Pope Francis once wrote, “the history of our friendship with God is always linked to particular places.” Our life and ministry are always somewhere and so are shaped by what place means and the possibilities it holds. This course will introduce students to an exciting new area of theological studies that brings together Scripture, ecotheology, and anti-colonialism with the theme of place.
Students will explore the nature of place and the places where we find ourselves and ask what God’s relationship is to these particular places. The course will also ask what it means to be Christian and engage in Christian witness in our particular places.
How does asking these questions help us think in new ways about relating to the natural world at a time of climate crisis?
What does it mean to do theology in Canada in places that were stolen or unceded from indigenous peoples?
Students will be prompted to reflect on the shape of our Christian witness when we allow it to be shaped by place and in conversation with all with whom we share that place.
FEES
Regular: $90/person, $200/group
Friends of the College: 75$/person, $170/group
There will be a $25 late fee for anyone who registers after February 27th, 2025.
MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION
Instructor: Ryan Turnbull is a Visiting Fellow at St John’s College in Winnipeg and serves as the Diocesan Discipleship Developer in the Diocese of Rupert’s Land in the Anglican Church of Canada.
Ryan grew up on a cattle ranch in western Manitoba and has a deep interest in the intersection of theology, decolonization, ecology, and place. You can find him either talking about these things in a cafe or cycling around town with his wife Rachel.
Ryan holds several degrees in theology including a PhD in Theology and Religion from the University of Birmingham where he wrote a thesis entitled “Haunted and Held: A Christian Theology of Place