A Conference sponsored by InterVarsity’s
Black Scholar’s Network
Black Campus Ministries
Graduate and Faculty Ministries

For printable brochure, click here

PURPOSE OF COLLOQUIUM:  The purpose of the colloquium is to gather African American men and women in Academia and the Professions to interact among themselves in order to encourage each other in integrating their faith, learning, and ethnicity in a way that will bring glory to Christ, and service to the church and the community.

THE CHALLENGE:  There are numerous challenges that face everyone in academia. Additionally, being black adds issues of ethnic relevancy in terms of my chosen discipline, ethnic identity, integrity as one navigates the reality of how distant one becomes from one’s own ethnic heritage, and issues of ethnic credibility as one feels the need to prove oneself as a legitimate member of the scholarly community. Black participants who express a commitment to Jesus Christ face the added challenge of integrating all of their new experiences within the context of their own faith commitments. And, for black women, one has to add the gender dimensions to all of the above.

OUR MISSION:  We desire to develop a network of African American Christian men and women in the Academy who through Christ will meet the challenge and encourage each other in their witness to Him while maintaining their faith commitment, scholarly responsibilities, and ethnic integrity.  We also desire that each person will maintain a healthy walk with Christ, a commitment to the local church, and to service to and in the community.

FORMAT OF COLLOQUIUM: The colloquium will be a one day event where there will be two main presenters followed by two responders.  There will also be a presentation from a student who wrote a paper for a class that included an attempt to integrate his or her faith with the topic discussed.  There will also be opportunities for responses from the floor.  There will also be time for people from different academic disciplines to meet and discuss some of the unique issues and challenges that their discipline presents, and guidance on how to network effectively to encourage each other to face them.  At the conclusion of the day, we will entertain ideas and suggestions to move forward into the future.

When:
Saturday, November 6, from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.

Location:
Atlanta University Center
2nd floor of the Atlanta University Center Library
For Printable Map, click here

Cost:
$30 per person and includes a catered lunch

Main Presenters:
Professor Ron Potter
Ron Potter teaches Philosophy at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi.  He has contributed to several books including Black Theology,  The Gospel in Black and White, and Apologetics and Postmodernity.  He is a lecturer in areas of apologetics, philosophy, and theology.  He has also done much work in providing theological perspectives on black history and the contemporary experience of African Americans in the United States.

Dr. Harold Dean Trulear 
Dr. Trulear is Senior Pastor of the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church of Twin Oaks, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia. He has taught at several institutions of higher learning, but now teaches part time at Howard Divinity School.  He has been a business executive with an organization that was seeking to provide public and private partnerships to respond to inner city challenges and issues.

TOPICS FOR PRESENTERS: 

1.    The topic for the first Presenter (Professor Ron Potter) will be as follows: Habits of the Mind, Habits of the Soul: On the Integration of Faith and the Life of the Mind. 

2.    The topic for the second Presenter (Dr. Harold Dean Trulear) will be Practical Guidance in Faith Integration in Academia and the Professions.

RESPONDERS:  There will be at least two responders to each presenter.  These responders will be either faculty or people from various professions.

DISCUSSIONS AND INTERACTIONS:  There will be opportunities for questions to be raised from participants in the event.  Also, there will be some time given for people from similar academic disciplines to interact with each other.

ANTICIPATED RESULTS: 

1.    Spiritual encouragement from speakers and each other so that each person’s faith will be strengthened. 

2.    Helpful ideas how one can meet the faith challenges that one’s academic discipline or profession presents. 

3.    Encouragement to be faithful to Christ, and determined in the pursuit of your scholarly or professional vocation. 

4.    Opportunities to network with other black Christians who face some of the same situations and challenges that you face. 

5.    Commitment to be a faithful witness for Christ in my area of service.

For questions and more information, contact one of the following:
Tony at (404) 534-1576
Stacy at (404) 243-5788
Felicia at (678) 476-0419

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