Iliff School of Theology

Retirement of Professor Carrie Doehring, Ph.D. Celebration
2024-05-31 16:00 - 19:00 (America/Denver) | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
You are invited to celebrate Professor Carrie Doehring’s retirement on Friday, May 31 at 4:00 pm, in the Chapel of Iliff School of Theology.
Livestream directly from Iliff’s homepage, iliff.edu.
Tributes celebrating Professor Doehring’s scholarship, leadership, teaching, and dissertation advising will be given by:

President Lee H. Butler, Jr.
Professor Emeritus Ken Pargament
Professor Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi
Professor Sandra Dixon
Dr. Kelly Arora and Rev. Jeff Zust

Choirmaster Tim Krueger will conduct a chamber choir singing choral works by Ola Gjeilo, Tim Krueger, Frank Ticheli, and Eric Whitacre.
A reception with light refreshments will follow.
Gifts of celebration may be made to the Larry Kent Graham Scholarship, established by Professors Larry Kent Graham, Carrie Doehring, and Professor Emerita Sheila Davaney. This scholarship is awarded to Masters and doctoral students whose scholarship and leadership focuses on moral injury.

RSVP for Celebration

Donate to Scholarship

Read Dr. Doehring's Bio

TIER Summer Courses
2024-06-10 - 2024-09-02 | CO
Graduate Theological Education for Everyday People
Iliff School of Theology has offered graduate level education for more than 125 years through a range of degree programs. Now, through TIER, Iliff is bringing its unique approach to theological education to the public with a series of summer courses that offer our world-class teaching outside of a traditional degree program.
TIER is designed for people considering a graduate degree, people in ministry and community leadership who want to dive deeper into study, or anyone who is ready to transform their understanding of religion and spirituality. TIER allows you to innovate your approach to your life’s biggest challenges and to realize the truths that matter most to you.

The TIER Learning Experience

Fully online, 3-week intensives
Build your study into your weekly schedule

Summer 2024 Course Dates
June 10th – September 2nd
Register for Courses

Value Incentives
All students who successfully complete a TIER course receive a microcredential badge through Credly which can be placed on your LinkedIn or other social profiles.
Clergy who complete a TIER course receive 3 CEU’s.

What to Expect:

Weekly engagement from the instructor

Graduate-level readings

Video and/or other media

Weekly discussions with classmates in an online discussion board

1 culminating assignment to demonstrate what you have learned

Time Requirement:
Each course is designed to be a 30-hour course.
Students should set aside 10-hours per week for study, reflection, and engagement in discussion. The deeper you engage, the more you will get out of TIER classes.

Cost
Each TIER course costs $200.

"We Advocate Freedom!" Teach-In Series // Session 1
2024-06-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Session 1: Strategies Toward Effective Social Change: Personal and Institutional Commitments
This 1st in a series of 5 sessions will invite dialogue on the multiple paths advocates for change can work within or outside dominant systems to advocate inclusion and freedom. We will hear from veteran leaders and have the opportunity to wrestle with the moral, ethical, and spiritual realities of advocacy on complex and uncertain issues. The conversation will explore the issues of protest and consequences; non-violent and violent resistance; community organizing, and internal/external approaches.
Register in person HERE.
In addition to the in-person event at Iliff, attendees can participate via Zoom by registering at this link.
When: Jun 27, 2024
6:00 pm MST Refreshments & Registration at Iliff / Zoom room opens
6:30-8:00 pm MST Teach-in
Facilitator: President Lee H. Butler, Jr.
Speakers:
Dr Teresa Smallwood
Dr. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi
Bro. Daniel Klawitter
Session 2: US Political Leaders Conversations on Israel-Palestine: Protests, Cease-fire, and Two-States
When: September 12, 2024
Session 3: Spirited and Spiritual Resistance: Community Chaplaincy and Religious Leadership
When: September 26, 2024
Session 4: UMC Social Principles and the Impact of Socially Responsible Investments
When: October 10, 2024
Session 5: Book Discussion: Angela Davis, Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement
When: November 7, 2024

Fall Quarter Begins
2024-09-09 | CO

"We Advocate Freedom!" Teach-In Series // Session 2
2024-09-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Session 2: Why does this feel so complicated?: Protests, Cease-fire, and Two-States

During the Spring of 2024, numerous college and university campuses became hubs of protest, with various calls for freedom and justice for Palestine. Demonstrators urged for economic pressure on Israel and a statement calling for a ceasefire. Today, we are also witnessing large Israeli protests calling for agreements to release the remaining hostages. This session aims to foster discussion that considers the complex dynamics of Israel-Palestine by exploring the diverse histories, theologies, and experiences that influence positions that create impasse. As a community of learners, we will engage with experts in political and biblical history and social strategy to examine a spectrum of dynamics associated with protests, ceasefire, and the two-states proposal.

September 12, 2024
6:00 pm MST – Refreshments & Registration at Iliff / Zoom room opens
6:30-8:00 pm MST – Teach-in
In-person at Iliff and on Zoom
Format: Roundtable

Register in person HERE.In addition to the in-person event at Iliff, attendees can participate via Zoom by registering at this link
Facilitator: Rev. Dr. Amanda Henderson
SpeakersDr. Karim Mattar Scott Wasserman Dr. Mark George
Series Overview
In these times of significant division and conflict, we bear the responsibility to find meaningful ways to engage in conversations about challenging and complex issues. Iliff is responding to the current moment with the “We Advocate Freedom!” Teach-in Series, a five-session series starting on Thursday, June 27th. This series aims to create a space where we can come together in-person and remotely to discuss and navigate these important topics together.

Speaker Bios

Karim MattarAssociate Professor of EnglishUniversity of Colorado at Boulder
Karim Mattar is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Colorado at Boulder. A descendant of survivors of the Palestinian Nakba of 1948, he works at the intersection of Palestine studies, the humanities, and higher education. He is currently at work on two book projects, titled The Ethics of Affiliation and Reflections on Palestine: Exile, Privilege, Responsibility. Also a dedicated community organizer, Karim works at the local, state, and national levels to enhance public awareness and understanding of Palestinian literature, history, and politics and to advocate for free speech and academic freedom in the Palestinian case. Karim received his D.Phil. in English at the University of Oxford in 2013, and writes and teaches more broadly on comparative Middle Eastern literatures and cultures, the history of the novel, media and technology, and critical theory.

Scott Wasserman Political Strategist
Over 10 years of experience in policy craft and public affairs, managing complex campaigns focused on strategic positioning and real world outcomes for the people I represent. Focused on new ideas and solutions that transcend the stubborn barriers of the past.
Strategy: Immediate understanding of climate, context, and sensitivities inside and outside the organization. A valuable and experienced grasp of the multiple disciplines that make a successful campaign.
Communication: Excellent spokesperson and writer. Experienced at jumpstarting and facilitating dialogue, both within the media and behind the scenes. A knack for creative, tasteful, and effective communication over any medium.
Management: Proven ability to manage multi-million dollar budgets and comfortable with the responsibility that comes with raising and spending resources. Experienced manager of people, resources, vendors, and organizational structures.
Relationships: An earned reputation for trust, integrity, and accountability.
Specialties: strategic leadership, communication, public affairs, government relations, political campaign

Dr. Mark George Professor of Bible and Ancient Systems of Thought
Mark K. George is Professor of Bible and Ancient Systems of Thought and Director of the University of Denver/Iliff School of Theology Joint PhD Program in the Study of Religion. He works primarily with the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and, within that corpus, the Pentateuch and narrative texts. The focus of his work is ancient systems of thought operating within this literature and the societies that produced it, whether they be social systems and structures expressed through the practices and conceptions of space, or how they make possible specific ways for individuals and communities to conduct their lives.
George teaches courses on the Bible. These include critical studies of specific books, such as Deuteronomy, and examinations of larger issues, such as The Bible and Contemporary Issues or The Bible in the Digital Age. Fundamental to his teaching is the conviction that each generation must find new ways to make the Bible relevant for themselves. This is especially important as we live through the current digital revolution. His publications include books, encyclopedia entries, scholarly articles, and occasional pieces in publications including The Conversation. His current book project, Conduct Becoming Israel: Deuteronomy’s Subject and the Creation of “Israel,” is an analysis of how Deuteronomy presents an idealized system for becoming Israel.
A member of both the Society of Biblical Literature and American Academy of Religion, George regularly presents his work in the US and internationally. He frequently speaks and makes presentations to local organizations and religious communities, including at Denver’s Brew Theology gatherings.

