An essential voice in the conversation
On why this institution matters so much to me...and the world
I would like to share with you today a redirection that is dear to my heart. I am presently serving at Board Chair of the Institute for Christian Studies (ICS) in Toronto, Ontario. ICS is very small graduate college, but has played a significant and outsized role in advancing Reformational thinking in the world through its master's and Ph.D programs of study.
ICS has produced some amazing recent graduates such as James K.A. Smith (Calvin), David Smith (Calvin), and Steve Bouma-Prediger (Hope). Kristen Kobes DuMez (Calvin, Notre Dame) has recently served on our Faculty Senate and James K.A. Smith is now a Distinguished Associate. In fact, DuMez and Smith put on an amazing and well attended conference for ICS in Ontario on Christian nationalism that also was featured on the CBC in June and October. President Ron Kuipers reflects on this conference in a wonderful article on ICS’s collaborative impact:
The most recent example of such collaboration is the public conference Beyond Culture Wars: Fostering Solidarity in an Age of Polarization, which we’ve just co-hosted with Martin Luther University College from April 18–20 in Waterloo, Ontario. With keynote speakers Kristin Kobes Du Mez (author of Jesus and John Wayne) and James K.A. Smith (author, most recently, of How to Inhabit Time), this conference provided a space for discernment and conversation for Christians who want to develop redemptive ways to practice their faith, ways that build social solidarity rather than promote fractious social polarization.
ICS is one of the few Christian institutions remaining that dares to ask the kinds of questions that Reformed Christians in the Kuyperian strand value - questions coming from a deep place of Reformational thinking and that are always reforming!
I am delighted that ICS is introducing a brand new Lifelong Learning program for any adult who wants to explore and go deeper in faith, philosophy, and learning. One example of an existing lifelong learning course would be our ART (art, religion, and theology) in Orvieto program. It is a three week summer program in Italy where one engages in cultural study and connecting ART as well as workshop space for practicing artists.
Our growing Master’s in Educational Leadership (MA-EL) program offers an increasingly in-demand master's degree built on Deeper Learning principles. It is customizable to the learner’s needs, affordable, and deeply engaging. Because the program is online we are able to impact educators from around the world.
ICS remains a place where difficult questions of life and faith can be discussed, where all are seen and valued as a dearly loved image bearers of God, and where biblical wisdom is pursued in all aspects of life. I am proud of being connected with ICS!
ICS relies on donations and tuition revenue to carry out its mission. The current postal strike in Canada (going on week 4) has wreaked havoc with end of the year communications around giving and receiving gifts. I am appealing to any of you reading this post to consider giving a donation to support the work of ICS. Thanks in advance for your consideration and support!