2022 IACE Faculty Development Conference called ‘smashing success’
FORT WORTH (May 27) -- The International Alliance for Christian Education today concluded its second annual Faculty Development Conference, featuring a two-track look at distinctively Christian higher education.
The pre-conference and conference sessions at the Riley Center on the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary campus drew about 140 in-person participants from 40 institutions throughout the United States, and from as far away as Monrovia, Liberia.
“The quality of the presentations and the investment and collegiality represented among those who attended from every region of the country, and who represented various denominational traditions, made for a memorable week,” IACE president David S. Dockery said.
From Scott Rae, dean of the faculty, Talbot School of Theology: “The IACE Faculty Development Conference was a smashing success!”
One track focused on faculty members who have been teaching less than five years, while the other was designed for those with extensive classroom experience and aspirations for attaining positions such as program director, department chair or dean.
The pre-conference May 24-25 kicked off with presentations from two of the nation’s leading evangelical ethicists.
John Kilner, from the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity in Deerfield, Illinois, presented “The Image of God and Human Dignity,” and C. Ben Mitchell, Graves Professor of Moral Philosophy Emeritus at Union University, addressed the question “What does it mean to be human?”
The pre-conference was co-sponsored by Stand for Life and the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Seminary.
The conference started May 25, with a presentation from North Greenville University provost Nathan Finn titled, “Theological Commitments and Distinctive Christian Education.”
“The IACE Faculty Development has quickly become one of the alliance’s most exciting initiatives,” Finn said. “The mix between academic leaders and newer faculty created a healthy dynamic of mutual learning and encouragement.”
“We took seven faculty and administrators from North Greenville University this year,” Finn continued. “All of them thoroughly enjoyed the conference and talked about how the entire experience reinforced their commitment to Christ-centered higher education.”
At the conclusion of the conference on Friday morning, Thaddeus Williams, assistant professor of theology at Biola University presented “The Place of Cultural Engagement.”
"We love our culture not by capitulating to be like them,” Williams said in his address, “but in showing them that God specializes in fixing our brokenness."
C. Ben Mitchell gave the final presentation of the conference, “The Blessings that Are Ours: What We Owe Our Faculty Colleagues.”
Mitchell concluded with this statement about students: “We prepare them not to retreat from the world, but to face the world and the role they will have in it. May God help us as we seek to be faithful to His call.”
Other plenary speakers during the week included Jennifer Marshall Patterson of Reformed Theological Seminary, Colson Center for Christian Worldview president John Stonestreet, Rae, Baylor University historian Tommy Kidd, and Blue Mountain College president Barbara McMillin
“The conference presented a wonderful opportunity to share insights regarding how to deliver distinctly Christian higher education to our students,” said Hunter Baker, dean of Arts and Sciences and professor of Political Science at Union University, who also help lead a panel discussion during the week.
“In addition to excellent speakers, panels, and break-out sessions, attendees experienced encouraging fellowship and formed new friendships with brothers and sisters in Christ,” Baker said.
“It is particularly encouraging and exciting to know that so many new faculty are dedicated to the type of development that will prepare them to mentor and equip students to lead and serve in Christ-honoring ways.,” McMillin said.
“I came away from this outstanding conference inspired and energized,” IACE board chair Ralph Enlow said. “It is hard to imagine a more dynamic set of presenters and program elements.”
Dockery expressed appreciation for conference planning to Enlow and Finn, as well as to Lauren McAfee and Elizabeth Graham from Stand for Life, and Daniel Darling of the Land Center.
The IACE president also directed praise to conference sponsors, including Impact 360 Institute, Stand for Life, Southwestern Seminary, Crossway Books, B&H Publishers, Lexham Press, Wai-Kwong Seck, NXTPG, and CampusEDU.
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The IACE is a global education network encompassing 71 educational institutions and 24 organizations in the evangelical tradition.
Access a photo gallery from the 2022 Faculty Development Conference