20th Annual Bonhoeffer Lectures in Public Ethics

12-20-2018 - Advocacy and Resistance in a Divided Time

Hosted by McCormick Theological Seminary
May 31 – June 1, 2019

You are invited to the 20th Annual Bonhoeffer Lectures in Public Ethics. The lectures organized by the International Bonhoeffer Society, will take place at McCormick Theological Seminary and intend to address major public issues in light of the legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident whose life and writings have had a major impact on Protestant theological thought for the past 70 years.

Keynote speakers, the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, and Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove drawing on their extensive experience building movements for social change, will address the pressing issues of our diverse communities, calling us to the work of advocacy and resistance.

In order to address these concerns locally, this conference uniquely places Chicago organizations working for justice alongside leading scholars making constructive use of the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Scholars will give presentations that introduce Bonhoeffer as a resource for thinking in new ways about a select number of issues, including racism, mass incarceration, gender justice and environmental justice. Representatives from local organizations will then lead workshops, providing training in practices relevant to the issues and opportunities for engagement in their on-going work. Faith in Place and the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago are among the organizational partners; and speakers will include international Bonhoeffer scholars, Dr. Jenny McBride, Dr. Reggie Williams, Dr. Jeffrey Pugh, Dr. Lisa Dahill, and Dr. Di Rayson.

The conference aims to serve laypersons, religious leaders, students, and scholars from diverse faith communities in and beyond the Chicagoland area.

Register online here. Tickets for the 2-day event are $30 per person and free for students. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. 

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Friday, May 31, 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.*
5:30-6:00 Registration – Grad Students
6:00-6:10 Welcome and Introduction of Dr. Reggie Williams – Dr. Jennifer M. McBride
6:10-6:45 Retelling the Bonhoeffer Biography: Social location and the Theologian – Dr. Reggie Williams
6:40-6:45 Introduction of Keynote Speakers – Dr. Jennifer M. McBride
6:45-7:25 Keynote Lecture – Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
7:25-8:30 Keynote Lecture – Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II
8:30-9:30 Cocktail Reception

Saturday, June 1, 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.*
8:00-8:30 Registration – Grad Students 8:30-10:15 Session I. Whiteness, Racial Justice, Mass Incarceration (35 minutes each)
         8:30-8:35 Speaker Introduction – Matthew K. Jones
         8:35-9:10 Paper 1 – Dr. Stephen Ray
9:10-9:45    Paper 2 – Dr. Jennifer M. McBride and Dr. Thomas Fabisiak
9:45-10:20 Paper 3 – Dr. Jeffrey Pugh
10:20-10:30 Coffee Break
10:30-12:00
         Workshop Option 1: Restoring Rights and Opportunities Coalition of Illinois
         Workshop Option 2: Institute for Nonviolence Chicago
12:00-1:30 Lunch at Refectory
1:30-4:30 Session 2 Gender, Trauma, and the Environment (30 minuntes each)
1:30-1:35 Speaker Introduction – Dr. Jennifer McBride
1:35-2:05 Paper 1 – Dr. Lisa Dahill
2:05-2:35 Paper 2 – Dr. Di Rayson
2:35-2:45 Response/Dialogue
2:45-3:00 Coffee Break
3:00-4:30
         Workshop Option 1: Live Oak Chicago
         Workshop Option 2: Faith and Place
4:30-4:45 Coffee Break
4:45-6:30 Session III. Bonhoeffer, the Post-Racial, and The Western World
         4:45-4:50 Speaker Introduction – Dr. Reggie Williams
         4:50-5:25 Closing Bonhoeffer Lecture – Dr. J. Kameron Carter
         5:25-5:50 Response to Carter – Dr. Michael DeJonge
         5:50-6:00 Dialogue between Carter and DeJonge
         6:00-6:05 Speaker Introduction – Dr. Reggie Williams
         6:05-6:30 Closing Challenge – Father Michael Pfleger

*Paper titles and abstracts to be posted at a later date

Co-hosted by Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Sponsored by:
Stewart S. Hudnut
Connie L. Lindsey
and the Presbytery of Chicago

Sponsorship opportunities are also available. 

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Congratulations Dr. Jenny McBride