Gordon-Conwell—Hamilton’s Dean’s Forum exists to explore topics of church, culture, and theology in a casual atmosphere with more depth than is often possible in classes. We invite our community and the general public to join us for these monthly discussions on a variety of topics. This academic year, all forums will be live streamed on Facebook. RSVP is only required for our limited in-person attendance and lunch. Please see below for more information on our upcoming events.
Upcoming Events
Join Dr. George Yancey as he analyzes how efforts to promote better race relations have failed on some Christian college campuses, what reforms have shown promise, and how communities can heal and improve race relations through the promotion of collaborative conversations.
What will it take to sustain faithfulness? Crawford Loritts will lead us in reflecting on the reality that we are headed toward the very presence of God, and how this awareness of the finish line and, therefore, our ultimate accountability should motivate us to complete His assignments for us with focused intentionality.
Pastors across the country are experiencing a crisis of identity; behind the benign smiles and inspirational sermons and million dollar building campaigns and ever-expanding ministries, there lurks in the minds and hearts of many pastors a sense of confusion as to what a pastor is and what a pastor does. What makes this crisis of identity especially tragic is that there used to be such clarity about the pastoral calling. For centuries, the church held out a clear and compelling vision of what a pastor is and what a pastor does. In short, a pastor is a theologian. In this presentation, Dr. Joel Lawrence, Executive Director of the Center for Pastor Theologians, will explore what it means to be a pastor theologian for today’s church.
Dr. Gordon Isaac, Berkshire Professor of Church History and Advent Christian Studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, will give a response.
Previous Livestreams
What does worship mean in different ecclesial traditions? What can we learn from one another as we seek to be a worshipping community? Hear from this diverse panel as they address these important questions, and others.
Hear from Maria Garcia, ordained minister and expert in immigration, mental health, and trauma, as she discusses why it’s vital for the church to be aware of the presence and effect of trauma in the church and the tools and resources available.
Are our bodies merely biological categories or are they also theological categories? Join Dr. Tim Tennent, President of Asbury Theological Seminary, as he explores the contours of the Christian vision of the body and human sexuality.
How can we communicate well in both the church and society while being true to God’s Word? Hear from Dr. Quentin Schultze, Professor of Communication Emeritus at Calvin University, and Dr. Jeffrey Arthurs, Robinson Chair of Preaching and Communication.
Dr. Matthew Kim, George F. Bennett Professor of Preaching and Practical Theology, will speak about his new book, Preaching to People in Pain. We will also hear from Pastor Bobby Warrenburg of North Shore Community Baptist Church.
Dr. Aaron Howard, Pastor of Worship and Reconciliation for All Souls Church in Nashville, will lead us in exploring Pentecostal forms of embodied worship to retrieve a more holistic approach to corporate and individual worship.
Dr. Dorothy Boorse will explore how we can care for creation and for our fellow humans in light of a theology of reconciliation.
This talk focused on pastoral challenges and best approaches in providing spiritual care within the context of serious illness.
For this forum, Dr. Wesley Hill presented a biblical, pastoral theology of sexuality in light of the present and future kingdom of God, in which God created our embodied selves and promises redemption for our whole selves in Jesus Christ.
Join Dr. Gordon Hugenberger, Senior Professor of Old Testament, as he gives an overview and develops some basic principles of justice in the Old Testament that aid in the interpretation of challenging texts.
Hear from Dr. Karen Mason, Director of Hamilton’s Counseling Dept. and author of Preventing Suicide: A Handbook for Pastors, Chaplains, and Pastoral Counselors, and Dr. David Currie, Dean of the DMin Program, on how churches can help prevent suicide.
Dr. Charles Slagen, Executive Director of Hope Psychological Services and former marriage and family therapy instructor at Gordon-Conwell, will explore upcoming shifts in marriage and ways of ministering to millennials.
Dr. David Johnston, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary, will share how Christians can best engage with Muslims on the topics of justice and love. Dr. Johnston is author of Muslims and Christians Debate Justice and Love.
Dr. Dennis Hollinger, Colman M. Mockler Distinguished Professor of Christian Ethics, will help us to understand transgender realities and suggest theological, ethical, and pastoral responses with a view towards truth, conviction, civility and love.
A diverse panel of our faculty will reflect on how we can be the body—diverse yet with full equity and genuine inclusion.