaning of economic action is largely constituted by its cultural environment; does this imply the church can change the meaning of economic action by exerting cultural influence?
Klaus Issler, Talbot School of Theology: How are the ethics of Jesus construed differently when we interpret them through a “preunderstanding” shaped either by rule ethics or by virtue ethics?
Helen Rhee, Westmont College: What did representative voices from the early church view as the essential attributes of wealth and poverty?
Brent Waters, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary: How can we locate “human flourishing” in ordinary life, rather than finding it primarily in extraordinary situations or experiences?
Myles Werntz, Abilene Christian University: What can we learn from Dante’s response to Aquinas in the debate over “evangelical poverty” – the idea that all Christians ought to be materially poor?
Michael Wittmer, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary: How can we make sense of New Testament passages that seem to suggest pastors may really have a “higher” calling than the laity?
More breakout options are on the way as well, so stay tuned.
These are cutting-edge conversations you won’t want to miss!
Not to mention everything else to inspire and equip you at Karam Forum:
- Chris Brooks, pastor of Woodside Bible Church in Detroit, will join Vincent Bacote of Wheaton College to discuss how disciples of Jesus can seek justice in a polarized and chaotic culture. Brooks continues his long tradition as a leader in our community, helping us think carefully about these difficult issues.
- We’ll dive into Christian history with stimulating presentations on Christian opposition to slavery in ancient Rome (Gavin Ortlund of First Baptist Church of Ojai), justice and social activism in the early Reformation (Jennifer Powell McNutt of Wheaton College) and the encounter between the Industrial Revolution and the Wesleyan movement (Jennifer Woodruff Tait of St. John’s Episcopal Church and Charlie Self of Assemblies of God Theological Seminary).
- David French, author of Divided We Fall and senior editor of The Dispatch, and Michael Wear, author of Reclaiming Hope and co-founder of the AND Campaign, will join us digitally to help us think about how the church’s mission and social role can be stewarded with prophetic independence in these acutely polarized times.
- We’ll be holding another Karam Forum Global Session, following the success of our first session in January, to compare notes with colleagues around the world.
- And of course all the connecting and networking with colleagues that’s essential to the Karam Forum experience!
If you’re in Ft. Worth, our event will be starting shortly after ETS ends, and we’ll be done with plenty of time to get to San Antonio for those who are heading to SBL/AAR. The event starts at 7pm Thursday and ends at noon Friday; see our schedule for details.
Good news for travelers who need rooms! ETS conference hotel rates are available during the dates Karam Forum is meeting. See our FAQ page for details.
We’re going to have a van departing directly for San Antonio from the conference location at Doxology Bible Church, so if you’re attending SBL/AAR that will save you time and money. Our very limited seating will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Seats are only available to those who have already registered for Karam Forum, so register now to get a seat before they’re gone!
If you can’t be there in Ft. Worth, you can join us via Zoom for these provocative presentations. Those who join us via Zoom will get to see and hear the whole event, submit questions during discussion periods in each session, and have “virtual table talk” with other digital participants. You’ll join not only our plenary sessions in this way, but also the academic-paper breakout session of your choice.
Don’t delay – register for Karam Forum today!
Reconnecting with our people in person was the highlight of the year for us even before we all went into isolation for a year and half. Don’t miss the opportunity to reconnect with the unique people who make up the unique community of Karam Forum!
