Iliff School of Theology

Holding Relationships: A Gathering to Remember
2025-10-23 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
HOLDING RELATIONSHIPS: A GATHERING TO REMEMBER
Student & Alumni Led Community Service

Shattuck Hall In-Person and Zoom Livestream
Thursday, October 23, 2025
6:00pm-8:00pm
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We invite all Iliff students, alumni, and community members to join us on the evening of October 23rd in-person at Iliff and online at this hybrid gathering. We will hear reflections from several people who have been part of this institutional reckoning over the decades and engage in ceremony that centers the Land and the Lenape ancestor. From 7:30-8:00 pm there will be dessert and conversation.
The focus of the student and alumni-led gathering is to engage in historical remembering and honoring the relationships that have gotten us to this significant moment that we will mark on Friday, October 24th with the Lenape Elders Council at the Memorial Site Ground Blessing Ceremony on-campus at 1pm.
More information can be found here including a letter from President Lee Butler: https://www.iliff.edu/ground-blessing-ceremony/. You can also learn more and find links to the Rocky Mountain PBS documentaries about this multi-generational institutional reckoning and conciliation process here: https://www.iliff.edu/lenape/
We invite you to participate as you are moved and able:

Memorial Site Ground Blessing Ceremony with the Lenape Elders Council | October 24 at 1pm in-person at Iliff. Please RSVP by October 17.
A hybrid Gathering to Remember with students and alumni | October 23 at 6pm in-person at Iliff or on Zoom. Please RSVP by October 22 to receive the link.
Share your stories and photos reflecting on the significance of this moment by filling out this form.
Offer your financial generosity to support the Tinker Native Studies Professorship Endowment

We look forward to seeing you and hearing from you.

Questions? Please contact: Iliff Student & Alumni Organization: iliffreckoning@gmail.com

Ground Blessing Ceremony
2025-10-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States

Interfaith Alliance of Colorado 2025 Force for Good Reception & Awards!
2025-11-13 18:00 - 20:00 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Democracy, Theocracy, and Autocracy

Thursday, November 13, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Iliff School of Theology, Shattuck Hall
REGISTER NOW
The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado invites you to join us for our 2025 Force for Good Reception & Awards!
HOSTED BY COMEDIAN COREY MANNING!
This event will celebrate the faith communities, elected officials, community leaders, and advocates who go above and beyond to make Colorado a place where all feel at home. It will also serve as the backdrop for a critical discussion on faith and the state of our democracy.

Keynote
We are thrilled to welcome Rev. Dr. Lee Butler, President of the Iliff School of Theology, as our keynote speaker!
A trailblazer in bringing intercultural community building and racial justice to many of the educational institutions he has served, the Rev. Dr. Lee H. Butler Jr. is currently the President and CEO of the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, CO. He is an active publishing scholar, most recently serving as the co-editor of The Edward Wimberly Reader: A Black Pastoral Theology (Baylor University Press, 2020).
We are thrilled to welcome Rev. Dr. Butler as our Keynote speaker to share his perspective on “Faith and the American-cracy.”

Faith and the American -cracy: A Reflection on American Democracy, Theocracy, and Autocracy
The United States of America has long been described as being founded on the principle of religious freedom. The colonials and revolutionaries of American history lived according to the idea that they were escaping the tyranny of an unjust ruler and communities of persecution. Religion has still influenced how we understand humanity, dominance, and freedom in terms of the language of life, liberty, and property. This evolved into the declaration that we are “One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” who met the qualifications for citizenship. This keynote address will reflect on our history as a nation and how influences of theocracy, autocracy, and democracy have shaped the United States as we know it today.