Renewal History and Memory // The Future of AI
2024-09-18 12:00 - 13:30 | CO
Session Description
Artificial intelligence has already changed our lives in innumerable ways. From detecting wildfires to providing language translation to making classroom learning more effective, AI has become integral to many processes and systems. But AI has also brought many new anxieties. What effect will AI have on the job market, on law enforcement, on our children and our future? For our first Renewal session of the 2024-25 academic year, Dr. Ted Vial will talk about the possible future of AI and how we can be part of the efforts to make sure AI is used ethically and responsibly.
Series Description
This year, our Renewal sessions will focus on History and Memory. How can we remember well in a time when it seems history is repeating itself, when we are fighting the same fights for justice over and over again? How can we learn from history and avoid making the same mistakes? How do we remember as a community, and how do we prepare a legacy that is worth remembering? During this year’s Renewal series, we will delve into topics ranging from national memory and how we hold onto history in good and bad ways, to how we remember one another and how we want to be remembered.
Register HERE.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Ted Vial
Potthoff Professor of Theology & Modern Western Religious Thought, Iliff School of Theology
Vice President of Innovation, Learning, and Institutional Research
Ted Vial is the Potthoff Professor of Theology and Modern Western Religious Thought at the Iliff School of Theology, and Vice President of Innovation, Learning, and Institutional Research. His current research is in two areas: The interaction of Artificial Intelligence and humans, and the construction of Judaism and gender in the modern world. His B.A. is from Brown University and both M.A. and Ph. D. from The University of Chicago. Vial has served as the Chair of the Publications Committee, American Academy of Religion, Chair of the AAR task force on the future of publishing, and Chair of the task force on evaluation digital scholarship. He is currently on the steering committee of the Artificial Intelligence and Religion Seminar.
The Renewal Conference is Iliff’s annual community gathering to share our work, hear timely messages from a variety of experts, and spend time in fellowship.
This year, our Renewal sessions focus on Looking to the Future.
We are always considering the future. As individuals, as members of groups, as citizens, we are often asking, What will tomorrow bring? How will our world, our country, our institutions look in the coming years? And how can we shape that future to make it better?
In the midst of so many uncertainties, this Renewal season will focus on the question of what is coming next and how we can work for a better future. We will discuss topics ranging from artificial intelligence to religious institutions to politics and government. What can we expect as we watch these spaces change over the weeks, months and years, and what can we do? Join us for the 2024-2025 Renewal season as we learn about what tomorrow may hold and what we can do to enact justice today.

Everding Lecture: Reclaiming the Jewishness of Jesus
2024-09-23 19:00 - 20:30 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Reclaiming the Jewishness of Jesus: Implications for Jewish-Christian Relations
Join Iliff School of Theology and St. John’s Cathedral Denver for the 2024 Everding Lectureship featuring Adam Gregerman, Ph.D., Professor of Jewish Studies, Dept. of Theology and Religious Studies & Associate Director, Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations, Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.
Livestream Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/t5Y5B3u6HSY
Dr. Gregerman teaches Jewish Studies at Saint Joseph’s University, a Jesuit school, and is a scholar of Jewish-Christian relations. He focuses on Christian theologies of Judaism in diverse settings, from antiquity to the present, and has a commitment to continuing the slow process of rapprochement between these long-estranged traditions that began only half a century ago. Like Iliff’s respected Professor Pamela Eisenbaum, Dr. Gregerman studies the New Testament (he is a contributor to The Jewish Annotated New Testament) and later Christian writings on Jews and Judaism, covering topics such as mission and conversion, theologies of the land of Israel, and covenant. His many papers can be accessed here: https://sju.academia.edu/AdamGregerman.
The Everding Lectureship has been generously sponsored each year by the late Lee Everding in honor of Iliff’s first Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Ed Everding. It is our pleasure to continue her legacy so that the public may hear from scholars who explore the many dimensions of interfaith relationships between major traditions, particularly those that trace their roots to the patriarch Abraham

"We Advocate Freedom!" Teach-In Series // Session 3
2024-09-26 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Session 3: Spirited and Spiritual Resistance: Community Chaplaincy and Religious Leadership

Series DescriptionIn these times of significant division and conflict, we bear the responsibility to find meaningful ways to engage in conversations about challenging and complex issues. Iliff is responding to the current moment with the “We Advocate Freedom!” Teach-in Series, a five-session series starting on Thursday, June 27th. This series aims to create a space where we can come together in-person and remotely to discuss and navigate these important topics together.
Session DescriptionChaplains are interfaith/interreligious leaders who work to support human dignity and advocate spiritual integrity within institutional and community settings. This session will bring together spiritual leaders and chaplains to discuss the challenges of navigating entrenched, complicated issues that provoke individual and collective disintegration. The conversation will invite reflections on topics like the spirituality of violence and the spirituality of resistance. With commitments to ending isolation while being sensitive to the dynamics of moral injury, chaplains mediate across religious differences and advocate commonality.
In addition to the in-person event at Iliff, attendees can participate via Zoom by registering at the link below:
ZOOM WEBINAR LINK

September 26, 2024
6:00 pm MST – Refreshments at Iliff / Zoom room opens6:30-8:00 pm MST – Teach-in Roundtable Discussion
Facilitated ByDr. Lee H. Butler, Jr.
Speakers
Chaplain Leenah SafiAssistant Muslim Chaplain, Yale University
Rabbi Stephen Booth-NadavChaplain
Rev. Dr. Zachary MoonProfessor of Theology & Psychology, Chicago Theological Seminary

Speaker Information

Chaplain Leenah Safi
Assistant Muslim Chaplain, Yale University

Chaplain Leenah Safi is an Assistant Muslim Chaplain at Yale University. She joined the Yale Chaplain’s Office after previously serving as a chaplain at the University of Michigan and Wayne State University with a non-profit organization serving the Muslim community. Chaplain Safi is a Muslima with a passion for interreligious and interfaith theological reflection. Chaplain Safi has both hospital and university chaplaincy experience. Her guild work involves her in the Society for Pastoral Theology, the Association of Muslim Chaplains, and the Moral Injury and Recovery unit of the American Academy of Religion.
She is a graduate of Zaytuna College with a B.A. in Islamic Law and Theology. She earned a MDiv with an emphasis in Interreligious Engagement and Chaplaincy from Chicago Theological Seminary. She is now a PhD/ABD in Practical Theology at Chicago Theological Seminary. Within her doctoral studies, she is focused on developing a Muslim practical theology to inform the work of chaplaincy for Muslims and interfaith spiritual care providers. When writing Chaplain Safi is inspired by the angelic voice of Ella Fitzgerald and listens carefully when Toni Morrison (and when mothers more generally) speak and educate. She is renewed by conversations about the meaning(s) of life, having the opportunity to hear people talk about those they love, and the consumption of coffee prepared every which way. Her dissertation project is entitled “Sh?r?: A Practice of Relational Care in the Formation of Muslim Selves.”

Rev. Dr. Zachary Moon
Professor of Theology & Psychology,Chicago Theological Seminary

Professor Moon is Professor of Theology and Psychology at Chicago Theological Seminary. A leading voice in the study of moral injury and moral distress, he publishes and consults widely on the topic, especially with the military. His broader research interests include pastoral and practical theologies, psychology, and trauma studies. He is the author of four books, Coming Home: Ministries That Matter with Veterans and Military Families (Chalice Press, 2015), Warriors between Worlds: Moral Injury and Identities in Crisis (Lexington Books, 2019), Goatwalking: A Quaker Pastoral Theology (Brill, 2021), and Doing Theology in Pandemics: Facing Viruses, Violence, and Vitriol (Pickwick, 2022). His articles have been published in the Journal for Pastoral Theology, Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Journal of Religious Education, Journal of Pastoral Psychology, International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work, Christian Century, Christianity Today, Huffington Post, Religion Dispatches, among others. He has served as a chaplain in multiple contexts, including having served as a chaplain in the US Navy assigned to the Marines. He specializes in working with military veterans and their families, training faith communities in post-deployment reentry and reintegration, and building sustainable social movements for justice through holistic compassionate care. Moon is a graduate of the Iliff-DU Joint PhD program. He was raised in the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and is currently ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Rabbi Stephen Booth-Nadav
Chaplain

Rabbi Steve served as a congregational rabbi for 14yrs, where he especially enjoyed facilitating hundreds of life cycle events from birth to death. He was trained as a Jewish Mindfulness Teacher by a Mindfulness Leadership Training program for Rabbis, and by the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. He is a trained Jewish Wilderness Spirituality Guide and a “Death Educator” for The Jewish Association for Death Education. He directs The Multifaith Leadership Forum of Metro Denver. He has been the chaplain at Kavod Senior Life for twelve years. Kavod is a “Jewishly Hosted Multifaith Affordable Housing Community for Seniors.” It is an amazingly rich and diverse community of over 400 people with many stories and wisdom to share.
Rabbi Steve is a 1992 graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia. He is a former board member of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Assn. and is also a founding member of Ohalah: The Alliance of Rabbis for Jewish Renewal. As a seminary student living in Jerusalem during the first intifada (1987-88), Rabbi Steve embraced two “adopted families.” One Jewish family who immigrated from South Africa in the 1950’s, and there raised three children; the other a family from the lower Galilee, Palestinian Citizens of Israel. Their two oldest daughters are his “God-daughters.” One works for Al Jazeera. The other, Nura, is married with two lovely children and teaches English in the village of Tarshiha, six miles from the Lebanon border.

