Symposium History

  

FAITH, REASON AND WORLD AFFAIRS SYMPOSIUM HISTORY 

1986-2011

The purpose of this series is to address significant world issues from a Christian perspective that examines various points of view. Its goal is to enable participants to make informed judgments through hearing divergent opinions and discussing them.

1986 
Communication and Controversy: Visions and Realities
Sept. 14-16, 1986
Hank Tkachuk, SCTA, Chair

Speakers:  
Richard Gregg, Pennsylvania State University
Guy R. Doud, National Teacher of the Year 1986
Edward Schiappa, Kansas State University
Kenneth Elsea, EG & G Services of Atlanta
Michael J. Hyde, Northwestern University
W. Charles Redding, Purdue University
John Dillenberger, President, American Academy of Religion
Neville Jayaweera, World Association for Christian Communication
Gaye Tuchman, Queens College, New York
Keith Bridston, Yale University

1987 
The Constitution of the United States: Facing the Third Century
Sept. 13-15, 1987
Dr. Stuart Ringham, Political Science, Chair

Speakers:  
Robert F. Drinan, Professor of Law, Georgetown University
Faith Burgess, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia
David J. Olson, University of Washington, Seattle
Ralph A. Rossum, Claremont McKenna College, California
Anthony V. Bouza, Chief of Police, Minneapolis
Paul A. Magnuson, Federal Judge, St. Paul
Paul E. Peterson, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
Connie Friesen, Lawyer, Skadden, Arps, Slate, New York
Hedrick L. Smith, New York Times Pulitzer Prize Author

1988 
Homeless in America
Sept. 18-20, 1988
Dr. Arland Jacobson, CHARIS Ecumenical Center, Chair

Speakers:  
Mitch Snyder, Community for Creative Non-Violence
John Steinbruck, Minister and Advocate, Washington, D.C.
James Hubbard, Photographer, Homeless in America Project
Richard Appelbaum, Sociologist, University of Santa Barbara
Sue Watlov Phillips, Director, Elim Transitional Housing, Inc.
Roberty M. Hayes, Founder, National Coalition for Homeless
Madelein Stoner, Author and Professor, University of Southern California
George Latimer, Mayor of St. Paul

1989 
The Biomedical Revolution: Power, Values and Responsibility
Sept. 17-19, 1989
Dr. Martha Ice, Sociology, Chair

Speakers:  
Daniel Maguire, Author and Founder of Moral Alternatives
William May, Medical Ethicist, Southern Methodist University
Agnes Mansour, Ex. Dir. of Poverty and Social Reform Institute
Leonard Sharber, Ex. Dir. of Circle Family Care, Chicago
Paul Menzel, Pacific Lutheran University
Ingrid Deininger, Individualized Home Care, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Richard Foss, Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead
Barbara Orlans, Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University
Lilly-Marlene Russow, Purdue University
Robert Murray Jr., Howard University, Washington, D.C.
Arthur Caplan, Director, Center for Biomedical Ethics, U of M

1990 
A Fragile Environment: Global Development and Human Responsibility
Sept. 16-18, 1990
Dr. Gerald Van Amburg, Biology, Chair

Speakers:  
Gerald Barney, Founder of the Institute for the 21st Century Studies
John Cobb Jr., Theologian, Claremont Graduate School, California
Frank Popper, Rutgers University, Author of "Buffalo Commons"
Wes Jackson, Founder and Director, The Land Institute
Tamara Alikhanova, Soviet Academy of Science, African Studies
Leongard Gontcharov, Soviet Academy of Science, Economics
Job Ebenezer, Assoc. Dir., World Hunger Education, ELCA
Joyce Starr, Middle East Foreign Affairs Expert
Jane Blewett, Director, Earth Community Center
Janet Welsh Brown, World Resources Institute
John Stevenson, Assoc. Adm. Ag Stabilization and Conservation

1991 
The Church and Society: Shaped - Shaping
Sept. 15-17, 1991
Dr. James Hofrenning, Religion, Chair

Speakers:  
Rev. Barbara Lundblad, Pastor, New York, ELCA Council
Allan Boesak, Apartheid Activist, Author, South Africa
Nicholas Wolterstorff, Yale Divinity School
Anne Patrick, SNJM, Carleton College
Martin Marty, University of Chicago