With faith and conscience as our compass, we will celebrate the incredible work happening in our state to protect democracy, true religioius freedom, and promote our shared values.
Join us for this important celebration and discussion. Get your tickets today!
Dress for a Cocktail Reception!
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November Renewal Session: A New Kind of Church
2025-11-19 12:00 - 13:30
November Renewal Session: A New Kind of Church
Wednesday, November 19 at 12:00 pm MT via Zoom
Register Here
When we think about what shapes our beliefs, for many of us, religious communities are a big influence. But how do our beliefs shape our religious communities? How do our beliefs about community, identity and belonging guide our spaces of worship? Do we need to rethink what we believe about church?
For our November 19 Renewal session, Rev. Dr. Jenny Whitcher (PhD ’12) will share about her work at the Juniper Formation, a Denver faith community that is trying to reimagine church. Join us for conversation about religion, belief, and community in action. Wednesday, November 19 via Zoom from 12:00 to 1:30 pm MT.
Presenters
Rev. Dr. Jenny Whitcher (she/her) is the Minister of Prophetic Formation and Co-Founder of Juniper Formation. Jenny is an entrepreneurial minister, community organizer, and theologian committed to social justice. She has over 20 years of experience coaching and mentoring leaders, teaching, and developing community partnerships. Her work spans nonprofit, congregations, and higher education. Her areas of expertise include: change management; entrepreneurial and prophetic ministry formation; democratic culture, leadership, and pedagogy; and social change theory and practice.
She is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ (UCC) and was the recipient of the Peacemaker Award from the Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Church of Christ in 2006. She has a B.A. from New York University, an M.A. in International Human Rights from the University of Denver, and a Ph.D. in Religion and Theological Studies from Iliff School of Theology & University of Denver.
Bry Brannan (they/them), Iliff MDiv Student, Minister of Land Discernment, accompanies congregations discerning ways to utilize their Land and buildings for community flourishing and intergenerational resilience. In 2026 they are launching a new ministry, the Root & Reckon Community of Practice for Rocky Mountain congregations who are reckoning with racism and colonization through Land stories. Reach out if you are interested in learning more!
Bry is finishing their MDiv at Iliff School of Theology where they focused on ecotheology and decolonizing congregational leadership. They were formed as a faith community organizer while working with the Church Council of Greater Seattle, the Southwest WA Synod of the ELCA and collaborating with the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network, and Farmworker Ministry Northwest. Their B.A. is from Pacific Lutheran University where they studied Global Studies, Political Science, and Spanish.

"How We all Get Free" Series - Pulpit+ Exchange
2026-01-05 - 2026-04-28 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States

January Renewal Session
2026-01-21 12:00 - 13:30
January Renewal Session
Belief at Iliff: A Student Panel
Wednesday, January 21 from noon to 1:30 pm MT via Zoom

At Iliff, our students are constantly being asked to reconsider their beliefs–about themselves, about theology, about the world, and about their place in the world. Students come to Iliff with a myriad of traditions and backgrounds, but they all gather in this unique place to learn and grow together.
For our January Renewal Session, four of our current students will share about their beliefs and views of the world, the story of how they got to Iliff, and their plans for after graduation. Join us to go inside the Iliff classroom with these students and hear what they have discovered about their own beliefs during their time here.

Register for January Renewal Here

Panelists:

Lex Dunbar, (he/they) MDiv ’25, Joint PhD Student
Lex Dunbar (He/They), a proud Norf-Philly native and recent transplant to Denver, CO, is a Black Non-Binary Transman, educator, activist, and community leader. His unwavering commitment to justice and change is a source of inspiration, as Lex draws on personal narrative and diverse theoretical frameworks, including Womanism, Black liberation theology, Transhumanist Deism, Afro-Futurism, and more. Currently a Ph.D. student in the Joint Doctoral Program in the Study of Religion at the University of Denver and Iliff School of Theology, Lex recently earned their second Master’s degree and became a certified Death and Grief Doula. A dynamic workshop facilitator and indecent preacher, Lex has also taught as an adjunct professor, developed educational programs, and contributed to numerous conferences and panels on issues of race, justice, and religious liberation. With a passion for community service, Lex amplifies marginalized voices, advocates for liberation, and fosters a more just world.

Josh Perez, (he/him) MTS ’25, Joint PhD Student
Josh Perez is a creative and academic based in Denver, CO, where he explores the intersection of storytelling, lived religion, and the human experience. With a multidisciplinary approach that spans filmmaking, audio, writing, and photography, Josh focuses on the spaces where artistry and daily life meet. Currently serving as the Creative Lead for the Institute of Religion, Culture, & Politics at the Iliff School of Theology, Josh holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of New Mexico and a Master’s in Theological Studies from Iliff. His recent thesis, “Laundry and Taxes: Cinema as Portals from Domination Into Worlds of Liberation,” highlights his research into film reception and the ways cinema orients us in the world. He is currently in his second year in the Joint Doctoral Program at the University of Denver and Iliff School of Theology. Beyond his academic work, Josh collaborates on Sweet & Condensed, a multimedia project and newsletter created by people who love people, movies, and the magic that emerges when they intersect.

