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About

Charles Taylor, the renowned philosopher, painstakingly traces a shift in Western society over a 500-year period that moved from a presumption of belief to one of doubt, from an enchanted world to a disenchanted one, from a porous self to a buffered self. In countless ways we minister in what Taylor labels A Secular Age. Even those of us who believe do so in the shadow of this set of conditions, what Taylor calls a “social imaginary.” If nothing else, we take up ministry confronting a different set of questions and related opportunities than those who ministered before us. How do science and faith relate to one another? How do we live toward others in an increasingly pluralistic society? How can we be distinctive and at the same time good religious neighbors? These are some of the questions that frame our conference theme, “Mission in a Secular Age.” Our lineup of presenters is especially well-suited to lead us into this conversation.

Presenters

Andy Root

Andrew Root, PhD (Princeton Theological Seminary) is the Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary. He is most recently the author of four volume Ministry in a Secular Age series (Churches and the Crisis of Decline, The Congregation in a Secular Age, The Pastor in a Secular Age, and Faith Formation in a Secular Age),and The End of Youth Ministry?. He has also authored Christopraxis: A Practical Theology of the Cross (Fortress, 2014) and Bonhoeffer as Youth Worker (Baker, 2014). Root puts together theology and storytelling to explore how ministry leads us into encounter with divine action. His book  The Relational Pastor (IVP, 2013) as well as a four book series with Zondervan called A Theological Journey Through Youth Ministry (titles include Taking Theology to Youth Ministry, Taking the Cross to Youth Ministry, Unpacking Scripture in Youth Ministry, and Unlocking Mission and Eschatology in Youth Ministry) break new ground in this direction. In 2012 his book The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry (with Kenda Creasy Dean, IVP, 2011) was Christianity Today Book of Merit. Andy has worked in congregations, parachurch ministries, and social service programs. He lives in St. Paul with his wife Kara, two children, Owen and Maisy, and their dog. When not reading, writing, or teaching, Andy spends far too much time watching TV and movies.

Janet Kellogg Ray

Janet Kellogg Ray is an enthusiastic science educator, explainer, and communicator. Janet attended Abilene Christian University as an undergraduate (’82), before moving on to a PhD in curriculum and instruction. She has taught eighteen years at the university level, both biology majors and nonmajors. Raised a creationist, Janet is a science educator and a practicing Christian who accepts evolution. She is uniquely equipped to explain evolution to questioners, doubters, deniers, and those who just want to know more about the science of origins: she’s been there, and she understands. Her recent books, Baby Dinosaurs on the Ark? (Eerdmans, 2021) and The God of Monkey Science (Eerdmans, 2023) are compelling books making the case for science in our current church landscape.

John Barton

John Barton is the director of the Center for Faith and Learning at Pepperdine University, where he also has faculty appointments in the Religion and Philosophy division, the graduate faculty for Social Entrepreneurship and Change, and the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. John served Rochester Christian University for ten years, including as Provost for the University. His areas of research and teaching include African philosophy and religion, Christian studies and ministry, and interreligious peacebuilding. He is the co-host of the NetVUE podcast, Callings: Conversations on College, Career, and a Life Well Lived, and the author of Better Religion: A Primer for Interreligious Peacebuilding (Baylor University Press, 2022). We are thrilled to welcome John back to campus.

Jerry Taylor

Dr. Taylor is the founding director of the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action and Associate Professor of Bible, Missions and Ministry at Abilene Christian University. In 1984 he received a Bachelor of Arts in Bible from Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas. In 1988 Dr. Taylor received a Master of Divinity degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University and went on to complete his doctorate in ministry at Perkins School of Theology in 1995. Prior to moving to Abilene Dr. Taylor and his family served in the Bankhead area of the inner city of Atlanta, Georgia. On top of serving as the Director of the Carl Spain Center, Dr. Taylor travels extensively speaking on college campuses, conferences, and retreats. He is the author of “Courageous Compassion. He has began many initiatives such as the New Wineskins Retreat, the National Freedom in Christ Conference, the Young Scholars Retreat, and most recently the Racial Unity Leadership Summit (RULS) and RULS Spiritual Retreat. He is married to Patricia (Bowden) Taylor formerly of Houston, Texas. They have been married for 26 years and have two children, Alisha (26) and Jeremiah (22). The Taylor family lives in Abilene, Texas.

Sara Barton

Sara Barton is an Associate Acquisitions Editor at HarperCollins Publishers, focusing on Bible studies for individuals and congregations. She also preaches at the Camarillo Church of Christ in Camarillo, California. Barton previously served as the University Chaplain at Pepperdine University, where she taught ministry courses. Before that, Sara served the Rochester Christian University community as a campus minister and Bible instructor. Yes, John and Sara are married and have two children, Nate (married to Falon) and Brynn. They are the proud grandparents of one-year-old, Soren.