The Conference is an all-campus event. Faculty, students, and community members are invited to attend and explore connections between issues addressed during the Conference and their personal and academic lives. Students will be required to participate in some of the special events, selecting among plenary sessions and a menu of seminars focusing on wide-ranging topics that will stimulate “Conversations across Diverse Communities.”

The Conference will begin on Monday evening with a reception, the opening of an art exhibit, and a keynote address by Krista Tippett Public Radio Gets Religion—And Other Stories from a Front Row Seat on the Evolution of Faith and Life in our Time . A second presentation by Tippett on Tuesday morning Speaking of Faith and the Next Generation will be followed by a dozen hour-long seminars addressing controversial issues about which thoughtful people often disagree, and a luncheon presentation by Thom White Wolf Fassett entitled Deep and Wide: Bridges to Unity and Hope. The seminars—for which faculty, students, and outside guests will register ahead of time— will include, for example, discussions about the economy, social justice, Native-American history, the environment, race and gender issues.

Krista Tippett is a Peabody-award-winning broadcaster and author. As the creator and host of Speaking of Faith at American Public Media, she has created a new model of intelligent, in-depth journalism about religion and spiritual ethics in every aspect of human endeavor. The program is heard on over 200 public radio stations across the U.S. and globally via podcast and the Internet. She is also the author of a memoir and reflection on religion in 21st Century life, Speaking of Faith - Why Religion Matters and How to Talk about it.

Tippet will speak on March 1, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in the Andrews B. Hale Auditorium in the Roberts Cultural Life Center and again on March 2, 2009 at 8:45 a.m. She will focus her discussions on “Speaking of Faith”: Conversations Across Diverse Communities. Religious diversity and interfaith awareness are recurring themes of discussion at Roberts Wesleyan College. We are excited to bring Tippett’s in-depth reflection on spirituality and faith in the 21st Century to our conference.

Tuesday’s Luncheon Speaker: Thom White Wolf Fassett RWC alumnus, Emeritus General Secretary of the international rights organization of The United Methodist Church, Dr. Fassett remains influential in the field of faith, politics and issues of justice. His luncheon address is Deep and Wide: Bridges to Unity and Hope.

Tuesday’s Academic Conference sessions (morning and afternoon):

• Conversations about American History: Alternate Narratives from Native American Voices.
• Conversations about Art and Faith: What makes Art Holy?
• Conversations about Criminal Justice: What does Justice Require?
• Conversations about Doubt: What do we do with our Uncertainties?
• Conversations about Economics: Is there a Christian Economic System?
• Conversations about the Environment: Perspectives on Stewardship – What is our responsibility to care for the earth?
• Conversations about Gender Roles: Who's in Charge?
• Conversations about Human Genetic Engineering: Playing God?
• Conversations about Politics and Religion: Democrat, Republican, or Independent – How would Jesus Vote?
• Conversations about Race: Why is it so Hard to Talk About?
• Conversations about Sexual Orientation: Is there a Single Christian Answer?
• Conversations about Success: The Purchase-Driven Life