Caralyn Ware, (she/her) Current MDiv Student
Cara Ware is in her final year of the M.Div program at Iliff & has served as the 2024-2025 & 2025-2026 Student Senate co-chair. She is a candidate for ordination as an elder and the leadership development representative for the Mountain Sky United Methodist Conference, and currently appointed as licensed local pastor at Brentwood UMC in Denver. While at Iliff, Cara’s work has focused on practical & pastoral theology, presenting at multiple international conferences on topics such as moral injury and postcolonial theory. Beyond studying at Iliff, Cara has a background in neuroscience and works as a clinical research analyst for the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.

Liz Wolfert, (she/her) Current MDiv Student
Liz Wolfert (she/her) is a third year MDiv student, a postulant for the priesthood in the Episcopal Church, and a long-time interfaith practitioner. She brings a wide variety of professional and vocational experiences to her community and person-to-person work. She is currently part of community building around Iliff student life; community gardening; Circle of Trust; international, interfaith, and intercultural solidarity; mental health and recovery; and more.

Inside Iliff, an online Admissions informational meeting
2026-02-12 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Conversations on Vocation: What can I do with a theological degree?
Thursday, February 12, 2025, at 6:00 pm MT – ONLINE
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Join the Admissions team as the topic of vocation is explored, particularly answering the question, “What can I do with a theological degree?” We will have a distinguished panel of alums and friends that are doing impactful ministry/service with their degree. They will share pathways, strategies, important “aha moments” along the way, and pearls of wisdom for the journey. You don’t have to do what is considered traditional. The Divine is creative so there are many ways to live out your call and put the degree and learning to good use so that all creation may flourish.
All are invited! Current students, discerning and inquiring students, church and community members, alums and friends we welcome you Inside Ilff.
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February Renewal Session
2026-02-25 12:00 - 13:30
A History of Belief and Action in the United Methodist Church
Wednesday, February 25 | 12:00 to 1:30 pm MDT
Via Zoom – REGISTER NOW
Speaker: Rev. Tom Barlow, Iliff Term Assistant Professor in Methodist Studies
February Renewal Session Grace in Motion: Wesley and Social Witness Wednesday, February 25 from noon to 1:30 pm MT via Zoom Methodists have linked grace, holiness, and social action from John Wesley to the present. Rather than debating outcomes, this talk offers historical and theological perspective on why disagreement keeps emerging – and what the tradition offers for faithful public witness. For our February Renewal session, Iliff’s Term Assistant Professor in Methodist Studies, Rev. Dr. Tom Barlow, will share about the history of belief and action in the United Methodist Church.
$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.
REGISTER NOW

Miguel De La Torre 50th Book Celebration!
2026-03-04
Miguel De La Torre 50th Book Celebration!

March 4, 2026 from 4:30pm to 7:30pm MST
REGISTER NOW

Join us for an extraordinary evening honoring Iliff faculty member Miguel De La Torre, one of only five scholars in history to have published over 50 books within the American Academy of Religion. This milestone speaks to a lifetime of groundbreaking scholarship, public engagement, and transformative impact.
This in-person and live-streamed celebration brings together leading voices, vibrant conversation, and a joyful community in honor of Dr De Le Torres achievements.
Event Highlights
4:30 PM – Celebration Kickoff
The party starts early! Gather with colleagues and friends to celebrate Miguel’s remarkable achievement. (Yes! There will be food!)
5:00 PM – Panel Discussion: Inerogating Hope
A dynamic panel reflecting on Miguel De La Torre’s scholarly legacy, ethical vision, and influence on the field.
Featuring Iliff School of Theology leaders and voices, including:

Rev. Dr. Lee Butler, President, Iliff School of Theology
Dr. April Mack
More speaker bios will be available to registrants.

6:15–7:30 PM – Music and salsa dancing
We close the evening with rhythm, movement, and joy with music and salsa dancing to celebrate a career that has always connected scholarship to life, culture, and community.
Celebrate a once-in-a-generation scholarly achievement. Come for the scholarship. Stay for the music. Celebrate a legacy.
Register now and be part of this historic moment honoring Miguel De La Torre’s 50-book journey.

March Renewal Session
2026-03-25
March Renewal Session
Clergy Activists: A Panel Discussion
Wednesday, March 25 from noon to 1:30 pm MT

When we consider the role of a faith leader, many of us may imagine someone standing in front of a congregation or teaching from an ancient text. But what does it look like to minister out in the community? How are faith leaders standing up, speaking out, and providing support outside the pulpit?
For our March Renewal session, we will be joined by a panel of three Iliff alumni/ae who are doing the work of leading inside and outside traditional religious spaces to live out their call when they aren’t standing in the pulpit. This session will provide an opportunity to hear about the work a minister can do outside of their congregation to give our community a better understanding of how activism and action outside the church walls are part of a pastor’s role, and an idea of how we can support religious leaders in their work in organizing, mutual aid and social change.

