As the assault on the humanities and liberal education rages, religious studies and theology remain fertile ground for nourishing reflection on vocation. But at NetVUE member institutions, teaching and learning take place in a sea of religious contexts, at institutions ranging from faith-affirming to faith-bracketing (and everything in between). This workshop invites participants to consider how issues related to religious studies—and indeed, a person’s own sense of calling—interfaces with the vocational discernment of students in these varying circumstances. Workshop leaders will discuss the challenges of work and calling in three different institutional contexts, followed by interactive participant discussion about how to thoughtfully and creatively engage students on questions of vocation and purpose through religious studies and related offices on campus, such as religious/spiritual life and student development.
Antonios (Tony) Finitsis, Professor of Hebrew Bible and Executive Director for the Wild Hope Center for Vocation, Pacific Lutheran University (WA)
Agam D. Iheanyi-Igwe, Associate Dean, School of Bible and World Christianity, Bushnell University (OR)
Nicole (Niki) L. Johnson, Professor of Religious Studies and Chair of the Department of Justice, Diversity, and Interdisciplinary Humanities, University of Mount Union (OH)