Session 4 • October 10, 2024

UMC Social Principles and the Impact of Socially Responsible Investments

Session 5 • November 7, 2024

Book Discussion: Angela Davis, Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement

Pulpit+ Exchange: Introducing Africana Pastoral Theology
2024-09-30 17:00 - 19:00 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
September 2024 // “Introducing Africana Pastoral Theology” with Rev. Dr. Lee H. Butler, Jr.
About the Evening’s Lecture
This lecture will introduce a new field approach called Africana pastoral theology. Pastoral theology frames the ministries that guide the care and cure of souls. It is grounded in the belief that God desires human beings to live in loving relationships. Typically divided into the three distinctive practices of pastoral care, pastoral counseling, and pastoral psychotherapy, pastoral theology guides the reflections that inform the practices. The reflection will overview Africana pastoral theology as a liberation theology framed by a resistance culture. Africana pastoral theology will be presented as a care and counseling approach to Black faith and life issues.
Register for event HERE.
About Pulpit+ Exchange
Iliff’s Pulpit+ Exchange Series (supported by the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative from Lilly Endowment Inc.) provides space for a diverse array of ordained clergy and lay leaders to gather for a meal and grapple with challenging issues. One of the main goals of the Pulpit+ Exchange is to build congregations of people who will authentically study, worship, walk, and act together across differences to create a just and equitable world.
About the Evening’s Agenda
Join other clergy and lay leaders for a light meal from 5:00 pm to 5:30 pm (MST). The lecture will begin at 5:30 pm. An opportunity to ask Dr. Lee questions and engage in discussions with colleagues will follow.
About the Evening’s Lecturer – Rev. Dr. Lee Butler, Jr.
Born in Central Pennsylvania, the Rev. Dr. Lee H. Butler, Jr. is a lifelong Baptist and a first-generation beneficiary of the Post-Civil and Human Rights struggle in the United States.
Dr. Butler comes to Iliff School of Theology from Phillips Theological Seminary where he served as the Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Academic Dean, and the William Tabbernee Professor of the History of Religions and Africana Pastoral Theology since July 1, 2020. He is the first African American tenured full professor and the first person of color to hold the office of VPAA and Academic Dean and serve as Acting President at Phillips. As VPAA, his responsibilities included oversight and supervision of the Associate Dean, Registrar, Recruitment, Admissions and Financial Aid, Director of Theological Field Education, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program, Director of Black Church Traditions Program, Dean of the Chapel, Faculty, and Dean of the Library.
During the shelter-in-place phase of the pandemic, he launched a COVID-19 task force, “The Living Together Task Force,” to establish protocols for reopening the seminary for on-campus classes and welcoming the larger community. He designed 2021 virtual annual ministry conference to focus on terror and violence against Native Americans and African Americans. Whereas 2021 was the centennial anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, he developed programming to commemorate the event. He organized book talks, lectures, a Tulsa Race Massacre course taught by a visiting scholar, facilitated acclaimed artists performances, including Emmy Award winning actor, Mr. Keith David, who on two occasions performed selections from God’s Trombones, invited the President and Executive Director of the Children’s Defense Fund to give an address, and facilitated Mr. John W. Franklin, son of renowned historian, the late Dr. John Hope Franklin, to receive an honorary doctorate at the May 2021 Commencement. To invite an intercultural community to the work of critical race conversations, he inaugurated the Tulsa Race Massacre Lectureship creating a public forum on the dynamic history of the massacre and the lessons to be learned. In November 2022, he organized a Native American Heritage Month event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the book God Is Red, by the late Vine Deloria, Jr. The evening included a greeting and brief reflection from Dr. Philip Deloria, son of Vine. Dr. Tink Tinker was present as the elder at the roundtable. He was also instrumental in bringing art exhibitions by acclaimed artists, Benjamin Harjo, Jr. (Absentee Shawnee-Seminole), Harvey Johnson (visual poet), John Biggers, Delita Martin (visual storyteller), and Kermit Oliver.
Before Phillips, he was the Distinguished Service Professor of Theology and Psychology at Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS). He joined the CTS faculty as assistant professor of theology and psychology in 1996. In 2006, he was promoted to the rank of full professor and became the first African American to achieve this rank at CTS. In 2017, he was installed in his endowed academic chair. He was a former director of the CTS Master of Divinity program, a former Acting Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean, and the founder of the Center for the Study of Black Faith and Life at CTS. Through the work of the Center, he established the C. Shelby Rooks Lectureship as a tribute to the first African American to become president of a predominantly European American seminary and hosted the “Sisters with Sons in the Wilderness Roundtable,” a first of its kind major conference that gathered womanists and womanist collaborators to discuss the escalation of unarmed Black people killed in America. A LGBTQIA+ ally, he has served a mentor, advisor, colleague, and collaborator related to theological education and gender justice. He has facilitated and led study tours to Bahia, Brazil; to Ghana, West Africa; and to South Africa. In 2018, he gave a series of pastoral theology lectures in Seoul, South Korea at a professional counseling conference and four theological universities (Presbyterian Theological University, Methodist Theological University, Hanshin University, and Seoul Theological University).
Prior to his joining the faculty of Chicago Seminary, he was assistant professor of pastoral theology at Lancaster Theological Seminary from 1992-1996. An ordained minister of the American Baptist Churches in the USA since 1988, his professional development includes experience in pastoral ministry, chaplaincy, pastoral counseling, denominational and seminary administration.
Dr. Butler is a past president of the Society for the Study of Black Religion, a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Society for Pastoral Theology, the Institute for Signifying Scriptures, Society for Process Consulting, the Association of Black Psychologists, and a Board Member of the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation.
He is an active publishing scholar. He is the co-editor of The Edward Wimberly Reader: A Black Pastoral Theology (Baylor University Press, 2020); author of Listen, My Son: Wisdom to Help African American Fathers (Abingdon Press, 2010), Liberating Our Dignity, Saving Our Souls (Chalice Press, 2006), A Loving Home: Caring for African American Marriage and Families (Pilgrim Press, 2000), and numerous articles published in many books and professional journals on the subject of pastoral care and pastoral psychology.
Dr. Butler received his PhD and Master of Philosophy in Psychology and Religion from Drew University. He holds a Master of Theology in Pastoral Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer Theological Seminary), and a BA in Religion from Bucknell University.

2024 Fall Gathering Days
2024-10-08 - 2024-10-12 | CO
Gathering Days is a quarterly event where all Iliff students come together on campus for a week of intensive, in-person classes. It’s a fantastic chance to finally meet face-to-face with your classmates and build on the connections from your hybrid courses. It’s a time for building relationships, diving deep into study, and having fun!
Students can visit the Iliff Students course in Canvas for details about lodging, food, accessibility and more!
https://iliff.instructure.com/courses/2220541

"We Advocate Freedom!" Teach-In Series // Session 4
2024-10-10 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
In these times of significant division and conflict, we bear the responsibility to find meaningful ways to engage in conversations about challenging and complex issues. Iliff is responding to the current moment with the “We Advocate Freedom!” Teach-in Series, a five-session series starting on Thursday, June 27th. This series aims to create a space where we can come together in-person and remotely to discuss and navigate these important topics together.
Session 4: UMC Social Principles and the Impact of Socially Responsible Investments
Wealth management requires focused and sustained attention to follow market trends and to determine the levels of risk one wants to engage in when managing one’s financial portfolio. Knowing where, when, and how to invest to achieve generational financial security is rarely a matter of choosing one company with a single product in which one buys stock. This session has been designed to present the fundamentals of investing and financial management. As a theological school of the United Methodist Church, we do not simply rely on our moral conscience when planning our investment strategies. We are guided by a policy of social principles that encourages us to do no harm. Guest speakers will review the fundamentals of endowments, investing, and social responsibility for managing our financial portfolio. After a time of presenting Trustees’ fiduciary responsibilities and accountabilities, our speakers will engage in Q&A.
In addition to the in-person event at Iliff, which you can register for using this link, attendees can participate via Zoom by registering at this link.
Date & Time

October 10, 2024
6:00 pm MST – Refreshments & Registration at Iliff / Zoom room opens
6:30-8:00 pm MST – Teach-in
In-person at Iliff, Shattuck Hall, and on Zoom

Facilitated By
Dr. Lee H. Butler, Jr.
Speakers
Barbara Boigegrain
Treasurer of the Iliff School of Theology Board of Trustees

