Registration opens mid-January for the Perkins Summit for Faith & Learning — formerly the Perkins Theological School for the Laity – which takes place March 19-20, 2021. With the theme “Looking Forward, Learning Together,” the program offers courses taught by five members of the Perkins faculty and an alumnus. The Summit is open to everyone, laypeople as well as clergy, and will be held virtually this year.
“This annual event, which has run for several decades, allows people to experience a ‘day at seminary;’ it offers deep learning on theological, biblical and thematic topics taught by Perkins faculty, staff, and alums,” explains Priscilla Pope-Levison, Associate Dean for External Programs.
“Most of the courses being offered were previously scheduled for the March 2020, Perkins Summit, which had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.”
Friday afternoon courses will include: “How to Read the Bible According to the Early Church Fathers” by James Kang Hoon Lee, Associate Professor of the History of Early Christianity and Director, Doctor of Ministry Program at Perkins; and “An Unconventional God: The Holy Spirit According to Jesus,” taught by Jack Levison, W.J.A. Power Professor of Old Testament Interpretation and Biblical Hebrew at Perkins.
On Saturday, participants may choose from two day-long courses, or sign up for one or two half-day courses:
Day-long courses
- Stephen Long, Cary M. Maguire University Professor of Ethics, Perkins School of Theology, will teach a two-part class (morning and afternoon) on “Truth Telling in a Post-Truth World.”
OR
- Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner, Professor of Pastoral Care and Pastoral Theology at Perkins, will also teach a two-part class (morning and afternoon) on “How Do We Solve A Problem Like…Mary?”
OR
Half-day courses
- Priscilla Pope-Levison, Associate Dean for External Affairs and Professor of Ministerial Studies at Perkins, will teach “Models of Evangelism” in the morning session.
- Ray Jordan, a Perkins alum and Adjunct Professor at SMU’s Simmons School of Education, will teach “An Introduction to Black Liberation Theology” in the afternoon.
The event will include worship on Friday afternoon, where the 2020 and 2021 recipients of the Seals Laity Award will be honored, and will close on Saturday afternoon with Lectio Divina led by Ruben Habito, Professor of World Religions and Spirituality and Director of Spiritual Formation at Perkins.
The full schedule for the two-day event is available here.
The registration fee is $25 per half-day course, or $50 for a full-day course.
Online registration closes March 15. Call (214) 768-3664 to place your registration by phone with a credit or debit card. Questions about the event may be directed via email to theoexternalprograms@smu.edu.