Alumni Seminars
Our seminar series for the 2022-2023 academic year has concluded; stay tuned for future free online educational seminars from Knox College.
Questions? Contact Advancement.
Previous alumni seminars
Women, Gender, and Genesis (March 8, 2023)
Presented by Christine Mitchell, Knox College Academic Dean and Professor of Hebrew Bible
Join us as we read Genesis 1-3 from the perspective of feminist biblical studies! We’ll be looking at how women and men (and everyone in-between) are understood in this biblical text. After sketching out some different approaches scholars have taken, Dr. Mitchell will lead us through a reading of Genesis 1-3, paying special attention to depictions of gender in the passage.
Falling Faster: Generosity and the Future of the Church (February 23, 2023)
Presented by Lori Guenther Reesor, author of Growing a Generous Church, and Stuart Macdonald, Knox College Professor of Church and Society
Fewer Canadians identify as Christian, and that trend is accelerating. A small cohort of aging donors donates the most. How can the church be faithful in this context? This webinar focuses on hopeful responses. “Do not be afraid,” the angels proclaim, and that is good stewardship advice. Learn how to nurture the spiritual discipline of giving, a grateful response to our generous and unchanging God.
Local Ecumenism: A Faithful Opportunity (January 26, 2023)
Presented by Sandra Beardsall, Professor Emerita of Church History and Ecumenics at St Andrew’s College, Saskatoon, and an ordained minister in the United of Canada
The fate and future of local congregational life is a persistent concern for contemporary Christian leaders. “Ecumenical Shared Ministries” have been thriving in Canada since the 1960s, with Presbyterian involvement from the beginning. Through local covenants, congregations maintain their denominational identities while sharing some or all of their ministry and resources with Christians of at least one other denomination. This seminar will explore this pastoral opportunity through considering the practical steps and the theological gifts involved in “daring to share” Christian life together.
Spiritual Resilience in Ministry (November 23, 2022)
Presented by Angela Schmidt, Knox College’s Director of Experiential Learning and Assistant Professor of Spiritual Care
The ability to adapt in times of adversity and stress is a life skill and a lifeline. The pandemic taxed the emotional, physical, cognitive, and spiritual resources of those providing spiritual leadership, leaving many people depleted of energy and passion. This seminar will discuss the concept of resilience as applied to those in spiritual leadership and will focus on how we build/restore spiritual resilience by strengthening coping strategies, resisting deformation, and applying theological reflection to construct something positive out of hardship.