Barbara Boigegrain serves as Treasurer of the Iliff School of Theology Board of Trustees. Before retirement, she served the United Methodist Church for 27 years as the CEO of Wespath Benefits & Investments, the nation’s largest faith-based pension and investment organization. As CEO and General Secretary of Wespath, Barbara oversaw all fiduciary services and administrative operations of the General Board, which has approximately $20 billion in assets under management. She set business and growth strategy, oversaw the implementation of the organization’s business plan and annual budget, and maintained the denominational and board of directors’ relationships. Prior to joining the General Board, Barbara enjoyed an 11-year consulting career with Towers Perrin (now Towers Watson), a global human resources management consulting firm. She established the company’s San Diego office in 1990 and managed a broad client base, including many of the area’s leading corporations and nonprofit organizations.
Meredith Wilson Parfet
Vice-Chairperson of the Iliff School of Theology Board of Trustees.
Meredith Wilson Parfet serves as Vice-Chairperson of the Iliff School of Theology Board of Trustees. An accomplished investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, she has nearly two decades of asset management and hedge fund experience, including acting as the Chief Operating Officer for two alternative investment funds. She also co-founded Denali Venture Philanthropy, an investment organization that funds entrepreneurs who are committed to social change. Meredith has led organizations of all sizes, from small start-ups to complex, global operations. Meredith holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, an MA in Spiritual Care from the Iliff School of Theology, and a BA in Political Science from Northwestern University. She is a certified End of Life Doula as well as a practicing Hospice Chaplain.
Lucas Schoeppner
Manager, Wespath Benefits and Investments
Lucas Schoeppner is a manager at Wespath Benefits and Investments, the nation’s largest faith-based pension and investment organization. Wespath works in the service of the United Methodist Church. He manages the investment stewardship and engagement activities of Wespath. Along with Wespath subsidiaries’ investment programs, Lucas supports their efforts to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk consideration into the investment selection and decision-making process. Before Wespath, Lucas served as a director on the Catholic Responsible Investments team at Christian Brothers Investment Services. There, he was responsible for projects focused on quantitative ESG scoring models, screening and sub-adviser due diligence. Prior to Christian Brothers Investment Services, Lucas was sector manager and lead analyst of Sustainalytics’ oil and gas research. Lucas earned a B.A. in journalism from Northeastern University. In 2013, he was selected for the Fulbright “U.S. Young Journalists” research grant.

Renewal: Looking into The Future // The Future of Democracy
2024-10-16 12:00 - 13:30 | CO
October Renewal Session | The Future of Democracy
Wednesday, Oct 16th
12 Noon to 1:30 pm MST
Panel Discussion
Register HERE.
Registration Fee: $5 | Free for all students and Iliff faculty and staff
An additional donation is welcome.
If the registration fee is a barrier to your attendance at the event, please reach out to alumni@iliff.edu.
Session Description
As we get closer to November and the 2024 Presidential election, many questions weigh on the minds of communities in the United States. Who will be leading our country in a matter of months? What changes will happen, and who will be most affected? What is our democracy going to look like after this election, or a year from now, or a decade from now?
For our October Renewal session, we are asking three expert panelists what they think the future of democracy will look like and how we can work toward ensuring that future is one of increasing justice and equity. Join us on Wednesday, October 16th for “The Future of Democracy.”
Series Description
We are always considering the future. As individuals, as members of groups, as citizens, we are often asking, What will tomorrow bring? How will our world, our country, our institutions look in the coming years? And how can we shape that future to make it better? In the midst of so many uncertainties, this Renewal season will focus on the question of what is coming next and how we can work for a better future. We will discuss topics ranging from artificial intelligence to religious institutions to politics and government. What can we expect as we watch these spaces change over the weeks, months and years, and what can we do? Join us for the 2024-2025 Renewal season as we learn about what tomorrow may hold and what we can do to enact justice today.

Panelists
Nicole Hensel
Nicole Hensel is the executive director of New Era Colorado, a nonpartisan grassroots nonprofit that leads the nation in turning out and engaging young people in the political process. Founded in 2006, New Era is the nation’s premiere youth organizing groups in the country. They have registered over 250,000 young people to vote and turn their members out at rates as high as 86 percent in the 2020 election. Nicole was previously a teacher and education policy expert before coming into community organizing and politics.
Daniel Ramos
Daniel Ramos is the Executive Director of a Colorado-based nonprofit focused on protecting democracy and expanding the civic engagement ecosystem in Colorado. Before taking on this role in 2020, he served as the Executive Director for One Colorado – the state’s leading advocacy organization for LGBTQ Coloradans and their families. Ramos is an active member of the Colorado community and has served on the Board of Directors for New Era Colorado, Community Shares and the Equality Federation, and as a Commissioner on the Colorado Supreme Court Nominating Commission. He currently serves on the LGBTQ Victory Fund Campaign Board, the Healthier Colorado Board, and as a Trustee for Colorado Mesa University and the Rose Community Foundation. Ramos is also an adjunct professor at the University of Denver, teaching courses on Public Policy & Advocacy and Community Engagement & Empowerment. As a first-generation college student, he received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and his Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado School of Public Affairs.
Ian Silverii
Over the course of his 15 years in politics, Ian Silverii has played many roles in shaping and advancing the progressive movement in Colorado. Silverii proudly served as the Director of the Colorado House Majority Project and Chief of Staff to the Colorado House Democrats from 2014-2016, playing an instrumental role in building durable legislative majorities and securing the passage of key policy priorities including Colorado’s gold standard Vote by Mail and election laws. He went on to run ProgressNow Colorado, the state’s largest and most notorious progressive communications and advocacy organization. After five years at the helm of ProgressNow Colorado, Silverii started The Bighorn Company which serves clients across the country. Silverii has also taught at the Scrivner Institute of Public Policy at the University of Denver and co-hosts the weekly Colorado politics show, The Get More Smarter Podcast. His writing has appeared in The Colorado Springs Gazette, Colorado Politics, The Denver Post (where he was a resident columnist for 3 years), The Colorado Times Recorder, and the Harvard Law & Policy Review and he has appeared on MSNBC, 9News, The Denver Channel, KGNU, Colorado Public Radio, City Cast Denver, Rocky Mountain PBS and KDNK.
Moderator
Rev. Dr. Amanda Henderson
Rev. Dr. Amanda Henderson is the Director of the Institute for Religion, Politics, and Culture at the Iliff School of Theology, where she leads research exploring the relationship between religion and politics. With a focus on informing public leaders, the Institute works for transformative action rooted in deep understanding. Amanda has a Ph.D. in religion, politics, and rhetoric from the University of Denver, served for seven years as the Executive Director of The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, and is ordained clergy in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She is the author of “Holy Chaos, Creating Connections in Divisive Times” and hosts the Complexified podcast. Amanda lives in Littleton, Colorado, is a parent to three young adults, enjoys adventures with her husband, and finds joy running trails and growing things: dogs, chickens, gardens, and creative projects of all kinds.

The Rise in Christian Nationalism
2024-10-17 16:00 - 18:00 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
The Rise in Christian Nationalism
WITH Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush,
President & CEO of Interfaith Alliance
October 17, 2024
4-6PM
Shattuck Hall
REGISTER HERE
Join us for an interfaith, in-depth analysis of how Christian nationalism has evolved and its implications on our world, led by Interfaith Alliance national CEO, Rev. Paul Raushenbush, with an introduction from Interfaith Alliance of Colorado CEO, Shara Smith.
Speakers

Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is an ordained Baptist minister and longtime leader in the interfaith movement working to protect an inclusive vision of religious freedom for people of all faiths and none.
Shara Smith is the CEO of the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado. She is a highly experienced nonprofit leader and is a specialist in faith-based social justice initiatives.

Showing Up & Showing Out
2024-10-22 18:00 - 19:30 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Showing Up & Building Out!
A night of student stories and action to build inclusive leadership in local politics

Be inspired. Gain fresh perspectives, motivation, and a renewed sense of purpose as we round out this election year.

Deepen bonds with a vibrant community of current learners. Connect with current students who share your passions.

Show your support.Become a contributor and thought leader in our work.

Tuesday, October 22, 20246:00 – 7:30 p.m.Iliff School of Theology, Bartlet Hall

Register Now

I can’t attend, but want to support

To learn more about the Institute for Religion, Politics, and Culture, CLICK HERE.

Imagine

What does it look like to support LGBTQ young people in rural and suburban communities? Ten Iliff students showed up for two weeks in July to find out. Join us on the evening of October 22nd to hear their stories and learn about how to support the next leg of their journey.

Influence

Remember the time when school Board meetings were boring? Unfortunately, this hasn’t been the case as ideological debates over gender and sexuality devolve into bathroom restrictions, sports bans for trans kids, and “don’t say gay” bills that evoke fear, anger, frustration, and sometimes violence. Learn how Ilff is leading in these issues.

