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ESN News – May 2008

There are now 2,965 members of the Emerging Scholars Network! Here is your members-only update.

In this issue:

1. Upcoming Events: Faculty Conference and ESN Day-Ahead
2. New Audio from ESN and Faculty Ministry
3. Resources for Spiritual Formation
4. Free Preview from InterVarsity Press
5. Help Grow the Network
6. Quarterly Quotation: The Christian Intellectual in Search of Light

1 – Upcoming Events

Faculty Conference, June 21-27

Imagine a vacation at a beautiful, serene place and relaxed conversations with Dallas Willard and others over dinner… Help us spread the word about this summer’s faculty event for individuals and families as we explore Spiritual Formation and the Academic Life. The setting is the shores of beautiful Lake Huron and we are sure you will find it to be one of the most spectacular vacations you and your family will find. Cedar Campus relaxed, informal meeting of Christian scholars and outstanding programming for children and youth as well.

Meet and talk personally with Dallas Willard of the University of Southern California, Kelly Monroe Kullberg, founder of the Veritas Forum, Mary Poplin, Claremont Graduate University, and Terry Morrison, Director Emeritus of InterVarsity Faculty Ministry. Perhaps you cannot attend, do be sure to pass on the invitation to others. This is a unique opportunity for Christian faculty.

Find out more at the faculty conference website.

First Emerging Scholars Network National Gathering!

When: December 27–31, 2008
Where: Chicago, IL

InterVarsity’s Graduate & Faculty Ministries will hold its third Following Christ conference in Chicago from December 28-31, 2008. But for ESN members, the conference gets started early on December 27, with a special one-day event focused on ”Flourishing in the Academy.” Using a combination of speakers, group discussions, and career-stage workshops, we trust that you will leave with new relationships, a fresh perspective, and practical guidance for your next steps. The program will be appropriate for everyone from undergraduates considering graduate school to junior faculty in tenure-track positions. Don’t miss it!

More information and online registration are available here.

2 – New Audio from ESN and Faculty Ministry

How should theology engage with other academic disciplines? Alan Padgett addressed this question at the recent Faculty Symposium at the University of Wisconsin-Madision, using post-modern philosophy as an example. Padgett is professor of systematic theology at Luther Seminary, and the lead author of the upcoming third volume of Christianity and Western Thought (IVP, 2008).

Both of Padgett’s talks are available for download.

3 – Resources for Spiritual Formation

As you approach the end of your academic year and perhaps begin refueling your mind and spirit for research, classes, or perhaps a break this summer, we would like to offer some ideas and resources to you regarding Spiritual Formation.

Spiritual formation is at the core of our discipleship to Christ. The practice of spiritual disciplines enriches our understanding of God, deepens our obedience, and increases our longing for God. InterVarsity Faculty Ministry has created a resource to assist you in developing a deeper relationship with Christ by exploring several spiritual disciplines. Please feel free to use this on your own or to reproduce and explore as a group to establish, grow, or guide your faculty or graduate communities. You can download the resource here.

InterVarsity staff member Bob Trube has created a guide to the phases of spiritual formation during the transitions of academic life. This feature on the InterVarsity Faculty Ministry website offers suggestions for spiritual disciplines you might use to seek God in all aspects of your development as an emerging scholar.

Read the full article online.

4 – Free Preview: Culture Making by Andy Crouch

Later this summer, InterVarsity Press will publish Culture Making: Recovering Our Cultural Calling, by Andy Crouch. This will be an important book, with much to say to ESN members engaged in the work of creating and cultivating culture.

Here is what Christian Smith, professor of sociology at the University of Notre Dame, wrote:

American evangelicals in the last hundred years have found it easy to condemn culture, critique culture, copy culture and consume culture. It has been much harder for them to actively and imaginatively create culture. Andy Crouch is out to change that. I confess I doubt whether they can rise to the challenge. But I am persuaded by Crouch’s case that the Christian calling requires it. Here is a voice worth taking very seriously.

Read other endorsements and learn more about the book at the IVP website.

IVP is now offering a free preview of the first two chapters. You can download the free PDF here.

And, when the full book is published in August, use your ESN membership to receive a 30% discount.

Learn more about Andy Crouch, Culture Making, and The Christian Vision Project at http://culture-makers.com/.

5 – Help Grow the Network

We want to hear from you! What is your favorite feature of the Emerging Scholars website? Have you considered entering the mentor program as a mentor or mentee? Is God leading you to increase your level of interaction and dialogue with other scholars? We would love to know what is happening in your academic life or spiritual walk. In order to best serve you, we would love to receive your feedback about the website, the Network, our resources and features, the Newsletter, anything! We are in the process of website re-design and we want to provide a more dynamic place for you to interact with other scholars. Tell us how we could help you.

Also, to create even more resources for other emerging scholars, do you have a piece you’d like to share with the Network? We would love to read more about your views on integration of faith and learning and other topics related to Christian scholarship. Be an active part of the Network. Tell your friends, coworkers, and fellow graduate students or faculty about how ESN has helped or impacted your development. Share the Newsletter or the website and invite others to join. Check out our Facebook page under “Emerging Scholars Network” and invite others to join us.

Feedback, editorial reviews, contributions to our web resources, etc. can all be sent to:
info@facultyministry.org.

Looking for friends in the academic life? Take advantage of the ESN Networking Query to find other ESN members near you. This is a members-only resource!

6 – Quarterly Quotation: The Christian Intellectual in Search of Light

An intellectual must be an intellectual all the time. What St. Paul suggests to the Christian: whether you eat or drink or whatsoever else you do, do all to the glory of God, must apply to the Christian in search of light. For him the true is the glory of God: he must keep it always in mind, submit to it in everything.

— A.G. Sertillanges, The Intellectual Life (quoted by James Sire, Habits of the Mind)
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