1992 
A Gathering of Spirit: Gifts of the Native Americans
Sept. 13-15, 1992
Tony McRae, Professor of French and Russian, Chair

Speakers: 
John Mohawk, Seneca Nation, Author, State Univ. of NY
Gordon Straw, Dir., Ethnic Ministry ELCA
Philip Hogen, Dir., Office of American Indian Trust
Harriett Skye, Assoc. of American Indian Affairs, Inc.
Suzan Shown Harjo, Morning Star Foundation, Washington, D.C.
Lydia Sage-Chase, North Dakota Indian Arts Association
Mike Mansfield, Anishinaubag Intercultural Programs

1993 
Who Cares for Our Children?
Sept. 19-21, 1993
Dr. Barbara Rusness, Family and Nutrition Sciences, Chair

Speakers:  
Dr. Samuel Proctor, Rutgers University
Dr. Emmy Werner, University of California-Davis
Dr. Sylvia Hewlett, Author and Economist
Dr. Walter Allen, University of California-Los Angeles
Dr. Ernest Boyer, Carnegie Foundation

1994 
With Respect to Difference: Voices of a Multicultural Society
Sept. 18-20, 1994
Dr. Polly Fassinger, Sociology, Chair

Speakers:  
Dr. Ronald Takaki, Ethnic Studies, Cal-Berkley
Linda Chavez, Author and former Civil Rights Commissioner
Dr. Manning Marable, Columbia University
Rev. Craig Lewis, VP, Shorebank Corporation, ELCA Ex. Asst.
Dr. Carlos Cortes, University of California-Riverside

1995 
The Wealth of Nations: Cooperation or Competition
Sept. 17-19, 1995
Sergio Mendes and Dr. David Moewes, Business and Economics, Co-Chairs

Speakers:  
James Fallows, Editor, Atlantic Monthly, Commentator for NPR
Dr. Russell Roberts, Olin School of Business, Washington Univ.
Dr. M. Patricia Fernandez-Kelly, Johns Hopkins University
John Ydstie, Economics Correspondent, NPR Morning Edition
Osamu Iida, Director, Honda Motor Company
Sen. Byron Dorgan, North Dakota Congressman
George Sinner, former Governor of North Dakota
Dr. Luther Tweeten, Ohio State University

1996 
Soul Searching: The Unsettled Church and America's Spiritual Quest
Sept. 15-17, 1996
Per Anderson, Religion, Chair

Speakers:  
Peggy Wehmeyer, Religion Commentator, ABC News
Wade Clark Roof, University of California-Santa Barbara
Kathleen Norris, Poet and Author
Janet Bernardi, Author and Pharmaceutical Researcher
Rev. Paul Westermeyer, Luther Seminary
Herbert Chilstrom, former Bishop of ELCA
Timothy Lull, Academic Dean, Pacific Lutheran
Lois Malcolm, Luther Seminary

1998 
Faith, Science and the Future
Sept. 27-29, 1998
Dr. Ernest Simmons, Religion, Chair

Speakers:  
Dr. Owen Gingerich, Harvard University
Dr. Chris McKay, NASA-Ames Research Center
Dr. Margaret Rice, NASA-Ames Research Center
Dr. Robert Russell, University of California-Berkeley
Ira Sherman, Artist and Sculptor
Dr. Paul Churchland, University of California-San Diego
Dr. Frederick Ferre, University of Georgia
Dr. Karen Lebacqz, Pacific School of Religion, Berkley

1999 
Who is My Neighbor? Concordia College and the Community
Sept. 26-28, 1999
James Postema, Associate Dean, Chair

Speakers: 
Robert Putnam, JFK School of Gov., Harvard University
Nadinne Cruz, Haas Center for Public Service, Stanford Univ.
John Kretzmann, Northwestern University
Joy Harjo, Joanne Shenandoah, Mary Youngblood, Silver Feather
Wing Young Huie, Photographer and Author

2000 
Healing and Spirituality: Medical, Religious and Cultural Perspectives
Sept. 17-19, 2000
Dr. Mark Krejci, Psychology, Chair

Speakers:  
Dr. Darrel Amundsen, Western Washington State University
Dr. Lori Arviso Alvord, Assoc. Dean, Dartmouth Medical School
Dr. Herbert Benson, Harvard, Mind/Body Institute
Pre-Symposium Event: Drepung Loseling Monks from Tibet