Include

Religious organizations and leaders have the opportunity to engage and ensure LGBTQ+ inclusion, especially in small towns, is part of the Colorado fabric. Come and hear about Iliff’s work in rural and suburban Colorado, where Iliff students learned with local community stakeholders, including LGBTQ+ people, churches and religious communities, school board members, and local government officials.

Impact

Impact: Students came away from the transformative experience with new skills, insights, and inspiration to “show up” in the name of inclusive leadership. Can you “show-up” for them as well?

Inspire

Support students as they share what they have learned with national advocates and public leaders at a convening set for Spring 2025. All donations received during the gathering and until Dec 31, will be matched 2:1 by the Carpenter Foundation. We need your help to make it happen!

Looking forward to you joining us!

Register Now

Pulpit+ Exchange: AI and the intersection of Theology, Religion and Race
2024-10-23 17:00 - 19:00 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
October 2024 // “AI and the intersection of Theology, Religion, and Race”
with
Rev. Dr. Andy Dunning, Senior Pastor of University Park UMC
&
Dr. Philip Butler, Assistant Professor of Theology, Black Posthuman Artificial Intelligence Systems, Iliff School of Theology

About the Evening’s Lecture
Join us for “Pulpit+ Exchange: AI and the Intersection of Theology, Religion, and Race,” a thought-provoking conversation between Rev. Dr. Andy Dunning, Senior Pastor of University Park UMC, and Dr. Philip Butler, Assistant Professor of Theology and expert in Black posthuman artificial intelligence systems. This event will explore the evolving relationship between technology, spirituality, and race, with a focus on AI’s impact on religious thought and practice. Engage with these two distinguished scholars as they discuss the ethical, theological, and social dimensions of AI in shaping our future.
Register HERE.

About Pulpit+ Exchange
Iliff’s Pulpit+ Exchange Series (supported by the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative from Lilly Endowment Inc.) provides space for a diverse array of ordained clergy and lay leaders to gather for a meal and grapple with challenging issues. One of the main goals of the Pulpit+ Exchange is to build congregations of people who will authentically study, worship, walk, and act together across differences to create a just and equitable world.
About the Evening’s Agenda
Join other clergy and lay leaders for a light meal from 5:00 pm to 5:30 pm (MST). The lecture will begin at 5:30 pm. An opportunity to ask Dr. Lee questions and engage in discussions with colleagues will follow.
The Evening’s Lecturers
Rev. Dr. Andy Dunning
Senior Pastor of University Park UMC

Rev. Dr. Andy Dunning is the Senior Pastor at University Park United Methodist Church, located near the University of Denver. With over three decades of experience, Andy has served United Methodist churches throughout Colorado and has extensive expertise in nonprofit leadership, strategic planning, and community development. He holds a Ph.D. from Southern Methodist University, an M.Div. from Iliff School of Theology, and a B.A. from the University of Redlands.In addition to his pastoral leadership, Andy has played a key role in initiatives focused on domestic violence prevention, poverty alleviation, and faith-based community engagement. His work in the nonprofit sector has included roles in project management, fundraising, and strategic direction for various organizations. Andy’s commitment to thoughtful leadership and community-focused service continues to guide his efforts at University Park UMC and beyond.
Dr. Philip Butler
Assistant Professor of Theology, Black Posthuman Artificial Intelligence Systems
Iliff School of Theology

Philip Butler is an international scholar whose work primarily focuses on the intersections of neuroscience, technology, spirituality and Blackness. He uses the wisdom of these spaces to engage in critical and constructive analysis on Black posthumanism, artificial intelligence and pluriversal future realities. He is also the founder of the Seekr Project, a distinctly Black conversational artificial intelligence with mental health capacities. Philip has theorized artificial cognitive architectures for synthetic evolving life forms (SELF), presented on emotionally regulating and spiritual experience inducing brain computer interfaces, and has constructed block chain protocols and conceptual logistics infrastructures for a world leader in the industrial hemp space.
Dr. Butler is Partner Director of Iliff’s AI Institute where he leads the 8020 project, where the institute works to change how computers see people, relate to culturally iterative languages and build the bones for a data ownership model that hopefully creates a relational framework for the way AI is made around the globe.
He is also the author of Black Transhuman Liberation Theology: Spirituality and Technology and most recently the editor of Critical Black Futures: Speculative Theories and Explorations. He has published in journals such as The Black Scholar, Journal of Posthuman Studies and the Journal of Future Studies. He is currently working on his second monograph Still Black Posthuman: A Theory of Uncertainty and Disorder.

"We Advocate Freedom!" Teach-In Series | Session 5 (Part I)
2024-11-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Join us for an impactful session of the “We Advocate Freedom!” Teach-In Series, hosted by Iliff President, Dr. Lee H. Butler, Jr., as we welcome Dr. Rami Nashashibi for a compelling discussion on Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by renowned activist and scholar, Angela Davis. This is part one of a two part conversation. Save the date for December 4 at 6pm when Presiedent Butler will discuss the same book with Rabbi Joe Black.
Angela Davis’s Freedom is a Constant Struggle challenges us to examine connections between global movements for justice and the shared struggles for freedom and human rights. This text initiates a generative dialogue for understanding systemic oppression, resistance, and solidarity across borders.
Our guest, Dr. Rami Nashashibi, brings a wealth of insight to this discussion. Dr. Nashashibi is a MacArthur Fellow and the founder of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), an organization dedicated to healing and justice on Chicago’s South Side and Atlanta’s west end. Known for his bridge-building efforts across racial, religious, and socioeconomic lines, Dr. Nashashibi has made a profound impact on community organizing and social transformation. He also brings an artistic perspective as a musician and advocate for initiatives like Cariol’s Law, a police accountability measure in Buffalo, NY. Together, we’ll explore themes of resilience, solidarity, and collective action, as Dr. Nashashibi and President Butler examine the pressing questions raised in Davis’s work. This teach-in will be a hybrid event, with options to join in person at Iliff or remotely via Zoom.
Session 5: (Part 1) Book Discussion: Angela Davis, Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement
November 7, 2024 6:00 pm MST – Refreshments & Registration at Iliff / Zoom room opens 6:30-8:00 pm MST – Teach-in Facilitator: Lee Butler Guest Speaker: Rami Nashashibi
In-person at Iliff and on Zoom
Can’t attend in person? Register to join on Zoom!
Don’t miss this chance to engage in a conversation that transcends boundaries and addresses the foundations of movement-building and justice in today’s world. Reserve your spot now for an evening of reflection, discussion, and inspiration.

Pulpit+ Exchange: What Just Happened? Religion and the 2024 Election
2024-11-11 17:00 - 19:00 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
November 2024 // “What Just Happened? Religion and the 2024 Election”
with
Rev. Dr. Amanda Henderson
Director of the Institute for Religion, Politics and Culture
Iliff School of Theology

About the Evening’s Lecture
Join us for a meaningful gathering as we unpack the results of the 2024 election together. This event offers space to reflect on the role religion plays in shaping public opinion and the ways it has influenced this election season. We’ll discuss what these outcomes mean for our communities and explore constructive paths forward, considering the future of civic engagement, faith’s influence on social and political change, and how we can respond thoughtfully and proactively. Whether you’re looking to share insights or simply listen, this session will help us navigate the questions that lie ahead.
Register HERE.
Livestream Link

About Pulpit+ Exchange
Iliff’s Pulpit+ Exchange Series (supported by the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative from Lilly Endowment Inc.) provides space for a diverse array of ordained clergy and lay leaders to gather for a meal and grapple with challenging issues. One of the main goals of the Pulpit+ Exchange is to build congregations of people who will authentically study, worship, walk, and act together across differences to create a just and equitable world.
About the Evening’s Agenda
Join other clergy and lay leaders for a light meal from 5:00 pm to 5:30 pm (MST). The lecture will begin at 5:30 pm. An opportunity to ask Dr. Henderson questions and engage in discussions with colleagues will follow.
In person & online
Light meal: 5:00 – 5:30 PM (MST)
Lecture: 5:30 PM
Q&A and discussions with Dr. Henderson & colleagues to follow
The Evening’s Lecturer
Rev. Dr. Amanda Henderson
Director of the Institute for Religion, Politics and Culture

Rev. Dr. Amanda Henderson is the Director of the Institute for Religion, Politics, and Culture at the Iliff School of Theology, where she leads research exploring the relationship between religion and politics. With a focus on informing public leaders, the Institute works for transformative action rooted in deep understanding. Amanda has a Ph.D. in religion, politics, and rhetoric from the University of Denver, served for seven years as the Executive Director of The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, and is ordained clergy in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She is the author of “Holy Chaos, Creating Connections in Divisive Times” and hosts the Complexified podcast. Amanda lives in Littleton, Colorado, is a parent to three young adults, enjoys adventures with her husband, and finds joy running trails and growing things: dogs, chickens, gardens, and creative projects of all kinds.

