Leadership Foundations: The Theological Roundtable

We’ve entered a time of deep social distrust, political polarization, and alienation as well as unbridled hostility that crosses political, civic, and religious lines.

This broken relationship with each other and the blending of theology and political party is deeply destructive to democracy. Leadership Foundations believes that faith communities, perhaps the most polarized segment of American life today, are still hold the best hope to reframe the conversation and unite the country around mutual respect and dignity.

If you have faith – whether it be in religion, humanity, or both — you’re invited to the Theological Roundtable. This day-long workshop will explore how practicing authentic theology in the public sphere – and nurturing a commitment to pluralism, multiculturalism, and multireligious dialogue – can help our communities heal and serve as an invaluable tool for strengthening the fabric of civil society.

This workshop will consist of 5 components:

1. Overview of Leadership Foundations and our reasons for doing public theology
2. Theological assumptions and premises of doing public theology
3. How public theology works
4. A group exercise
5. A panel discussion with practitioners.

Agenda

9:00-9:30 Session #1: An Introduction to Leadership Foundations — Dr. Dave Hillis

• A brief description of the Leadership Foundations organization and why it has been critical to develop theological initiatives in its pursuit of seeing cities become playgrounds rather than battlegrounds.

9:30-10:30 Session #2: Theological Assumptions for Doing Theology for the Common Good — Dr. Dale Irvin

• An overview of the theological assumptions and framework that are essential for any kind of effective and faithful engagement of the public square.

10:45-11:45 Session #3: How Does Public Theology Work? — Dr. Jack Fortin

• An interview with three Local Leadership Foundation Presidents who are theologically engaging their particular cities in the public square.

12:00 Lunch

1:15- 3:15 Session #4: Working with the Text – See, Judge, and Act — Dr.’s Dale Irvin and Terry McGonigal

• A facilitated session by Dale and Terry where workshop attendees will engage the text and explore the implications of what this means as it relates to the public square.

4:00—5:00 Session #5: LF’s Theological Roundtable – From Enmity to Amity — Dr. Larry Lloyd

• Questions and answers with 5 Local Leadership Foundation Presidents on how to develop models of theological engagement for other communities and cities.