Windows on the World
Windows on the World is intended to stimulate personal involvement in and knowledge of some of the crucial and controversial issues facing Christians today. Through these forums, the campus community is exposed to Christian thinkers and activists who model our motto of “the whole gospel for the whole world.”
All presentations are held Fridays at 10 am in the McInnis Auditorium, unless otherwise specified. They are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Provost Office at 610.341.1396
Click here to download PDF of the schedule
Fall 2010
August 27 - Fall Convocation: Special Speaker: David Bradstreet, EU Professor of Physical Science “Stepping Out in Faith”. The Convocation initiates the new academic year! Honor students are recognized, and new faculty, staff and administration are welcomed to Eastern University.
September 10: Panel Discussion: “Negotiating the Labyrinth: How Women Become Leaders”: Eastern Deans, Drs. Beth Doriani, Elizabeth Conde-Frazier, and Debra Heath-Thornton. Step into our living room and join a conversation between 3 Eastern University female deans who have “negotiated the labyrinth” and become leaders in academia. Their dialogue will introduce their leadership path and include topics such as discovering themselves, developing leadership gifts, and opportunities for growth. Additionally, they highlight the power of their faith and cultural perspectives. A brief time for questions will follow.
September 17: Kayon Watson, Mennonite Central Committee Liaison to the United Nations, EU Alumna ‘07. “Overcoming in the Toughest Places”. On behalf of people who live in some of the toughest places in the world, we have two options: complacency or advocacy. We all have this choice to make. Kayon will share stories from her experience as she has ministered abroad, stories about people living with suffering who know what it takes to overcome.
September 24: Jake Armerding, multi-instrumentalist and maker of “organic music” (see www.jakearmerding.com). “Music of the Magician’s Nephew”. At the very foundation of our being as image bearers of God there is a profound intersection between music and the divine. Aslan sings Narnia into existence and in doing so he makes Narnia both beautiful and good. What is God’s music like? What’s the link between truth and beauty, and what can music teach us about it?
October 1: Edward Gilbreath – Author of Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical’s Inside View of White Christianity. “A Different Point of View”. Edward will lead us into an exploration of ways we divide ourselves by race, religion, politics, and culture, and will challenge us to step outside our familiar perspectives and see the world through eyes transformed by God’s Spirit.
October 8: Homecoming Weekend. Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen, EU Professor of Psychology. “A Preference for People: How C.S. Lewis changed his thinking about gender”. Mary will discuss her new book A Sword Between the Sexes: C.S. Lewis and the Gender Debates. (see http://equalitydepot.com/aswordbetweenthesexes.aspx)
October 22: Jim Harries, Missionary to Africa, Chairman of Alliance for Vulnerable Mission. “Vulnerable Principles: Renewal in Missions”. Jim will draw on his 22 years of experience interacting with indigenous churches and African people using local languages to make a case for a renewal in mission according to ‘vulnerable principles’. These principles - that some Western missionaries should engage in ministry using local languages and resources - have been the subject of intense discussion. (see www.vulnerablemission.com)
October 29: David Shenk, Global Missions Consultant with Eastern Mennonite Missions with special attention to Islam. Missions forum Oct 27-29. “The Gospel in Dynamic Engagement with the World of Islam”. David is Eastern’s Fall 2010 Missions Forum speaker. His interest in relevant Christian presence, peacemaking, and witness in a world of religious pluralism, and especially among Muslims, has taken him into more than 100 countries. He is the author of many books, including A Muslim and Christian in Dialogue.
November 5: Sara Frymoyer, Dean and Teacher, KIPP Dubois Collegiate Academy (Philadelphia); EU Alumna ’07. To be held in the University Gym. “Looking Back. Looking Forward”. Reflections on a commitment to justice in everyday life. Sara will share stories and insights from her time serving with Teach for America in Richmond, California back to the halls of Philadelphia's schools.
November 12: Karl Giberson, Professor at Eastern Nazarene College, VP of BioLogos Foundation, & Director of Gordon College’s Forum on Faith and Science. “Wresting with Darwin”. Dr. Giberson was raised in a fundamentalist parsonage to believe the universe was 10,000 years old, evolution was a conspiracy with no scientific foundation, and Darwin was evil. Giberson will tell the story of his struggle to make peace with Darwin without losing his faith. Interwoven with his personal journey is the story of a deeply religious America wrestling with a science that is often used as a club to bash religion.
November 19: Jonathan Yonan, Assistant Professor of Christian Studies. “To what end, this Christian education”? After three years at Eastern, this rich community of students (young and old) has prompted me to ask some harder than expected questions of myself, both as a Christian and as a learner. I’d like to show you these questions and venture into them with you…but be careful, lest they become your questions too. Who knows what could follow?
December 3: Christmas Music and Dance Celebration. Eastern’s Music and Dance Departments will lead us in expressing the joy of this holy season.