November Renewal | Looking into The Future: The Future of The United Methodist Church
2024-11-13 12:00 - 13:30 | CO
What does the future look like for organized religion? This question has weighed on the minds of people around the world for years, and for many of us at Iliff, it has narrowed specifically to the future of The United Methodist Church. Even while we celebrate the incredible steps forward made at this year’s General Conference and the installation of a new Bishop in the Mountain Sky Conference (MSC), we wonder what tomorrow will hold for our congregations.
For our November Renewal session, we are diving into this question as we consider the recent changes and hope for a continued movement across the denomination toward justice and equity. Our incredible panelists, including the newly installed Bishop Kristin Stoneking, will consider the changes they have seen in The UMC and the changes they hope to see in the future, both as ministers and lay members of the denomination. Join us for a unique discussion of the future of The United Methodist Church!
To register, CLICK HERE.
Panelists
Bishop Kristin Stoneking
Episcopal Leader of The Mountain Sky Conference
Early in her career, Bishop Stoneking was campus minister at the University of California, Davis. There, she founded the Multifaith Living Community, building six townhouses to create a community where faith formation for students could be real and relevant as part of an intentional, justice-focused residential setting. The pluralistic environment supported students’ faith articulations, sense of vocation and purpose, and capacity to stand in solidarity with one another and others experiencing injustice. Bishop Stoneking also served as the national executive director of the US branch of the historic Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), an anti-racist, justice and peace organization with consultative status at the United Nations. Part of a worldwide communion, FOR is the oldest interfaith peace and justice organization in the United States. Most recently, her dedication to establishing and expanding communities that offer a sense of belonging inspired her work as a District Superintendent and Director of Innovative Ministries and Congregational Vitality for the California-Nevada Annual Conference. Bishop Stoneking is a graduate of Rice University (BA.), Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (MDiv) and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California (PhD). As a former Fellow of the Pluralism Project at Harvard University, she now serves as an advisor. Bishop Stoneking has served on the faculties of both Pacific School of Religion (Associate Professor of United Methodist Studies and Leadership) and Claremont School of Theology (Adjunct Professor in United Methodist Studies.)
Gayla Jo Slauson
MSC Co-Lay Leader
Gayla Jo Slauson currently serves as one of three elected Mountain Sky Conference Co-lay Leaders; she finishes eight-years and will be term-limited in that role in 2026. She filled the Head of Delegation role as an elected General Conference lay delegate for Mountain Sky Conference in April,2024, and serves on the Western Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy. In August of this year, she participated as a delegate in the World Methodist Council held in Sweden. A retired emeriti management professor from Colorado Mesa University, she is also a Certified Lay Speaker who enjoys filling-in for pastors. Gayla and her husband, Michael, are actively involved at Crossroads United Methodist Church in Grand Junction, Colorado. They have experienced tough times in recent years: losing a daughter and son-in-law in a car accident, dealing with cancer, and facing the recent loss of Gayla’s mother. Reading, writing, and painting have become helpful activities for Gayla. Life is precious; they are learning to live it one day at a time.
Rev. Lynn Miller Jackson
Superintendent for the Montana West District
Rev. Lynn Miller Jackson has been in ministry with the Mountain Sky Conference of The United Methodist Church since 2014. She earned her Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology with concentrations in Peace, Justice and Conflict Transformation, Christian Education, and Women, Theology and Ministry. She has led churches in Colorado and Utah and currently serves as the Montana West District Superintendent, including Salmon, ID, and Lander, WY. Since coming to the MSC, Lynn has continuously served with conference-level teams – Leadership Development, Board of Ordained Ministry, Co-Chair of the Residency in Ministry Team, Racial Justice Movement and Ministry, and various task forces. She is a Fellow of the Engle Institute of Preaching at Princeton University and was twice nominated for the Denver Urban Spectrum African Americans Who Make A Difference. In 2024, she was elected as a Western Jurisdictional delegate and to the Wespath Board of Directors. She enjoys purposeful travel, historic architecture, fly fishing, and life-long learning.
Moderator
Rev. Annie Arnoldy
Superintendent of Vitality and Director of Connectional Ministry
Rev. Annie Arnoldy is a graduate of Iliff School of Theology (M.Div 2004) and serves as the Director of Connectional Ministry and Superintendent of Vitality for the Mountain Sky Conference of The UMC. Her roles include nurturing emerging faith communities, connecting the 315 churches in the Mountain Sky Conference, and seeking to carry out the mission and vision of the conference.

"We Advocate Freedom!" Teach-In Series | Session 6 (Part II)
2024-12-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Don’t miss the final session of the “We Advocate Freedom!” Teach-In Series, hosted by Iliff President Dr. Lee H. Butler, Jr., as we welcome Rabbi Joe Black for an insightful interview on Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Davis. This book bridges global struggles for justice, drawing us into an essential dialogue on freedom, solidarity, and resilience.
Our guest, Rabbi Joe Black, brings a unique perspective to this powerful conversation. As the Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanuel and a long-time leader in both religious and civic communities, Rabbi Black has dedicated his life to building inclusive and compassionate communities. With a background that spans community chaplaincy, leadership in multi-faith initiatives, and national recognition as a musician, author, and educator, Rabbi Black combines profound spiritual insight with a commitment to justice and social action. His voice will add depth and nuance to our exploration of the intersections of faith, activism, and communal responsibility.
In this interview-style session, Dr. Butler and Rabbi Black will discuss the themes raised by Davis, examining how collective movements confront and transcend systemic oppression.
This hybrid teach-in will be hosted both in person at Iliff and via Zoom. Join us for an evening of meaningful dialogue as we close out this series with reflection, inspiration, and a shared commitment to justice.
Session 6: (Part 2) Book Discussion: Angela Davis, Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
6:00 pm MST – Meal provided to attendees
6:15 pm – Zoom room opens for remote participants
6:30-8:00 pm – Teach-in interview
Reserve your spot today and be part of this profound conversation, rooted in the pursuit of freedom across boundaries and beliefs.
If you would like to participate remotely, register for the Zoom now.

Colorado Gives Day 2024
2024-12-10 | CO
Save the Date! Details on how you can give soon!

Holiday Hymn Sing
2024-12-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Join us for a heartwarming evening of hymns, accompanied by the majestic sound of the Iliff Chapel organ. Gather with friends and family to experience the spirit of the season.
This free event is open to all ages.Bring your loved ones and let the music fill your heart with joy.

RSVP Here

Special Performers

Robert Klimek
Dr. Robert Klimek, originally from Chicago, Los Angeles and now Colorado, is a noted vocal and instrumental performer, composer, and clinician. He is an Emeritus faculty member and the founding Director of Music and the Performing Arts at the Colorado School of Mines. His recent concerts in Ireland, Jamaica, Peru, Vietnam and Vatican City, Rome have been cited to be, “warm and uplifting,” and “forward looking.”
He was a featured artist on a Grammy nominated Spanish Sacred Music album and the silver nominee for the National Christian Booksellers Gold Medallion Award,
Currently he is a co-director of the ‘Eslalares Mariachi,’ (Colorado’s 1st All-State Mariachi Band) and a faculty member for the Nuestras Raíces: Música Mariachi at Rocky Ridge Music in Estes Park.

Stephen Waechter, Classical Guitarist
Stephen Waechter, classical guitarist, has concertized throughout the United States since 1973. His performances have been noted for their musical expressivity and technical virtuosity. The Newy York Times described him as playing with “uncommon sensitivity”. The Lincoln Journal wrote “…his special strength is a vivid musical sense of phrasing, expression and musical idiom.” The Huntsville Times (AL) reported “He was spellbinding in his interpretations…”
Making music is Steve’s greatest pleasure, and sharing that pleasure is the purpose of his public performances. By freely offering his heart and soul to his audience, his performances have a special sense of intimacy and connection. In the late 1980’s, he learned, in a profound manner, that “playing to express rather than playing to impress” was one of his deepest life purposes. In recent years, he has composed several works for solo guitar with have been warmly received by the concert public. He continues to collaborate with chamber musicians and ensembles.

ADA Accessibility
The Iliff School of Theology is an ADA accessible campus and is committed to providing physical accessibility to everyone. The building has:

Accessible main entrance which includes a ramp and ADA accessible doors
Elevators on every floor
ADA accessible restrooms in each section of the school: Skaggs Hall, Iliff Hall, and the Library (first floor of the Main Library and upper Bacon Education Center)

Parking
Iliff parking is operated by the University of Denver (DU) parking services. All DU parking lots have accessible parking so Iliff parking is also accessible. We have designated ADA spaces and there is a ramp that leads from the parking lot to the main entrance of the Iliff School of Theology.

