Fall 2015: Speakers and Events

The Religion Department is excited to invite you to hear from this great range of speakers coming to Ashland this fall. All these events are open to students and members of the community.

Peacemaking in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Rev. Berthe Kalombo Nzeba

Tuesday, September 28 12:00 Brown Bag at Eagles' Landing , Hawkins Conard Student Center

Tuesday, September 29, 7:00pm Ridenour Room


Rev. Berthe Kalombo Nzeba, ordained in 1978, is the first female protestant clergy in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rev. Nzeba is the Women’s President for the West Kinshasa Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Kinshasa (CPK) and pastor of the CPK Brikin parish in Kinshasa. She is also the General Secretary of the Women and Families Department of the ecumenical, protestant, umbrella group, the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC). For the last ten years, Rev. Nzeba has coordinated national and international Church efforts in support of women and children impacted by the conflict in Eastern Congo. Since 1996, 5.4 million people have lost their lives due to war in the Congo and millions have been displaced by the violence. 30 different militia groups continue to terrorize the local population. Rev. Nzeba oversees efforts in support of survivors of rape and war orphans. She is an active interlocutor in ecumenical platforms for peace and security in the Great Lakes Region.

Resurrecting Church

Friday October 2, 7:00pm, Upper Convo

Tearing Down Walls

Saturday, October 3, 9am, Upper Convo

Shane Claiborne

Shane Claiborne, will offer the talks "Resurrecting Church" and "Tearing Down the Walls" to encourage us as the Body of Christ to be alive in the world. Shane Claiborne is a Red Letter Christian and a founding partner of The Simple Way community, a radical faith community that lives among and serves the homeless in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. He is the co-author, with Chris Haw, of Jesus for President. 

The event is free, but registration is required. For more info and registration go to the ATS web site.

 

Pope Francis, the Environment, and Christian Life

Dr. Jana Bennett

Wednesday, October 14, 7:00pm, Ridenour Room

Following the pope's writing of his recent encyclical "Laudator Si," many have accused the pope of stepping into political and economic questions about which he knows little, But Bennett suggests that a different reading of the encyclical helps us dig deep into Christian tradition, and perhaps think a bit differently about environmental concerns.
Jana Bennett is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Dayton, where she teaches theology and ethics. She is also co-editor of catholicmoraltheology.com, a blog that discusses liturgy, scripture, and current issues in relation to moral questions. She is currently writing a book on moral theology and Christian contemplation.

Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus

Dr. Reggie Williams 

Wednesday November 4, 7:00pm, Ridenour Room

Dr. Reggie Williams, author of Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus (Baylor University Press) is Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics at McCormick Theological Seminary, in Chicago. His research interests are primarily focused on the connection between Christian interpretations of the way of Jesus, and Christian morality. His current research investigates how popular Western-world interpretations of Christianity have been calibrated to a false ideal that corresponds with racialized interpretations of humanity, morality, and Jesus. He will speak about how Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s experience in the Harlem Renaissance influenced Bonhoeffer's theology and ethics.