So many of you who read this newsletter are (or have been) Christian leaders—faithfully nurturing the relationship between the people of God with the Word of God. And the day on which this newsletter lands in your inbox? It's the day before one of the most challenging ones to break open: a day called Good, when we recall the death—no, the execution at the hands of the state—of the one whom we call Christ. How does one faithfully tell the story without fast-forwarding to the surprise ending? How do we sit with the pain and the discomfort and let go of our need for resolution and security?
These Good Fridays during the pandemic have been particularly poignant. All of the loss, lamentation, and separation we have experienced have made these two years feel like one long, protracted Lent. At PTS, the celebration of Easter will be even more resonant, as it marks a return to something we have missed so dearly—in-person gatherings with all of you!
Presuming that public health conditions permit, we can’t wait to see you back on campus! (For our friends who can’t or prefer not to be here in person, we commit to continuing online access to much of our content.) And what a lineup:
• The Schaff Lectures will headline practical theologian John Swinton, who will talk about the challenges of loving our neighbor during COVID-19. Join us in Youngstown, Ohio, or at PTS!
• The Kelso Lecture with New Testament scholar and author of Might from the Margins, Dennis Edwards!
• And our Henderson Summer Leadership Conference returns to campus after three years! We’ll welcome the Rev. Dr. Paul Smith, The Black Mountain School of Theology and Community, and joining us from his home in Atlanta: Ambassador Andrew Young!
Click on the links to find out more about these remarkable events, and be sure to register early if you want to join us in person since space is limited due to safety protocols. We’ve missed the delight of showing hospitality to all of you on our beautiful campus!
In closing, for most of you the first point of contact with the Continuing Education Office has been our coordinator Lori Arnold. For more than a decade, she has answered your questions, gotten you registered, processed your payments, and sent you a million e-mails; she has greeted you at the door and in Zoom, flexing with the massive changes these years have brought to our program and our times. She’s announced her intention to retire, and we look forward to sending her off into this new season with gratitude and hope; I know you join me in thanking her for everything she has done in support of our events and—most of all—our people. Thank you for everything, Lori, and Godspeed!
Peace!
Helen Blier
Director, Continuing Education
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