Reflections on IACE’s Third Annual Conference

DAVID S. DOCKERY

It seems like just yesterday that we decided to begin to plan the first conference for the International Alliance for Christian Education, which was held in Orlando, Florida on February 12-14, 2020. Now, we have concluded our third annual conference, which took place this past week in Fort Worth, Texas. Having completed this meaningful and memorable week, I thought I would share a few reflections.

Markers and Reflections

Our first conference attracted more than 90 people. Last year, the second conference had about 100 people meeting in person and nearly 40 others who joined online. This year, the IACE conference included 150 people who attended at least one session in person in addition to approximately 20 others who participated online. These markers certainly encourage us to rejoice in God’s goodness and blessings to IACE.

The messages, addresses, presentations, and discussions at this year’s conference were excellent. Some noted that it was the best educational conference they had ever attended. How blessed we were to be led in worship by Joe Crider, Chuck Lewis, and A Cappella. H. B. Charles Jr., the speaker in our opening session, called us to renew our commitments to the full truthfulness and authority of inspired Scripture. Timothy George helped us to see how the Great Tradition has influenced Christian education through the centuries. In various and insightful ways, Ed Stetzer, Jim Denison, and Robert P. George called us to engage the culture with a Christian worldview, while Drs. Stetzer and Denison reminded us of the importance of our missional responsibilities in doing so.

Greg Baylor, as he has done so well in our two previous gatherings, provided a thoughtful overview of the legal challenges facing Christian institutions and organizations at this time. John Basie, Phil Alsup, and Len Munsil shared their ongoing research reflecting sobering trends regarding Generation Z and Millennials. Robert Sloan, Gene Fant, and Dan Wood joined with Greg Baylor to help us think about the benefits of having strong athletic programs on Christian college campuses as well as several of the current challenges facing these programs. Shelette Stewart and Pat McLaughlin offered practical applications for strengthening campus community and enhancing fundraising efforts.

A Significant Step Forward: Identity and Mission

Overall, this third annual gathering was good for IACE not just because of the outstanding speakers and the increased attendance, as important as these things are for IACE, but because this gathering helped us take another step forward in shaping the identity and articulating the mission of the International Alliance for Christian Education. The “international” aspirations of our work will be strengthened in days ahead by the announcement at the conference from the leaders of the World Evangelical Alliance regarding a new partnership with IACE.

In addition, representatives from Canada, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia were present for some aspects of this year’s program, either in person or online. In addition to IACE’s partnership with the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education, and the prospects of reinvigorating the work of UEGE, these heartening markers provide sources of much encouragement for all of us.

Advancing a Shared Mission

To understand IACE, one must see the “alliance” as a network of partners collaborating together to advance a shared mission. What a delight to see a growing number of sponsors at this year’s event, tripling the number of our first gathering and all wanting to offer their support for various IACE initiatives. In addition, we were able to announce that IACE’s initial online course, focusing on Christian worldview formation, will be available this spring for use by any of our IACE entities. Given the report we heard at the conference about only 6% of people in North American having a Christian worldview, I can think of few more important themes to begin our efforts in this area. We envision this course strengthening a new generation of students in their convictions, while also being of service to faculty and staff at IACE-related institutions. We are thrilled that new student programs are taking shape in partnership with Inspire Experience, Religious Freedom Institute, and the Inklings Fellowship.

More than a Single Focus

The identity of IACE is gaining clarity each and every year. IACE exists to help unify, strengthen, and synergize collective conviction around biblical orthodoxy and orthopraxy, cultural witness, scholarship, professional excellence, and resourcing of Christian education at all levels. Functioning as a network and umbrella organization, IACE seeks to provide enablement, connections, and collaborative opportunities for the various aspects of Christian education, including primary and secondary schools (particularly in our partnership with Larry Taylor and the work of the ACSI), Gap-year programs, Bible colleges, Christian liberal arts-based colleges and comprehensive universities, as well as seminaries, serving students around the globe from pre-K to PhD. Doing so, the work extends far beyond any one denomination as was evidenced by the more than 95 different institutions and organizations represented at last week’s meeting. IACE’s identity is not built around a single cause, and certainly not in reaction or response to any movement or group, but around a holistic mission to strengthen Christ-centered convictions as well as collaborative and cooperative partnerships, informed by our shared confessional commitments grounded in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, the truthfulness of holy Scripture, the Nicene Creed, and the Lausanne Confession.

Year one, the IACE conference stressed these confessional convictions. Year two, the emphasis was placed on the biblical theology that undergirds the IACE mission. Year three, as experienced this past week, focused on cultural engagement and renewal, seeking to prepare the 90 IACE members and partners for the ever changing and challenging 21 st century context in which we live. We are grateful to God that IACE is now able to offer more than an annual conference, as important as this initial event was for establishing our work.

Becoming more vital for advancing the IACE mission with each passing year will be the addition of student programs, online courses, and perhaps, most importantly, professional development opportunities for faculty and next generation leaders (and others) to help them be better prepared to serve both church and society in a more faithful and effective manner. These things will take place as IACE continues to provide a context for meaningful fellowship and encouragement for institutional and organizational leaders through such offerings as the forthcoming second annual Faculty Development Conference.

Looking to the Days Ahead

This important conference for both new and seasoned faculty, scheduled for May 24-27 of this year in Fort Worth will feature a pre-conference colloquium (in partnership with Stand for Life and the Land Center) around the theme of “The Image of God: What It Means to Be Human in a Culture of Death.” Key speakers will include John Kilner, Jennifer Marshall Patterson, Scott Rae, C. Ben Mitchell, and John Stonestreet, among others. Guiding this effort is an advisory council that includes Ralph Enlow, Nathan Finn, Melinda Stephens, Andy Chambers, John Netland, Barbara McMillin, Paul Thompson, Janet Black, Tom Cornman, Jeff Green, Travis Dickinson, John Basie, Michael Bryant, Amy Crider, Matt Pinson, Jacob Shatzer, and Steve Booth. Topics that will be covered at this strategic gathering will include the relationship of theology and learning, Christian worldview formation, head and heart, teaching effectiveness, research and scholarship, and special sections on discipline-specific approaches to faith and learning, innovation, reading programs, honors programs, and academic leadership. We will give special attention to newer faculty (those in their first five years of teaching) as well as more seasoned faculty interested in moving into leadership roles.

Rejoicing with Gratitude

As IACE takes the next step forward in this third year of our work, we do with a great sense of hopefulness and gratitude to God. We rejoice at God’s abundant blessing and provision for these efforts. We are grateful for the IACE Board members who guide this work, for members, partners, supporters, friends, and prayer partners who are involved and invested in the work of the International Alliance for Christian Education. We remain mindful of our total dependence on the Lord as we seek to carry out this work for Christ and his church (Pro Christo et Ecclesiae). Ongoing and faithful prayers for IACE will be greatly appreciated. May the Lord direct our steps and guide our paths in the days to come.

David S. Dockery serves as president of the International Alliance for Christian Education