By Joshua Carpenter
Another week of exploring topics relating to the worldwide intersection of faith and justice. Of these challenges, unity in the body of Christ was the symposium’s central issue, focusing on, as the Houghton website states, “how tribalism and polarization have led to the disunity in the church, and how bold conversations can help bridge the gap toward justice and compassion.”
Ansley Green (’22), a student intern who assisted with the symposium by finding speakers and planning events, described the symposium as “a time to look at topics in the church where faith and global justice intersect.” As Green pointed out, these topics are difficult, referring back to the symposium’s focus on having fearless conversations about difficult topics, especially at a time when the church seems so internally divided. She feels that the significance of the symposium is how it “challenges us to look into the face of topics that we typically avoid because they are uncomfortable or just plain scary.”
Brian Webb, who is the Director of the Center of Faith, Justice, and Global Engagement at Houghton, and an instructor of Environmental Studies, was the lead planner of this year’s symposium. He described the planning process as “challenging,” since there were “a lot of moving pieces and details to put together.” However, this was a challenge he gratefully accepted, since he thinks that it’s “well worth it for the opportunity to engage our campus in challenging but important conversations,” noting cultural divisions in the church as an example to explain what he means by “important conversations.” When he was asked about the goals of the symposium, Webb replied that he hopes these conversations about faith and justice would continue so that “we can become better followers of Christ,” who “pursue justice while bringing the church closer together to listen to one another.”
Though the symposium has ended, you can still direct any comments or questions to Brian Webb.★
