Common Places

A keynote address from Dr. David Shaw of Oak Hill College entitled "Is Retrieval Leading to Renewal? The Place of Tradition and the Progress of Theological Retrieval: Some Thoughts and Next Steps", delivered at the UK 2022 Convivium Irenicum, "In Service of Scripture: Rediscovering Reason and Tradition in Evangelical Theology." Dr. Shaw provides a comprehensive overview of the theological retrieval movement, its current state, and where it might go from here.

A lecture with Q&A entitled "Acts 6 and the Myth of Apostolic Succession" by Rev. Dr. Matt Colvin. Acts 6 depicts the ordination of the seven to minister to the Greek-speaking widows of the Jerusalem church. It has often been thought to depict the first instance of apostolic succession and the first deacons. As such, it has become a key text over the centuries in heated discussions over church government. In this lecture, Matthew Colvin argues that it does not; that the apostles did not ordain anyone, and nor do they ever do so in the New Testament. The argument will be made on four fronts from Rabbinic Jewish sources: halakhah, typology, grammar, and textual criticism. Attendees will learn what the laying on of hands really does, who exactly laid hands on Timothy, and what polity and officers the New Testament actually depicts. Rev. Dr. Matthew Colvin is a presbyter in the Reformed Episcopal Church. From 2012-2017, he served as a missionary teaching ministerial students in the Philippines and Indonesia. He holds a PhD in ancient Greek literature from Cornell University (2004). His published works include articles on Heraclitus (Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy 2005 and The Classical Quarterly 2006), a translation from Latin of the 1550 Magdeburg Confession (2011), and The Lost Supper: A Study of the Passover and Eucharistic origins (Fortress Academic, 2019). He is currently working on a book on women’s ordination and the origins of ordained office in the early church. He lives on Vancouver Island.

Dr. Brad Littlejohn (President, The Davenant Institute) introduces the 2022 National Convivium Irenicum and its theme, "Philosophy and the Christian," with and address entitled “Recovering the Love of Wisdom.” In this talk, he provides an overview of the Davenant Institute's commitments to the recovery of the Protestant wisdom tradition and the training of new students in that endeavor. This theme accompanies the Davenant Press's publication of the same name, "Philosophy and the Christian."

A lecture with Q&A by Mr. Nathan Johnson at the 2022 Florida Regional Convivium entitled "Followers of the Way: How the Seven Liberal Arts Serve Theology and Ethics." Mr. Johnson argues that the historical purpose of the liberal arts was to be a handmaiden to theology and ethics, equipping students to know, love, and imitate God by educating them according to their nature as moral and intellectual beings in the image of God. Nathan Johnson is a PhD candidate in Humanities at Faulkner University. He also holds two M.A. degrees in Biblical Studies and Theological Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary and an M.A. in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College. Currently, he serves as Assistant Dean of Academics, Head of Program, and Teaching Fellow at New College Franklin in Franklin, TN.

The Q&A section following Dr. Ben Merkle's lecture.

A lecture by Dr. Ben Merkle at the 2022 Florida Regional Convivium entitled "Education and Vocation." Dr. Merkle contrasts the concepts of education versus vocational certification, arguing that vocational certification has displaced an older and superior understanding of what education was intended to accomplish. Dr. Ben Merkle is the president of New Saint Andrews College in Moscow Idaho. He holds a D.Phil. in Oriental Studies from Oxford University. He is a teaching elder at Christ Church, in Moscow, preaching regularly at their downtown service. He is the author of The White Horse King and Defending the Trinity in the Reformed Palatinate. He and wife Bekah have five children.

A lecture with Q&A given by Mr. Dale Stenberg at the 2022 Florida Regional Convivium entitled "Fear, Fulfillment, and Festivity." Mr. Stenberg argues that the main pillars in the design of classical education are wonder, leisure, and festivity. He contrasts this with the modern-day utilitarian approach to education and demonstrates how a return to these basic foundational ideas can help students think of education as a life lived in appreciation of the fact of existence, rather than academic drudgery that ends with graduating. Dale Stenberg is a Teaching Fellow for the Davenant Institute and co-hosts their Pilgrim Faith Podcast with Dr. Joe Minich. He is President and Headmaster of Pietas Classical Christian in Melbourne, FL, and studied for an MDiv at Whitfield Theological seminary.

A panel discussion with Q&A featuring Dr. Brad Littlejohn, Mr. Nathan Johnson, and Mr. Dale Stenberg, held at the 2022 Florida Regional Convivium

A lecture with Q&A by Dr. Brad Littlejohn at the 2022 Florida Regional Convivium entitled "On Naming the World: Education as Dominion-taking." In his talk, Dr, Littlejohn arg ues that education should be seen above all else as training in how to name the world, the first job that Adam was given after his creation. Such naming is not only a source of delight and wonder, but a reflecting back to God of his glory in the world, and is the prerequisite for any growth and wisdom. Dr. Bradford Littlejohn (Ph.D., University of Edinburgh) is the Founder and President of the Davenant Institute. He also works as a Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and has taught for several institutions, including Moody Bible Institute-Spokane, Bethlehem College and Seminary, and Patrick Henry College. He is recognized as a leading scholar of the English theologian Richard Hooker and Has published and lectured extensively in the fields of Reformation history, Christian ethics, and political theology. He lives in Landrum, SC with his wife, Rachel, and four children.

Dr. Brad Littlejohn introduces our 2022 Florida Regional Convivium. Our theme was "Classic Wonder for Contemporary Minds."