Contact for Reasonable Accommodations
If you need other reasonable accommodations for events at the Iliff School of Theology, please contact our Event Sales & Hospitality Manager, Michael McMillan (events@iliff.edu). In your email, please specify the event, exact location of the event, date of the event, and the accommodation request(s). We will need advance notice, up to two weeks before the event.

January Renewal: Looking into The Future
2025-01-15 12:00 - 13:30 | CO
January Renewal Session:
The Future of the Iliff School
of Theology

Wednesday, Jan. 1512:00 to 1:30 pm MST via Zoom
So much change is happening around us–in our churches, our communities, and our nation. But what about here at Iliff? As the needs of the local church change, as the ways our communities work together and organize change, and as the realities of our government change, what is Iliff doing to lead into a different future?
Join us for our January Renewal session to hear from Pres. Lee Butler about the future of the Iliff School of Theology, in 2025 and beyond. Learn about new projects and initiatives and how our institution is moving to support the changing needs of our students, alumni/ae, and community.

Register Now!

Presenter

Rev. Dr. Lee Butler, Jr., President and CEO of the Iliff School of Theology
Dr. Butler came to Iliff School of Theology in 2023 from Phillips Theological Seminary where he served as the Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Academic Dean, and the William Tabbernee Professor of the History of Religions and Africana Pastoral Theology since July 1, 2020. He is the first African American tenured full professor and the first person of color to hold the office of VPAA and Academic Dean and serve as Acting President at Phillips. As VPAA, his responsibilities included oversight and supervision of the Associate Dean, Registrar, Recruitment, Admissions and Financial Aid, Director of Theological Field Education, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program, Director of Black Church Traditions Program, Dean of the Chapel, Faculty, and Dean of the Library. Before Phillips, he was the Distinguished Service Professor of Theology and Psychology at Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS). He joined the CTS faculty as assistant professor of theology and psychology in 1996. Prior to his joining the faculty of Chicago Seminary, he was assistant professor of pastoral theology at Lancaster Theological Seminary from 1992-1996. An ordained minister of the American Baptist Churches in the USA since 1988, his professional development includes experience in pastoral ministry, chaplaincy, pastoral counseling, denominational and seminary administration.

Sacred Earth, Sacred Action
2025-02-08 13:00 - 19:00 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Saturday, February 8th, 1:00-7:00 PM MST

Sacred Earth, Sacred Action (SESA), brings together environmental scientists, theologians, poets, and faith leaders to inspire meaningful change within communities of faith and activism in the Rocky Mountains and beyond.
In person and live-streamed.

Learn More and Register!

Everding Lecture | "Impediments to Peace in a Wounded Land" with Dr. Randy Woodley
2025-02-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Weather Update: The Everding Lecture will continue in person as planned.
If you prefer to attend online, you can receive a link to the livestream by registering here. If you have already registered, check your email for the link to the livestream.
If you have trouble accessing the link, please email communications@iliff.edu for assistance.

Join Iliff School of Theology for the Winter 2025 Everding Lectureship featuring Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley, Distinguished Professor of Faith and Culture Emeritus at George Fox University/Portland Seminary and the former Director of Intercultural and Indigenous studies.
Event Details

Tuesday, February 11, 2025
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM MDT
Iliff School of Theology Shattuck Hall

REGISTER
Speaker Biography
Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley has a deep passion for creativity and Indigenous spirituality, justice, and earth empowerment. His diverse background and experiences have uniquely equipped him to bring about positive change in his communities for over three decades. He is, an award-winning author and a tribally recognized Cherokee descendant (United Keetoowah Band), who weaves Indigenous wisdom, ecological sustainability, and spirituality into positive change. He is respected by Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities worldwide and has been featured in The New York Times, Politifact, Time Magazine, and The Huffington Post.
Dr. Woodley is Distinguished Professor of Faith and Culture Emeritus at George Fox University/Portland Seminary and the former Director of Intercultural and Indigenous studies. He is the author of a dozen books and over 30 chapters. His book, Becoming Rooted: One Hundred Days of Reconnecting with Sacred Earth (2022) is critically acclaimed, and Indigenous Theology and the Western Worldview (2022) was voted a Top Ten Book of the Year by the Academy of Parish Clergy. He served for four years on the Oregon Dept. of Education, Native American/Alaska Native Advisory Board.
Randy and his wife and co-sustainer Edith (Eastern Shoshone), have four children and six grandchildren. Together, Randy and Edith have founded and co-sustain Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice and Eloheh Farm & Seeds, a non-profit teaching Farm that seeks to foster equity and justice between Indigenous peoples, the land and the wider society www.eloheh.org Through their organization, the Woodleys have tirelessly worked to educate and raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by Indigenous communities and others. Their approach is deeply rooted in their expansive experience and creativity, using teaching, activism, storytelling, art, and music to bridge cultural gaps and foster understanding.
The Woodley’s have co-authored a book Journey to Eloheh: How Indigenous Values Lead Us to Harmony and Well-Being. They received the Ecumenist of the Year Award for 2021 by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, (an inter-faith agency), the first time given to a couple. The Woodley’s also served on the Greater Portland Oregon Native American Climate Advisory Board together.
Randy and Edith’s commitment to activism, teaching, and creativity extends beyond their work. They actively engage in various creative pursuits, such as music, dance, and storytelling, which serve as powerful tools to convey their messages of hope, justice, and healing. Their creativity not only allows them to express their own experiences and perspectives but also to inspire and empower others to embrace their own creative potential as a means of transformation. They are also Indigenous cultural consultants at www.Sho-Kee.com
Books:

Journey to Eloheh: How Indigenous Values Lead Us to Harmony and Wellbeing, by Edith and Randy Woodley
Mission and the Cultural Other: A Closer Look
Indigenous Theology and the Western Worldview: A Decolonial Approach to Christian Doctrine
Becoming Rooted: One Hundred Days of Reconnecting with Sacred Earth
Decolonizing Evangelicalism: An 11:59PM Conversation
The Harmony Tree: A Story of Healing and Community
The Harmony Tree 2: Spared by Fire
The Harmony Tree Prequel: Different is Good
Shalom and the Community of Creation: An Indigenous Vision
Living in Color: Embracing God’s Passion for Ethnic Diversity
When Going to Church is Sin
Mixed Blood-Not Mixed Up

Installation of Dean Kelsey
2025-02-13 18:00 - 19:00 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Join the President, trustees, faculty, staff and students of Iliff School of Theology in the formal installation of the Rev. Dr. Cathie Kelsey as the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty.

Thursday, February 13, 2025

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Pulpit+ Exchange: Finding Hope
2025-02-17 17:00 - 19:00 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
February 2025 // “Finding Hope”
with
Dr. April MackAssistant Professor of Religion and Social Justice and the Director of the Master of Social Justice and Ethics Program, Iliff School of Theology
About the Evening’s Lecture
In this lecture, Dr. Mack will discuss historical and contemporary markers in the complex experience of African-American life in America and grapple with strategies for collective flourishing and social justice.
This engaging event invites participants to reflect on how these realities shape our shared experiences and explore ways to foster hope, resilience, and meaningful change in their communities. Rooted in her interdisciplinary expertise, Dr. Mack offers insights and practical tools for addressing structural inequalities and envisioning a more just and equitable future. Whether you are a scholar, activist, or someone seeking fresh perspectives, this lecture will inspire thoughtful dialogue and personal growth.
About Dr. April Mack
April Mack is the Assistant Professor of Religion and Social Justice and the Director of the Master of Social Justice and Ethics Program at Iliff School of Theology.
Dr. Mack describes herself as a Black feminist decolonial scholar and theo-ethicist concerned with ethics related to complex social issues, structural inequality, and wholistic justice and flourishing for Black Americans. Her research focuses on the development of postcolonial womanist theo-ethical discourse within Womanist Ethics. Dr. Mack’s other research interests include African Americans and Public Policy, Christian Social Ethics, and religious violence.Her signature course on religious violence is called God, Religion, and Violence.
Register Here
Livestream Link
About Pulpit+ Exchange
Iliff’s Pulpit+ Exchange Series (supported by the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative from Lilly Endowment Inc.) provides space for a diverse array of ordained clergy and lay leaders to gather for a meal and grapple with challenging issues. One of the main goals of the Pulpit+ Exchange is to build congregations of people who will authentically study, worship, walk, and act together across differences to create a just and equitable world.
About the Evening’s Agenda
In person & onlineLight meal: 5:00 – 5:45 PM (MST)Lecture: 5:45 PMQ&A and discussions with Dr. Mack & colleagues to follow

