Rod and Lorna Sawatsky Visiting Scholar
Friday, February 8, 2013 - 7:00 pm
Featuring Gerald Gerbrandt
Where the Church Thinks: The Role of the Christian Scholar
Conrad Grebel University College Great Hall, 140 Westmount Road N, Waterloo, ON
THIS LECTURE HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER. The lecture will be recorded and available Friday evening on this page.
Gerbrandt has spent most of his life working at a Christian university as Admissions Counselor, Professor, Academic Dean, and President. In his lecture he will explore the phrase: "The University is where the church thinks." While not fully affirming the phrase, Gerbrandt sees the phrase as “containing a truth related to the role of Christian scholars.” In addition to questioning what exactly “church” means in this quote, he plans to encourage the church to recognize the particular role of the "paid thinkers" in the process of its thinking. At the same time, he will discuss the need for scholars to work in collaboration with the church in this process, so the university does not function as an ivory tower.
Gerbrandt has a Bachelor of Christian Education, Canadian Mennonite Bible College (1967); a BA from Bethel College, North Newton, KS (1968); did studies at Earlham School of Religion, Richmond, IN (1968-69); obtained a Master of Divinity, Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, IN (1973); obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (Bible), Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, VA (1980); was a Fellow, Tyndale House, Cambridge, England (1986); was a Fellow, Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research, Collegeville, MN (1987, 1994-95); and was a Visiting Scholar, Acadia Divinity College, Wolfville, NS (2002-03).
The Rod and Lorna Sawatsky Visiting Scholar position is awarded to renowned scholars, practitioners and performers whose expertise in their field represents a wide range of interests to the Grebel community. In addition to this year’s public lecture, Gerbrandt will also speak in some Conrad Grebel classes and present at a Faculty Fellows Forum.
Dr. Rodney Sawatsky joined the faculty of Conrad Grebel in 1974, teaching in the areas of History, Religious Studies, Mennonite Studies, and Peace and Conflict Studies. This lectureship honours the leadership and contributions of Rod and his wife, Lorna, to Conrad Grebel, the University of Waterloo, the Mennonite Church of Eastern Canada, and the Kitchener-Waterloo community during his years as faculty, Academic Dean and President of Conrad Grebel University College. He died on November 27, 2004 of brain cancer.