Faith Formation Project - Spring Summit

Apr 1, 2024

How can churches best support families in the faith formation of children?
How do church leaders navigate topics of disability, mental health, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality through a Christian lens, and cultivate a healthy cultural identity? How do parents and caregivers understand scriptures on these topics? These are the central questions guiding our work. Through interdisciplinary research and partnerships with local congregations, we aim to build a community of learning among Pacific Northwest families and ministry leaders as we navigate faith and parenting in a changing world.

Book Celebration 2024

Apr 1, 2024

Tuesday, May 7, 2024 | 4–5:30 pm | Upper Gwinn (Queen Anne Room)
Join us as we feature and celebrate books recently published by School of Theology faculty.
1.  Afghan Mountain Faith: Stories of Justice, Beauty, and Relationships - Authored by Miriam Adeney
2.  Religious Disagreement and Pluralism - Edited by Matthew A. Benton, et al
3.  Domination or Empowerment? A Power Discourse Analysis of 1 and 2 Corinthians - Authored by Esther G. Cen
4.  The King Who Teaches: St. Matthew’s Royal Curriculum: A Pedagogical Aid - Authored by Eugene E. Lemcio
5.  Awakening to Justice: Faithful Voices from the Abolitionist Past - Authored by The Dialogue on Race and Faith Project, Sègbégnon Gnonhossou, Matthew Sigler, Douglas M. Strong, et al

2024 Annual Paul T. Walls Lectureship

Jan 30, 2024

The Prudential Means of Grace:  Arts for Holy Living 
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 | 6:00 pm
First Free Methodist Church (Sanctuary)
3200 3rd Ave. W., Seattle, WA 98119
Presented by Rev. Dr. Douglas Strong, Walls Chair of Wesleyan Studies.
Dr. Strong will speak about how music, visual arts, and even athletic activities--when intentionally pursued in light of God's creativity--can be channels of grace. This event will include worship, the annual Walls Lecture, a thoughtful response, as well as a panel discussion. 
This event is free, and does not require RSVP. It will be video-recorded for later publication.

School of Theology Scholarships - 2024-2025

Jan 17, 2024

for returning Undergraduate Students at Seattle Pacific University
Each year, the School of Theology nominates returning undergraduate students for financial assistance from a variety of scholarship funds.  There are scholarships available for Theology majors/minors, but not all of them require this major/minor. Complete the online application 4:00 PM on Friday, March 1, 2024. Click here for more information.

Awakening to Justice - Book Launch & Film Screening

Jan 4, 2024

Friday, April 26, 2024 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm
First Free Methodist Church (Sanctuary)
3200 3rd Ave. W., Seattle, WA 98119
Hosted by The Dialogue on Race and Faith Project
Join us for an exciting event at the First Free Methodist Church in Seattle, WA, USA! We are thrilled to invite you to the Awakening to Justice Film and Book Launch.  When a historian discovers a forgotten abolitionist manuscript dated from 1839, he and his fellow researchers uncover a text that sheds light on the reality of racism today—and the history of faith and race in America. 
This event is free and requires no registration.

Awakening to Justice - Training Seminar

Jan 4, 2024

Saturday, April 27, 2024 |9:00 am - 2:30 pm
First Free Methodist Church
Hosted by The Dialogue on Race and Faith Project
Dive deep into the dialogue on race and faith at our Training Seminar, where we'll equip you with tools to engage your communities. Registration required ($10) though EventBrite.

Book Talk with Dr. Ronald C. White - "On Great Fields: The Life and Unlikely Heroism of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain"

Dec 10, 2023

Thursday, January 25, 2024 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm
First Free Methodist Church (Fine Center)
3200 3rd Ave. W., Seattle, WA 98119
Hosted by the School of Theology and the History Department
Pulitzer-prize winning author, historian, and theologian, Dr. Ronald C. White, will be with us to share about his new book on Joshua L. Chamberlain, the famous Civil War general who was also a committed Christian and abolitionist. This event will not be live-streamed or video-recorded.

2024 Annual Alfred S. Palmer Lectureship

Dec 4, 2023

Tues, May 21, 2024 | 7:00-9:00 pm
First Free Methodist Church (Sanctuary)
Palmer Lecture: “Here I Stand With God: A Christology Contra Mundum for Today”
Featuring Rev. Dr. Sam Wells, Vicar of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London. He is a regular contributor to Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4’s Today program. He has published 46 books, including works on Christian ethics, mission, ministry, scripture, liturgy, and preaching. This event requires no registration and is free. It will be video-recorded. 

Wed, May 22, 2024 | 7:00-9:00 pm
First Free Methodist Church (Sanctuary)
St Martin’s Voices Emerging Artists Concert
St Martin’s Voices is one of the UK’s most versatile, professional vocal ensembles. They sing for concerts, broadcasts and special services at their base in London’s iconic St Martin-in-the-Fields and beyond, and regularly perform alongside the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, London Mozart Players and Piatti Quartet. They have toured to the USA and South Africa, as well as undertaking extensive tours across the UK. The choir regularly features in broadcasts on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4 and Classic FM. In 2023 they released their first album with Resonus Classics, A Winter Breviary, to critical acclaim. This event requires purchased tickets via Eventbrite. It will not be live-streamed or video-recorded. 

Preaching Forgiveness & Reconciliation Conference & Mark Abbott Lecture

Jul 13, 2023

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 | 8:30 am
First Free Methodist Church | 3200 3rd Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119
Join us for a special all-day conference. Rev. Dr. Joy Moore, from Luther Seminary, will provide a keynote, “Preaching from a Flawed Legacy.” We’ll enjoy breakout sessions on related topics with Rev. Peter Chin, Rev. Dr. Scott Dudley, Dr. Stephen Newby, Rev. Ashley Skinner-Creek, and Rev. Mike Thomas.

The conference will take place at First Free Methodist Church (right by SPU’s campus) from 8:30 AM – 4 PM, with a public lecture following the conference at 6 PM. Our Keynote Speaker for the conference and evening lecture is Rev. Dr. Joy J. Moore, an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and the Professor of Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. We will have an additional keynote message from Rev. Dr. Scott Dudley, Senior Pastor at Bellevue Presbyterian Church, preaching by Rev. Peter Chin, Senior Pastor at Rainer Avenue Church, and a panel led by Rev. Michael Thomas, Senior Pastor at Radiant Church. Additional breakouts will be led by Dr. Stephen Newby and Rev. Ashley Skinner Creek.

Responding to the War in Israel & Palestine

Jul 13, 2023

The School of Theology and the History Department are hosting several events to help us in understanding the complex dynamics in the current crisis.

Tuesday, October 17 - 11:10 AM
First Free Methodist Church Sanctuary
"Prayers for Peace & Theological Meditations on Israel & Palestine"
Dr. Bo Lim, Dr. Brian Lugioyo, Dr. Tim Dearborn, Dr. Kerry Dearborn, and Dr. Katie Douglass

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 - 3:00-4:30 PM
Demaray Hall 150
"Understanding Israel & Palestine: The Current War in Context"
Dr. Becky Hughes and Dr. Alissa Walter

Thursday, October 19, 2023 - 3:00 PM
Demaray Hall 150
"Media Narratives & Misinformation"
Dr. Sara Shaban