Postliberal Theology For a New Millennium: An Appreciation of the Rev. Dr Ephraim Radner
When: Friday, October 18, 2024 - 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Wycliffe College, 5 Hoskin Ave, Toronto
Email: markw.elliott@wycliffe.utoronto.ca
A generation ago, theology in orthodox and evangelical circles received a significant boost from a small movement, based around Yale Divinity School, that was soon being labelled as “postliberal theology.”
A handful of works by George Lindbeck (The Nature of Doctrine), Hans Frei (The Eclipse of Biblical Narrative and The Identity of Jesus Christ) and to some extent Brevard Childs (Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments), all helped create a strong sense that theology could move beyond “liberal” fixation with “objectively” reconstructing ancient human religious experience, and towards a new theology.
This theology included an informed understanding of how revelation worked within its original addressees, and has gone on working through the key concerns of addressing faith-communities, to challenge, inspire and guide.
One such recipient was Yale-trained Professor Emeritus Dr Ephraim Radner who, until his 2023 retirement, taught at Wycliffe College for 16 years. At Wycliffe, he was no mere custodian of a tradition. Rather, with his own expertise in Historical Theology (especially from Early to Later Modernity), ecumenical ecclesiology, and Jewish-Christian thought (amongst other things), he has advanced a Gospel-rich and Church-based orthodox theology well into the 21st century.
The Colloquium will conclude with the presentation of a book in honour of Dr Radner who will then offer his response.
Registration is open. Please register here.
Speakers
- Joe Mangina (Wycliffe College)
- Brad East (Abilene Christian University)
- David Ney (Trinity Anglican Seminary)
- George Sumner (Wycliffe College, Professor Emeritus)
- Chris Seitz (Wycliffe College)
- Kira Moolman Pettit (St John the Divine Church, Houston)
- Annette Brownlee (Wycliffe College, Professor Emerita)
- Ephraim Radner (Wycliffe College, Professor Emeritus)
Schedule
Morning: 9:30-12:45:
- 9:30 Chris Seitz (via Zoom)
- 10:00 Joe Mangina
- Coffee
- 11:15 Brad East*
- 12:15 David Ney*
Lunch 1:15-2:15
Afternoon: 2:15-4:30
- 2:15 Annette Brownlee
- 2:45 Kira Moolman Pettit
- 3:05 Coffee
- 3:15 Presentation by Joe Mangina and David Ney to Ephraim Radner
- 3:50 Ephraim Radner's response
- 4:15 Discussion
*Brad East
Professor Brad East completed his PhD at Yale in 2017, and now teaches at Abilene Christian University. Professor East was named Abilene Christian University’s teacher of the year in 2022, and has amassed an impressive publication record. His research interests lie in topics such as the doctrine of Scripture (or bibliology), the doctrine of the church (or ecclesiology), and the doctrine of the Trinity (or theology proper). As a more recent graduate of Yale Divinity School, Professor East’s innovative work also reflects some of the influences of postliberal theology.
*David Ney
Professor David Ney received his ThD from Wycliffe in 2016. Under the supervision of Dr Radner, he wrote his doctoral thesis on the eighteenth-century natural philosopher John Hutchinson, with particular attention to how he and his later followers creatively interpreted and defended the Old Testament as valid Scripture for the Church. Professor Ney teaches at Trinity Anglican Seminary, and also serves as their director for the Robert Webber Center which seeks to reclaim the wisdom of the ancient Christian tradition for the life and mission of the Church today.
About the Colloquium
The Scripture and Theology Colloquium is a semi-annual gathering of faculty, pastors, students, and others who are interested in exploring the dynamic interactions of scripture and theology. Featuring a selection of world-class experts, the colloquia will alternate in focus, sometimes addressing larger theological topics and other times considering a specific book or chapter of the Bible.
