Prophetic Voices

The theologian as prophet does not stand apart from the context of ordinary life but solidly within it, discerning and declaring God’s Word with boldness and humility. In his keynote address Luke Timothy Johnson introduces four issues that will demand our attention in the coming century as we seek to speak God’s truth.

Ted A. Smith considers questions about secularization through an everyday phenomenon: the sermon story. He traces the shift that happens as typological narratives give way to illustrations of points, identifying this shift as an index of secularity. He then argues that those of us who care about sustaining the capacity for theological imagination should resist the temptation to force a return to typological stories, and instead trust the wily, faithful grace of God that moves even through seemingly secular illustrations. Ted A. Smith, Candler School of Theology, "Great Birds of the Kingdom" Panelist: Marilynne Robinson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, "Christ as Anti-type: A Theology of Secularism" Panelist: Janet Soskice, University of Cambridge, "Scriptural Imagination for the Friends of God" Moderator: Elizabeth M. Bounds, Candler School of Theology

Dr. Thomas G. Long gave the sermon at the first worship service of the Prophetic Voices Centennial Academic Conference on March 19, 2015.

Considering its rare mention in Scripture, imago dei carries remarkable theological, political, and rhetorical power today. It anchors our cries against violation of persons and refuses our attempts to dehumanize others. It affirms our potential and calls us to realize it. The power and meaning of this doctrine becomes even clearer as we truly attend to bodies in their brokenness, their beauty, and their transformation. Speaker: Ellen Ott Marshall, Candler School of Theology, "Affirmation and Accountability: Ethical Dimensions of 'That Blessed Image'" Panelist: M. Shawn Copeland, Boston College, "Fleshly Difference: Embodied Subjectivity" Panelist: Steven J. Kraftchick, Candler School of Theology, "Now We See in a Mirror Indirectly: Embodied Selves in a Hyper-Technical Age" Moderator: Ian A. McFarland, Candler School of Theology

When Candler was founded a century ago, the world still seemed vast. New technologies seemed to offer a future of unlimited progress. Now we understand how the unintended consequences of our actions threaten the very systems that support life on this planet. Reflecting on the threats to the environment in biblical and theological terms offers insights into who we are, what our covenantal responsibilities are, and how we can ground hope even as we face an uncertain future. Speaker: Carol A. Newsom, Candler School of Theology, "Understanding and Hope in a Time of Climate Change: A Conversation with the Bible" Panelist: Sally G. Bingham, Interfaith Power and Light and the Regeneration Project, "Love God, Heal Earth" Panelist: Norman Wirzba, Duke Divinity School, "Why Theological Education Needs Ecological Wisdom" Moderator: Jonathan Strom, Candler School of Theology

The brand of secularism that held sway in the 1960s misconceived the future in the way it idealized cultural homogeneity, ignored the pluralism of non-Western societies, and devalued religion, according to Hanciles. In reality, the American religious landscape has been transformed in the last 50 years by massive non-white immigration that has brought a multiplicity of faith traditions into close contact. What is the significance of this global pluralism from a biblical perspective, and what are its implications fro the church and theological education? Speaker: Jehu Hanciles, Candler School of Theology, "Fish of Every Kind: The Kingdom of God and Global Pluralism Panelist:Daniel Jeyaraj, Liverpool Hope University, "Back to the Ephesian Moment: Euro-American Contexts as Testing Grounds of World Christianity" Arun Jones, Candler School of Theology, stood in for Dr. Jeyaraj. Panelist: Dana L. Robert, Boston University, "Common Witness and the Kingdom" Moderator: Elizabeth Corrie, Candler School of Theology

Dr. Teresa Fry Brown gave the sermon at the closing worship service of the Prophetic Voices Centennial Academic Conference on March 20, 2015. Dr. Fry Brown, Professor of Homiletics, will become the next Bandy Professor of Preaching, effective September 1, 2015.