The Society of Christian Scholars' First Global Conference
God intended humans to live in community; the first family, the nation of Israel, the Church. An interconnected world with Christ-centered leadership, enhanced communication technology and increased connectivity would lead us to expect more cohesive communities and societies. And yet, our experience demonstrates that we live in an increasingly fragmented, lonely, and divisive world torn apart by poverty, war, food insecurity, disease, nationalism, climate injustice, numerous socio-economic inequalities, crimes against humanity, and more. Christian academics are not exempt: we face these growing challenges and can also wrestle with isolation in our pluralistic universities. We need to unite our voices together thereby realizing our potential for redemptive influence in our universities, cultures, and societies. This conference to be held in Nairobi, Kenya is designed to foster these essential connections.
Towards this end, our vocation to Christian scholarship, animated by wonder and awe of God’s majesty and good creation, seeks to communicate a holistic and integrated understanding of biblical faith and intellectual inquiry. In doing so, this scholarship brings the truth, goodness, and beauty of Jesus Christ discerned in the power of the Spirit to bear on the multi-faceted challenges of our world. Rooted in the Christian principles of calling, connection, and community, this integrated scholarship bridges disciplines and perspectives, fostering holistic understanding and global engagement. It also requires contextualization to readdress local and regional concerns and particular challenges within academic disciplines.
By embracing the calling to Christian scholarship within the context of Higher Education, the conference will inspire participants to align their work with God’s kingdom purposes as part of the gospel, promoting human flourishing and advancing the common good for all. By prioritizing connections, this first-ever global conference on Christian scholarship highlights the interrelationships of humanity and creation, encouraging academic excellence, stewardship and justice. Through the cultivation of community, Christian scholars nurture collaboration and empathy, building networks that transcend divisions. This integrative approach exemplifies how faith-informed scholarship can help the university realize its potential to shape a more just and flourishing world.
Upcoming Opportunities
NEW Opportunity for Spiritual Formation!
On the second Wednesday of every month, starting on Wednesday, 8 October 2025 at 1400 UTC, Dr. Nita Kotiuga will lead a group exploring various forms of experiencing God together through prayer. This will be a time of listening and teaching, followed by sharing. Depending on the type of prayerful experience being explored, meetings will last 1 to 1.5 hours.
Participants will explore the following as a beginning to our journey together.
Praying through different styles of prayer (these could be several sessions)
Exploring the benefits of journaling
Scheduled times to pray for each other
Learning how to contemplate Scripture
Learning how to meditate with Scripture
Exploring a prayer walk
Exploring spiritual pathways to discover a personal style
Exploring individual spirituality practices for the Enneagram
Be sure to have your Bible readily accessible as well as pen and paper, because handwriting slows us down to help us express more accurately how we feel.
Dr Kotiuga says, ‘I am looking forward to engaging with each of you, as we receive God’s love for us and respond to him with love.’ If you have any questions, please feel free to contact her at nita.kotiuga@bgu.edu.
Be sure to register for this exciting new opportunity!
Upcoming Conference
Christianity & The Common Good at Harvard University is hosting the Imago Dei and the Algorithmic Society: A Conference on Christianity and Artificial Intelligence, taking place on October 9-10, 2025, at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
As artificial intelligence (AI) encroaches on every dimension of the human experience—from how we work and learn to how we connect and make decisions—this global conference will bring together leading theologians, ethicists, technologists, and practitioners to explore themes foundational to Christianity and our understanding of human flourishing in the algorithmic age: 1) What does it mean to be human?; 2) What does it mean to learn?; and 3) What constitutes good community and loving relationships?
Space is limited and registration is required. To request registration, please click here or use the button below. Inquiries should be addressed to ccg@fas.harvard.edu.
Society Library
The Library Reading Group meets the first Friday of every month. The next meeting, on Friday, 3 October at 1400 UTC, will discuss chapter 8 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.
If you would like to participate, be sure to register for what has been and continues to be a fruitful discussion!
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 six Library resources under the library category, Engaging Unbelief.
These resources provide further reading for the August 2025 webinar by Rev. Dr. Seidel Abel Boanerges, ‘Holistic Apologetics: Re-imaging Apologetics for the 21st. Century’.
1. Apologetics without Apology: Speaking of God in a World Troubled by Religion by Elaine L. Graham
Brief Description: This book explores some of the implications of Christian apologetics within the context of it being considered to be one of the most significant challenges to confront the world in this generation. It focuses on the return of religion to public consciousness, after decades during which it was assumed to be in terminal decline.
2. Apologetics and the Christian Imagination: An Integrative Approach to Defining the Faith by Holly Ordway
Brief Description: This book focuses on the role of the act of imagination in Christian apologetics. It is based on the premise that the practice of Christian apologetics is relevant not only to the Christian scholar or academic but also to the ordinary Christian believer in every walk of life, so that they can effectively respond to the queries or doubts of others whom they come in contact with or relate to on a regular basis..
3. The Heart’s Backdoor: Brief Reflections on Worldview Apologetics, Imagination and Cultural Engagement by Ted Turnau
Brief Description: This blog is about how to get into the web of idols and false beliefs of a non-Christian and deconstruct it, so that the non-Christian will be open to see the truth of the gospel.
4. Apologetics, Mission and New Religious Movements: A Holistic Approach by Philip Johnson
Brief Description: This critical discussion evaluates some of our existing methods and proposes improvements by gleaning insights from cross-cultural missiology, so that we can be more effective in our engagement with today’s world.
5. Making Apologetics Appealing to Africans: A Clarion Call to Defending the Christian Faith in Africa by Ebenezer Afolabi
Brief Description: This book appeals to apologists to embark on an apologetics that addresses the African experience. It also seeks to sensitize and convince scholars, seminary students, church leaders and Christians in Africa regarding the need to defend the Christian faith in Africa, through the presentation of the gospel in all its fullness and depth.
6. Contend for the Faith by Stan Wallace
Brief Description: This is a video recording of an apologetics webinar hosted by the Caribbean Network of Christian Scholars (CNCS) a Caribbean regional affiliate of the Society of Christian Scholars. Dr. Stan Wallace, President and CEO of Global Scholars was the main speaker and his presentation was guided by the scripture Jude 3.
Upcoming Webinar
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.
Women in World Christianity: Facts, Figures, Challenges, and Opportunities by Gina A. Zurlo – Thursday 16 October 2025 at 1400 UTC
The central role of women in Christian communities worldwide is undeniable. Scholars have stated for decades that women are ‘more religious’ than men, with Christian women reporting higher rates of church attendance, prayer, and religious self-identification. Overall, women have been more active participants in Christianity than men across nearly all times and places.
Despite this, women’s contributions to church and society are often elided from history and sidelined today. In this context, discussions of the role of women in World Christianity should go beyond facts and figures to probing the challenges and opportunities that are before them.
On Thursday, 16 October 2025 at 1400 UTC, Dr Gina A. Zurlo, Visiting Lecturer on World Christianity at Harvard Divinity School, will discuss quantitative trends in World Christianity from 1900 to today as a framework for understanding challenges and obstacles related to studying women in World Christianity. This webinar will detail several gender gaps in World Christianity in church membership, congregational participation, and pastoral leadership and provide us with a rare opportunity to discern the crucial role women played in molding our faith and witness.
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.
