Date: Thursday 21 March 2019
Time: 7:30-9:00pm
Location: Northwest Building Auditorium, Trinity Western University (campus map; pay parking is available)
Invite Others via the Facebook Event Page
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of theological reflection on work, calling, and the importance of seeing all of life under the Lordship of Christ. However, many people still struggle to connect this rich theology with the specific tasks of their employment, educational pursuits, and responsibilities in the home. This is especially true when it comes to the seemingly mundane tasks of life. In this lecture, Jim Mullins will argue that we need more than a theology of work and vocation; we need a theological imagination that helps us reframe all of life in light of the Biblical Story.
How does the doctrine of creation shape the way we organize our calendars? How does a robust eschatology shape the way a teacher writes a lesson plan? How can our textbooks become catalysts for worship and wonder? How does Jesus’ call to love our neighbours transform the work of forensic accountants, biology students, and custodial staff? These kinds of questions can only be answered if we have a theological imagination that allows us to see the whole scope of human life through the lens of the Biblical Story.
Along with a discussion about how our work is reframed by the Biblical Story, we will spend some time reflecting on how to discern our particular callings and how to live into the unique good works for which we were created.
SPEAKER: Jim Mullins is the pastor of theological and vocational formation for Redemption Church, helps lead the Surge Network, and leads the Faith, Work, and Rest Initiative in Tempe, Arizona. He has worked as a pastor, entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, and second rate basketball scout in Turkey. He’s married to Jenny, and has a nine-year-old daughter named Elliana. They spend their time watching basketball, cooking Middle Eastern food, and ineffectively attempting to grow a garden.
SPEAKER: A pastor of Reformed churches for over twenty years in both Canada and the United States, Bill DeJong currently ministers at Blessings Christian Church, a newly launched missional church in the city of Hamilton, Ontario. A PhD candidate at McMaster Divinity College, Bill is completing a multidisciplinary dissertation on the psychology, theology, and philosophy of gratitude. His extracurricular interests include running, watching Woody Allen movies, and especially spending time with his wife, Kim and their four sons.
SPEAKER: Luke Glanville is a senior lecturer in International Relations at the Australian National University. His research and teaching focuses on historical and contemporary efforts to protect vulnerable people. Luke is author of 
Maybe you are worried that humanity is not doing a good job in caring for God’s creation, but are uncomfortable about embracing the creation care movement. Maybe you are serious about the call to care for God’s creation, but are worried that all the accompanying “earth-talk” is not really helping in setting our hearts and minds on things above. In this lecture a Christian spirituality for earthkeeping is proposed that starts with who we are as believers in participatory communion with Christ. The theological anthropologies of diverse Christian thinkers such as Augustine, Moltmann and Calvin will be brought into discussion with each other to help clarify what the shape of such an earth-keeping ethic would look like. Listening to the living God who calls us to faithfully walk with Him by being a blessing to all of creation is the only real sustainable alternative to modern culture’s stark and lifeless choices. The lecture will end with some reflections on the importance of understanding our vocations and the ethical shape for Christian hopeful living amidst economic and ecological crises.