February Renewal: Looking into the Future
2025-02-19 12:00 - 13:30 | CO
February Renewal Session | Embracing the Future: Crisis, Loss, and the Path Forward with Meredith Wilson Parfet
Wednesday, Feb. 19th
12 Noon to 1:30 pm MST
Register Here
Registration Fee: $5 | Free for all students and Iliff faculty and staff
An additional donation is welcome.
If the registration fee is a barrier to your attendance at the event, please reach out to alumni@iliff.edu.
Session Description
As we look to the future, the inevitability of uncertainty invites us to confront not only external crises but also the deeply personal challenges of loss and mortality. In this session, Meredith Parfet—hospice chaplain, crisis management expert, founder of Ravenyard Group, Iliff Graduate and BOT Vice-Chair—guides us through the profound intersections of death, grief, and organizational resilience.Drawing on a rich tapestry of experience in crisis response and end-of-life care, Meredith will explore how understanding mortality offers transformative insights for navigating organizational and personal crises. Attendees will leave with practical tools for embracing uncertainty and fostering a culture of courage, compassion, and preparedness.Join us for a thought-provoking dialogue on how the lessons of grief can illuminate the path forward in an unpredictable world.
Series Description
We are always considering the future. As individuals, as members of groups, as citizens, we are often asking, What will tomorrow bring? How will our world, our country, our institutions look in the coming years? And how can we shape that future to make it better? In the midst of so many uncertainties, this Renewal season will focus on the question of what is coming next and how we can work for a better future. We will discuss topics ranging from artificial intelligence to religious institutions to politics and government. What can we expect as we watch these spaces change over the weeks, months and years, and what can we do? Join us for the 2024-2025 Renewal season as we learn about what tomorrow may hold and what we can do to enact justice today.
Meredith Wilson Parfet
Meredith’s day job is CEO of Ravenyard Group, a boutique crisis management firm. And in what might be described as the weirdest side hustle ever, she works a few shifts a month as a humanist hospice chaplain. She’s also an investor, entrepreneur, board member, and philanthropist. All while perpetually wrestling with the spiritual and the material. She completed her Master of Arts in Pastoral and Spiritual care at Iliff in 2021 and serves as the Vice Chairperson of the Iliff Board of Trustees. A fifth generation Colorado native, in her free time you can find Meredith driving her pickup on rural, mountain roads headed with her family to go fishing, hiking, or skiing.

Pulpit+ Exchange: What's a Theologian For?
2025-03-10 17:00 - 19:00 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
March 2024 // “What’s a Theologian For?”
with
Dr. Daniel Black
Professor of African American Studies
at Clark Atlanta University
About the Evening’s Lecture
What is the role of a theologian in today’s world? Join us for an unforgettable evening with Dr. Daniel Black—award-winning novelist, professor, activist, mentor, and public speaker—as he explores this provocative question and offers his unique perspective on the intersections of theology, culture, and the human experience.
Dr. Black’s literary works, including Perfect Peace, The Coming, and Don’t Cry for Me, have garnered critical acclaim for their poetic brilliance and unflinching exploration of identity, resilience, and community. His most recent work, Black on Black, is a passionate collection of essays described as “a tour de force” by renowned scholar Dr. Eddie Glaude. Whether through his novels, essays, or public speaking, Dr. Black invites audiences into deep reflection on love, justice, and the possibility of transformation in our collective lives.
About Dr. Daniel Black:
Dr. Daniel Black is a celebrated author and scholar whose body of work has been heralded as both visionary and deeply rooted in the traditions of African American storytelling. His novels, including Perfect Peace (hailed as an American literary classic by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker) and The Coming (praised as “brilliant” and “powerful” by National Book Award winner Charles Johnson), delve into themes of human dignity, identity, and the enduring spirit of community.
In addition to his prolific writing career, Dr. Black is a professor of African American Studies at Clark Atlanta University and the founder of the Ndugu-Nzinga Rites of Passage Nation, a mentoring society for people of African descent. His thought leadership extends beyond academia, with diversity consulting work for companies like Google, AT&T, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
Born in Kansas City, Kansas, and raised in Blackwell, Arkansas, Dr. Black’s academic journey took him to Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University), where he earned the prestigious Oxford Modern British Studies fellowship, and Temple University, where he studied under Black Arts Movement poet laureate Sonia Sanchez
Register HERE.
Livestream Link
About Pulpit+ Exchange
Iliff’s Pulpit+ Exchange Series (supported by the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative from Lilly Endowment Inc.) provides space for a diverse array of ordained clergy and lay leaders to gather for a meal and grapple with challenging issues. One of the main goals of the Pulpit+ Exchange is to build congregations of people who will authentically study, worship, walk, and act together across differences to create a just and equitable world.
About the Evening’s Agenda
In person & online
Light meal: 5:00 – 5:45 PM (MST)
Lecture: 5:45 PM
Q&A and discussions with Dr. Black & colleagues to follow

March Renewal: Looking into The Future
2025-03-19 12:00 - 13:30 | CO
March Renewal Session: The Future of Loving our Immigrant Neighbors with Mekela GoehringWed. March 19 at 12:00 pm MT via Zoom
Register Now
As the world around us shifts and new policies attack the most vulnerable members of our communities, how can we love and support our immigrant and migrant neighbors? What steps can we take to protect the rights of our community while pushing for a safer future?
Join us for our March Renewal Session as Mekela Goehring, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, shares about her work and the ways you can support immigrant populations in your community.
About the Speaker: Mekela Goehring, Esq., Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
Mekela Goehring has served as RMIAN’s Executive Director since 2005. She began working at RMIAN in 2003 as the organization’s first detention staff attorney, representing detained clients before the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Board of Immigration Appeals. She is a frequent speaker on issues involving immigration law and policy, and works with numerous committees and groups to expand access to justice for individuals in immigration proceedings in Colorado and beyond. Mekela has served as an adjunct professor for externships at the University of Colorado Law School.
Prior to working at RMIAN, Mekela clerked for Judge Casebolt at the Colorado Court of Appeals. Mekela’s passion for working for social justice through the legal system began during fellowships at Community Legal Services in Yuma, Arizona, and Colorado Legal Services in Denver, Colorado. Mekela graduated summa cum laude from the University of Colorado at Boulder and earned her J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School. She was admitted to the Colorado bar in 2002. Mekela has been a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association since 2003.
In 2013, the American Immigration Lawyers Association awarded Mekela the Arthur C. Helton Human Rights Award for her outstanding service in advancing the cause of human rights. In 2018, the University of Colorado Law School awarded Mekela the Dean’s Choice—Dean Edward C. King Making a Difference Award. In her free time, Mekela enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and all their animals in the Colorado outdoors.
About Renewal
The Renewal Conference is Iliff’s annual community gathering to share our work, hear timely messages from a variety of experts, and spend time in fellowship.
This year, our Renewal sessions focus on Looking to the Future.We are always considering the future. As individuals, as members of groups, as citizens, we are often asking, What will tomorrow bring? How will our world, our country, our institutions look in the coming years? And how can we shape that future to make it better?
In the midst of so many uncertainties, this Renewal season will focus on the question of what is coming next and how we can work for a better future. We will discuss topics ranging from artificial intelligence to religious institutions to politics and government. What can we expect as we watch these spaces change over the weeks, months and years, and what can we do? Join us for the 2024-2025 Renewal season as we learn about what tomorrow may hold and what we can do to enact justice today.

Pulpit+ Exchange "Religion in Diaspora: Africa-Inspired Religious Traditions in Cuba" with Dr. Shanti Zaid
2025-03-31 17:00 - 19:00 | CO
March 31, 2025
5:00 pm-7:00 pm
Shattuck Hall and Online
Register Here

About the Event
Join us for a conversation on “Religion in Diaspora: Africa-Inspired Religious Traditions in Cuba.” Dr. Shanti explores religion produced in diaspora and offers an overview of two Africa-inspired religious traditions of Cuba, how they developed as part of a larger African Diaspora, and some dynamic attributes of their practice that support Cuban communities of African descent.
About the Speaker
Dr. Shanti Zaid works at Denver’s Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, producing public historical programming on the Black experience in the Rocky Mountain West. He has a background in university teaching and international research on African Diaspora religions, and earned doctorate degrees in African American & African Studies and Cultural Anthropology from Michigan State University.

About Pulpit+ Exchange
Iliff’s Pulpit+ Exchange Series (supported by the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative from Lilly Endowment Inc.) provides space for a diverse array of ordained clergy and lay leaders to gather for a meal and grapple with challenging issues. One of the main goals of the Pulpit+ Exchange is to build congregations of people who will authentically study, worship, walk, and act together across differences to create a just and equitable world.
About the Evening’s Agenda
In-person & online
Light meal: 5:00 – 5:45 PM (MST)
Lecture: 5:45 PM
Q&A and discussions with Dr. Black & colleagues to follow
Unable to attend in person?
Register to receive the event live stream link.
