Watch previous speakers:
Previous speakers (2021-Present)
September 6
Abby Foreman is a professor of social work & public administration and co-director of the Kuyper Honors Program at Dordt University. A graduate of Dordt herself, she received her master's of social work in 2004 from the University of Michigan and her Ph.D. in political science and public administration in 2018 from the University of South Dakota, with a focus on management in human services and community and social systems. Dr. Foreman has a particular interest in exploring how Christians and the broader society have responded to the needs of vulnerable people and studies the intersection of this response among individuals, churches, community non-profits, and various levels of the government. She lives in Sioux Center with her husband and three children and enjoys being outside and has an unrealistic goal of reading all the books in the library. Learn more about Dr. Foreman here.
Dr. Abby Foreman
"Making Space in our Communities for Others"
September 27
Jennifer Powell McNutt is the Franklin S. Dyrness Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Wheaton College, a Fellow in the Royal Historical Society, and a Parish Associate at First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn. Dr. McNutt received her Ph.D. in History from the University of St. Andrews (Reformation Studies Institute, 2008), M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary (2003), and a B.A. in Religious Studies from Westmont College (2000). Dr. McNutt’s research specializes in the history of the church and Christian Theology from the Reformation through the Enlightenment with particular expertise in John Calvin and his clerical legacy, the Reformed tradition, the relationship between Christianity and science, and the history of the Bible and its interpretation. She is the author of the award-winning book, Calvin Meets Voltaire: The Clergy of Geneva in the Age of Enlightenment, 1685-1798 (Routledge, 2014) and the current Vice-President of the Calvin Studies Society. Dr. McNutt is also an ordained Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and is co-president of McNuttshell Ministries, Inc. with her husband, Rev. Dr. David McNutt. She enjoys preaching at churches and on college campuses, writing for popular outlets, and conducting podcast and video interviews.
Watch Dr. McNutt speak on the topic of "The Mirror of Creation" here.
dr. Jennifer Mcnutt
"Making Space for the Dead in Conversations of Faith and Science"
November 1
Andrew Peterson is a singer-songwriter, an author, and the founder of the Rabbit Room, a ministry dedicated to fostering spiritual formation and Christ-centered community through story, art, and music. He is the author of the The Wingfeather Saga fantasy adventure series for young people, and more recently of Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making. His second nonfiction book, The God of the Garden: Thoughts on Creation, Culture, and the Kingdom, will release in October 2021. He lives in Nashville with his wife and about 80,000 honey bees. Learn more here.
Andrew Peterson
"Making Art in a Time of Exile"