Dr. Rebecca Laird presented a series of three lectures on a theme of 'An Altogether Christian Community' for Pastors Day at NTS (Nov 2018). Her first lecture was entitled
'Belonging and Vulnerability,'
See the PowerPoint Presentations here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xA9llL10RYXpUoiP2E6CLMvWimOW8uDpDbAT3rHkl_o/mobilepresent
Dr. Rebecca Laird is Professor of Christian Ministry and Practice at Point Loma Nazarene University where she teaches Christian formation, pastoral care, and preaching. Highly influenced by the work of Henri Nouwen and Jean Vanier, she has a special interest in the communal practices of Christian formation. She is co-author a trilogy of posthumous works of Henri Nouwen: Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith, Spiritual Formation: The Movements of the Spiritual Life and Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life. She is also author of Ordained Women in the Church of the Nazarene: The First Generation and No Hiding Place: Empowerment and Recovery for Our Troubled Communities with Cecil Williams. Dr. Laird also serves as the Visiting Professor of Spiritual Formation and Discipleship for NTS' Doctor of Ministry program.
An 2017 NTS chapel discussion about spiritual direction. Panelists included Dr. Doug Hardy, Peggy Beatty, Rob Carr, Nancy Wyatt, and Sister Bridget Dickasen director of the Keeler Women's Center and a sister at Mount Saint Scholastica.
Too often we create congregations where diversity is unwelcome. But diversity was God’s idea, and every church is stronger the more diverse it is. How can pastors and church leaders teach empathy as a spiritual practice that nurtures and encourages strong, diverse relationships?
Dr. Dean Blevins offers a brief overview of the emerging field of research on the topic of neuroscience and Christian formation especially as it relates to youth development. Dr. Blevins is Professor of Practical Theology and Christian Discipleship at NTS.
