lausanneThe Henry Center is pleased to announce two upcoming events.

First, in partnership with Lausanne 2010, it will host a conversation on conversation on global Christianity and cultural engagement on March 17, 2010 at 9am in ATO Chapel.  The TIU community and the local evangelical community is invited to this exciting conversation, which will feature such leading evangelical thinkers as Tite Tienou of TEDS, Doug Birdsall (Executive Chairman of Lausanne), Andy Crouch of Christianity Today, Bethany Hoang of International Justice Mission, and Peter Cha of TEDS.  Skye Jethani of Leadership Journal will moderate the discussion.

Trinity is one of a select group of locations for Lausanne gatherings, including New York City, Boston, and Pasadena.  Please join the Henry Center and other distinguished guests for the March 17th conversation.

Visit http://www.lausanne.org/global-conversation/chicagotrinity-gathering.html for more information.  The event will likely be live-streamed and recorded for later posting on this website.

Second, on Wednesday, March 17th at 1pm in ATO Chapel, the Henry Center will sponsor a Scripture & Ministry lecture by Dr. Christine Pohl of Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore, Kentucky) on “Practicing Hospitality in Troubled Times: Promise and Peril for the Church”.  The lecture is free and open to the entire TIU community.

The following is a brief description of the talk:

Offering hospitality to strangers was a distinctive feature of ancient Christian life. The biblical texts and tradition, Jesus’ practice and explicit teachings, and the needs of the ancient church and world combined to make hospitality a central aspect of Christian discipleship. In the last 500 years, transformative understandings of hospitality have been mostly lost, and with them, some crucial insights into Christian witness, social ministry and congregational life. Giving fresh attention to an ancient practice allows us to see the close connection between theology and everyday life, and offers promise and challenge to the contemporary church.

Clearly, the issue of hospitality relates broadly to essential Christian themes and practices.  Attendees of the lecture will benefit from a richly scriptural and theological look at a Christian calling that many attempt to practice but few fully appreciate.

Please join the Center for these two upcoming events, which are free and open to all.