Tuesday, November 18, 2008
8:30 am - 2:00 pm
Western Theological Seminary
$65 (includes lunch)
Presenters
Dr. I. John Hesselink is the Albertus C. van Raalte professor emeritus of systematic theology at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. He also served as president of Western Theological Seminary from 1973 to 1985. He has served in a wide variety of roles—evangelist, missionary, lecturer, translator, and administrator. He received his BA from Central College (Iowa), his BD from Western Theological Seminary (Michigan), and his doctorate in theology from the University of Basel (1961). He served as a missionary to Japan from 1953 to 1973, where he also taught systematic theology. He studied under both Emil Brunner and Karl Barth, completing his doctoral degree on the law in John Calvin for Professor Barth. His research in Calvin has gained him a reputation as a respected specialist in Calvin studies. His books include Calvin’s First Catechism: A Commentary and On Being Reformed. He has contributed to numerous academic and popular journals and magazines and taught historical theology at Tokyo Union Theological Seminary for twelve years. Married in 1951, John and his wife, Etta, have five children and two grandchildren and live in Holland, Michigan.
Fr. Mark Janus is a Paulist priest and clinical psychologist who currently serves as the rector of the Cathedral of Saint Andrew and director of the Catholic Information Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Hailing from Rochester, New York, Fr. Janus joined the Paulists in 1974. After attending the Paulist Seminary in Washington D.C, and studying theology at Catholic University of America, he was ordained in 1979, and joined the staff of the Catholic Information Center in Boston.
In addition to his work in adult religious education, he worked extensively with runaway and homeless youth and assisted at the campus ministry at Boston University. He later became a campus minister at the University of Connecticut and most recently at the Ohio State University. In each of these locations he has been involved in adult religious development.
Rev. J. Lynn Pier-Fitzgerald received a B.A. in Sociology/Religion from Cornell College in 1972, a Masters in Divinity from the Chicago Theological Seminary in 1978 and was ordained a Deacon in 1972 and an Elder in 1980 by the West Michigan Annual Conference. She has served as Pastor of Gunnisonville/Chapel Hill UMC in East Lansing, MI; Co-Pastor of White Cloud UMC in White Cloud, MI; Associate Pastor, Wyoming Park UMC in Wyoming, MI; Pastor of Plainfield UMC in Grand Rapids, MI and as District Superintendent of the Grand Traverse District in Traverse City, MI.
In addition, she has served as member and Chair of the Michigan Conference Board of Ordained Ministry; Chair of the Northeast Community Ministry Board of Directors; Metro Ministry Executive Committee of Grand Rapids; Chair of the West Michigan Conference Leadership Council; Dean of the West Michigan Cabinet; Cabinet Representative to the Council on Finance & Administration and Board of Pensions; and was elected a delegate to the United Methodist General Conference and North Central Jurisdictional Conference on several occasions.
Rev. Mark Rich has a Ph.D. in theology and ethics and is pastor at Peace Lutheran Church, Holland. He has served as a missionary with the Malagasy Lutheran Church, and as a pastor in inner city, rural, suburban, and urban settings in the US.
Schedule of the Day
8:15 a.m. Gathering and Registration
8:30 a.m. Welcome, Introductions and
Opening Prayers and Liturgy
8:45 a.m. A Roman Catholic View:
Mark David Janus
9:30 a.m. A Lutheran View: Mark Rich
10:15 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. A United Methodist View:
J. Lynn Pier-Fitzgerald
11:45 a.m. Lunch in Garden Level
12:30 p.m. A Reformed View: I. John
Hesselink
1:15 p.m. Panel Discussion
2:00 p.m. Conclusion
