Border Crossing: Collaborative Theological Reflection for Ministry
"Border Crossing: Collaborative Theological Reflection for Ministry," funded by a generous gift from the Lilly Endowment, will offer a three year cycle of conferences, consultations, teaching partnerships and reflection groups, all exploring the relationship between the professions of teaching and ministry.
At the Divinity School, Ph.D. and M.Div. students study side-by-side, sharing a common faculty and common coursework, and so we are uniquely situated to look more closely at what might be gained by a richer and more intentional conversation about our companion professions. The project will bring together practicing ministers, Divinity School and seminary faculty, M.Div. and Ph.D. students in a variety of venues designed to enhance the well-informed and deeply-engaged practice of teachers and pastors alike.
Questions may be directed to Daniel Sack, administrator for the Border Crossing Project. Exchange news and ideas about the Border Crossing Project in the project's discussion forum at https://cforum.uchicago.edu/viewforum.php?f=9.
The Border Crossing Conference Series
A cycle of three conferences each academic year provide opportunities for ministers, faculty, M.Div. and Ph.D. students to explore the interrelatedness of their intellectual interests and professional pursuits. The autumn conference will examine issues of professional practice that ministers and teachers might hold in common; the winter conference will bring scholars and practitioners together to explore some dimension of religious experience or practice; and the spring conference, which is student-organized, invites broad interdisciplinary conversation around a current concern for public ministry.
All conferences take place in Swift Hall and are free and open to the public.
Border Crossing Conferences, 2009-2010
"Changing Minds," September 25, 2009
"The Prophetic Interpreter: Preaching and Teaching from Scriptural Traditions in Pluralistic Worlds," February 19, 2010
Border Crossing Conferences, 2008-2009
"Authority and Intimacy: Forming Whole Persons for the Classroom and the Congregation," September 26, 2008
"Resisting Mission: Redefining Engagement" January 23, 2009
Fifth Annual Student-organized Ministry Conference, May 1-2, 2009
Border Crossing Conferences, 2007-2008
"Advocacy in the Pulpit and the Classroom,” September 19, 2007
Franklin I. Gamwell, keynote address. (Click to view program and materials from the event.)
"Music in American Religious Experience: Individuals and Communities," January 25, 2008
Scholars, clergy, musicians, and others reflect on the place of music in religious lives and communities.
Fourth Annual Divinity School Ministry Conference: From Dust to Steel: Human Being as Creature and Creator
April 18, 2008
Lilly Teaching Fellows
The Border Crossing Project enriches the Divinity School's Ministry Program by bringing additional voices into the classroom. Faculty, doctoral students, and clergy collaborate in teaching, reflecting their academic endeavors, vocational commitments, and diverse experiences in their work with the students. The collaboration benefits all participants-ministry students by broadening the classroom discussion, faculty by encouraging new teaching styles, doctoral students by offering experience teaching in theological education, and clergy by enriching their ministry
Student Teaching Fellows, 2009-2010
Arts of Ministry--Preaching: Elizabeth Musselman, Theology
Arts of Ministry-- Pastoral Care: Jessica DeCou, Theology
Arts of Ministry--Worship: David Newheiser, Theology
Senior Thesis Seminar: Rick Elgendy, Theology
Ministry elective seminar: Kristel Clayville, Ethics
Pastoral Teaching Partners, 2009-2010
Arts of Ministry--Preaching:
Rev. Seth Carey, Associate Pastor, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Glen Ellyn
Arts of Ministry--Pastoral Care:
Rev. Alan Ragland, Pastor, Third Baptist Church, Chicago
Arts of Ministry--Worship:
Rev. Ayanna Johnson, Pastor, Family of Hope Christian Church, Blue Island
Theologians-in-Residence
During each academic year the project will support teams comprised of one M.Div. and one PhD or MA student who will partner with individual congregations for a year of sustained theological reflection on a topic relevant to the congregation's life and witness. The team will work with the congregation to design and implement a variety of educational events, consult with congregational boards and committees, and identify resources for on-going congregational engagement with the topic. Click here for more information.