2001 
Moral Formation: Where Commerce Ends and Character Begins
Sept. 23-25, 2001
Dr. Nicholas Ellg, Sociology, Chair

Speakers: 
Dr. Jean Bethke-Elshtain, University of Chicago Divinity School
Dr. George Ritzer, Author and Professor, University of Maryland
Ralph Nader, Renowned Consumer Advocate

2003 
The Liberally Education Person: Rethinking the Tradition in the 21st Century
Oct. 26-27, 2003
Dr. George Connell, Philosophy, Chair

Speakers: 
Rev. Dr. Kerstin Gafgen-Track, Lutheran Church of Germany
Dr. Patrick Graham, Pitts Theology Library, Emory University
Dr. Roland Martinson, Luther Seminary

2004
The Reformation Tradition in North America: Past and Present
Feb. 9, 2004

Speaker:   
Dr. Martin Marty, Emeritus, University of Chicago Divinity School

2004 
The Future of the Reformation Tradition: Contemporary Problems and Issues
Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 2004
Arland Jacobson, CHARIS Ecumenical Center, Chair

Speakers:  
Bishop Munib Younan, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Jerusalem
Dr. Merold Westphal, Philosophy Department, Fordham University
Bishop Mark Hanson, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, General Secretary, World YWCA
Dr. Marc Ellis, Professor, Baylor University

2005 
HIV/AIDS in the Global Community: Scientific, Economic and Cultural Challenges
Sept. 11-13, 2005
Dr. Mark Covey, Psychology, Chair

Speakers:  
Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Former Director General of the World Health Organization
Julienne Munyaneza, World Association for Christian Communication
Sue Coe, Artist and Journalist

2006   
Faith and Public Life: Celebrating Vision in Action
Sept. 10-12, 2006
Dr. Harvey Stalwick, Lilly Grant Office, Chair

Speakers:  
Edward Cordoza, Director of Partners in Health, Harvard
Dr. David Batstone, Executive Editor of Sojourners Magazine
Dr. John Neafsey, Professor and Author, Loyola University
Stephen Lewis, UN Secretary General's Special Envoy HIV/AIDS
Dr. Sharon Daloz Parks, Author and Director, Whidbey Institute
Rev. Ann Svennungsen, President, Fund for Theological Educ.

2008   
Changing with the Climate: How Fast, How Far?
Sept. 16-17, 2008
Dr. Stewart Herman, Religion, and Dr. Gerald Van Amburg, Biology, Co-Chairs

Speakers:  
Dr. Lonnie Thompson, The Ohio State University
Dr. Ellen Mosley-Thompson, The Ohio State University
Rev. Vy Nguyen, Lutheran Volunteer Corps
Brad Crabtree, Great Plains Institute
Scott Handy, Cass County Electric Cooperative
Carmen Miller, Pew Environment Group
Dr. Eugene Takle, Iowa State University
John Flicker, President, National Audubon Society
Christine Ervin, consultant and spokesperson for green buildings, clean energy and climate change

2009   
Where is the We in an iWorld? Technology and Learning in the 21st Century
Sept. 15-16, 2009
Dr. Gay Rawson, French and Russian, Chair

Speakers:  
Dr. Mark Bauerlein, Emory University
Doug Burgum, Kibourne Group and former VP Microsoft
Neil Howe, author, historian, demographer and economist
Dr. Tracy Mitrano, Cornell University
Dr. Gary Small, UCLA Memory and Aging Center
Dr. Roland Martinson, Luther Seminary
Michael Chambers, Aldevron
Gary Inman, State Bank and Trust
Brent Teiken, Sundog Technology

2010   
Awakening to Wonder: Re-enchantment in a Post-secular Age
Sept. 14-15, 2010
Dr. George Connell, Philosophy, and Dr. Jan Pranger, Religion, Co-Chairs

Speakers:  
 Dr. Adam Frank, University of Rochester
Dr. Michael Saler, University of California Davis
Dr. Ronald Thiemann, Harvard Divinity School
Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker, Yale University
Judith Valente, Journalist

2011   
The Role of the Artist in Society: Inspiration, Issues, Impact
Sept. 13-14, 2011
Dr. Dawn Duncan, English, Chair

Speakers:  
 Dr. Dan Flory, Montana State University, Bozeman
Jennifer Heath, Arts Journalist and Art Critic
Colum McCann, Author
Dr. Lawrence Rothfield, University of Chicago

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