Society News
Editorial Services Testimonial
“I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the generous support and help I received from the editor during my doctoral application months. As an international student, writing in English is always challenging, especially in texts like a personal statement for doctoral application, which needs to directly and skillfully deliver my thoughts on my research interest and show how the preparation I have equipped me to develop that research plan. After my application for the editorial service, the editor reached out to me, then we had a virtual meeting to introduce each other, which allowed the editor to know my prior needs in the material I would like him to proofread.
The editor’s help has considerably eased the burden of my worry about whether I deliver my thoughts correctly in English. It has allowed me to express my past experience and my understanding of my research plan with depth and freedom. Besides the help with language issues, the editor was also a spiritual director for me, who encouraged me most of the time, especially when I had doubts about my research and writing capability. In the application journey filled with anxiety and stress, I felt cared for and loved by Christ through the help and grace the editor gave to me.”
Selah Long
Incoming doctoral student at the Department of Theology and Ethics at the Graduate Theological Union
Editorial Services office to close for 3 weeks
Bruce Barron, Director of Editorial Services, will be on travel from June 29 through July 19. Emails should still receive replies during those three weeks, but no edits requested during that time will be completed until after July 19.
Society Library
The Library Reading Group meets the first Friday of every month. The next meeting, on Friday, 4 July at 1400 UTC, will discuss chapter 5 of the important, foundational book for our work as Christian academics, The Outrageous Idea of a Missional Professor: The International Edition, by Paul Gould and edited by an international editorial team.
In each conversation, participants share exciting insights about what it means to be a ‘missional professor’ in their local context. Various presenters lead discussions. If you would like to lead a session (or have an idea for a future topic), please contact Dr Marlene Hines, the Society Librarian, at mhines@societyofchristianscholars.org.
This month’s Library Reading Corner feature, includes an annotated bibliography of 5 library resources under the library category Pursuing Vocational Excellence. These resources provide further reading for the May 2025 webinar “Work as Calling: Contributions from Psychological Science” by Prof. Bryan Dik.
1. Understanding Work as a Calling: Contributions from Psychological Science by Bryan J. Dik
This article discusses psychological research conducted on the topic of work as a calling, through the lens of a Christian worldview and a theology of work. The essay states that it “attends to the specific implications of this research for Christian scholars; it then concludes with a brief summary, critique, and commentary on the practical implications of this area of research.”
2. Faith and Work by Tim Keller
This is a video recording of Tim Keller’s presentation at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University (USA) on 8 November 2016. The focus of the presentation is “how to integrate work and faith” and includes five principles or ideas on how the gospel transforms your daily work. Principle one is that “Christian faith gives you an identity without which work will sink you.”
3. The Fabric of this World: Inquiries into Calling, Career Choice and the Design of Work by Lee Hardy
This book is a product of the course “Christian Perspectives on Work and Vocation,” taught by the author. The material is guided by an interdisciplinary approach. It draws on the disciplines of theology, sociology, psychology, philosophy, history, and economics. Dr. Shirley Roels, director of INCHE (the International Network of Christian Higher Education, one of the Society’s partner organizations), is mentioned as a member of the research team that contributed to the contents of the book.
4. Review of A Theology of Beasts by Tavershima Dzenda
This is a Society review of the book A Theology of Beasts: Christians and Veterinary Medicine by J. Aaron Gruben. Tavershima Dzenda is a member of the Society’s Library Curator team. According to Dzenda, “The book discusses the intersection of Christian faith and veterinary medicine, exploring the spiritual, emotional, and philosophical challenges veterinarians face and the historical contributions of Christians to the field.”
5. Joy at Work: Revolutionary Approach to Fun on the Job by Dennis Bakke
This book presents the experiences of Dr. Dennis Bakke regarding his application of the principles of servant leadership within a context of a theology of work while leading the AES Corporation as CEO. The leadership experiences shared are applicable to faculty leadership in higher education institutions.
Please contact the Society’s librarian, Dr Marlene Hines, at librarian@societyofchristianscholars.org for any further assistance.
Call for Book Reviewers
If you would like to write a 1,000-word review on one of the following books, please contact Dr Ron Lindo at rlindo@SocietyofChristianScholars.org for further details. Reviews will be highlighted and published in a special section of our Society member site.
We Who Wrestle with God by Jordan Peterson
Healthy Christian Minds: A Biblical, Practical, and Sometimes Philosophical Exploration of Intellectual Virtues and Vices by Elmer J. Thiessen
Faithful Learning: A Vision for Theologically Integrated Education by Jacob Shatzer
Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein
Upcoming Webinars
Be sure to check the Webinars Page for third-party webinars that are often added on short notice and for updated presenters and topics that may be helpful in equipping you to bring the gospel to bear in your university context.
Adam’s Image: Why AI Can’t Replicate Humans by George Montañez – Thursday, 19 June 2025 at 1400 UTC
Large language models such as GPT-4o and Claude have revolutionized computers’ ability to generate coherent, useful text. Similarly, diffusion models for computer vision are capable of producing award-winning graphics and images. These advancements have led many to fear an imminent ‘AI takeover,’ accompanied by catastrophic economic displacement. Can AI systems truly ever replicate and replace us?
On Thursday, 19 June 2025 at 1400 UTC, Dr. George Montañez, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Harvey Mudd College (USA), will explore this question functionally (in terms of AI and human capabilities), economically (in terms of labor displacement), and spiritually (in terms of human worth and value). He argues that generative AI systems cannot ever fully replace us along any of those three axes.
In preparation for the webinar, watch this short video: ‘Will the Machines Takeover? Human Uniqueness in the Age of Smart Machines‘
Join the conversation and register today!
Walking Together through the Everyday Life of the University by Jaime Peña-Álvarez – Thursday, 17 July 2025 at 1400 UTC
Life in academia can be challenging and demanding. Academics face constant pressures: meeting deadlines, responding to student demands, publishing research, obtaining funding, and dealing with time and resource constraints, all with an expectation of achieving excellence. For their part, students are confronted with uncertainty about their future, family expectations, lack of maturity, poor time management and limited resources.
In this context, both teachers and students experience loneliness, stress, insecurity, anxiety and the feeling of not being understood. Given this reality, pastoral accompaniment in the university is urgently needed.
On Thursday, 17 July 2025 at 1400 UTC, Dr. Jaime Peña-Álvarez, Coordinator of Internships and Degrees in Industrial Civil Engineering and Assistant Professor at the Autonomous University of Chile, will share how the Lord has allowed him to walk alongside academics and students, both at his university and at Grupo Bíblico Universitario de Chile (GBUCh), providing support in their challenges and helping them to integrate science and faith. This is a call for every Christian academic: to be an agent of comfort, encouragement and hope, communicating the Good News of Jesus Christ in the midst of the complexities of university life.
Join the conversation and register today!
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the Addenda are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Society of Christian Scholars.