Register for March Renewal Here

Ecowomanism: Resilience, Eco-Theology, and Justice
2026-03-25 17:30 - 20:00 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Ecowomanism: Resilience, Eco-Theology, and Justice

March 25 | 5:30 Reception | 6:30 Presentation MDT | $5

Climate change isn’t just a policy issue—it’s a spiritual one.
Overview
Join us for an evening with Dr. Melanie Harris and Dr. Amy Erickson as they move from sacred theory to local action. The voices we’ve been missing are the ones we need most. Through a powerful blend of sacred song, contemplative practice, and intellectual deep-dives, we’re moving beyond “sustainability” and toward sacred connection.
Following her lecture, Dr. Melanie Harris will sit down with Dr. Amy Erickson for a dynamic conversation about what these ideas look like in everyday practice. Together, they will explore how eco-womanist spirituality and relational ways of understanding the world can foster healthier food systems and stronger communities.
This dialogue will bridge the gap between theology and action, highlighting the concrete implications for food justice initiatives within our own Colorado communities.
The Details

Wednesday, March 25 2026
5:30 PM: Reception | 6:30 PM: Conversation
Iliff School of Theology| 2323 E. Iliff Ave., Denver, Colorado 80210
Refreshments provided with RSVP
Cost: $5

Why Attend?

Center the Voices: Prioritize the voices of women of color in the climate justice movement.
Restore the Sacred: Rediscover the ancestral and spiritual bond between humans and the Earth.
Explore Local Impact: Learn how relational justice can transform food systems and land stewardship in Colorado.
Find Resilience: Reconnect with the beauty in yourself and your community to sustain long-term activism.

REGISTER NOW

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Dr. Melanie L. Harris: Rooted in Faith, Justice, and the Earth
Dr. Melanie L. Harris is a scholar-activist, poet, and minister who lives at the intersection of Black feminist wisdom and environmental justice. As a Professor and the Director of Food, Health, and Ecological Well Being at Wake Forest University, her work isn’t just about theory—it’s about the sacred connection between our bodies, our plates, and the planet.
A leading voice in Ecowomanism, Dr. Harris champions the idea that honoring the Earth is inseparable from the fight for racial and gender liberation. She centers the voices of Black women who have long been the stewards of the land, weaving together her background as an AME minister with her artistry as a singer and writer to call for a more just and soulful world.

Dr. Melanie L. Harris’ Work in Motion

The Ecowomanist Center: As the founding director, she leads this non-profit in celebrating the activism and brilliance of environmental writers of color, bridging the gap between climate justice and community leadership.
Voice for the People: A former broadcast journalist for ABC, CBS, and NBC, she knows how to tell the stories that matter. She uses those skills today to consult for organizations like the Ford Foundation, ensuring that social justice remains at the heart of education.
Authored Wisdom: She has penned transformative books including Ecowomanism: Earth Honoring Faiths and Gifts of Virtue, which explore how we can live ethically and sustainably in a broken world.

From the halls of Spelman and Harvard to the pulpits of the AME church, Dr. Harris remains a community leader dedicated to the idea that liberation is ecological. Whether she is teaching, preaching, or mothering, her life’s work is a testament to the power of faith-led activism.

Dr. Amy Erickson: Professor of Hebrew Bible at the Iliff School of Theology
Erickson teaches a range of courses in biblical interpretation, including The Body and Sexuality in the Hebrew Bible, The Hebrew Bible and Ecology, and Jonah and Its Afterlives. Her research interests include Hebrew poetry, poetic and mythological texts in ancient West Asian literature, and the Hebrew Bible’s history of interpretation.
She has a BA from Bates College, an MDiv from Columbia Theological Seminary, and a PhD from Princeton Theological Seminary.

She has completed a commentary on the book of Jonah and its history of interpretation entitled Jonah: Introduction and Commentary (Illuminations; Eerdmans, 2021), and has written articles on Job, Jonah, the Psalms, Zechariah, and Amos for academic journals and edited volumes. Erickson is also a regular contributor to workingpreacher.org, the Huffington Post ON Scripture, The Christian Century, and The Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception (de Gruyter). She is currently working on a book on the Hebrew Bible and ecology.

Ecowomanism: Resilience, Eco-Theology, and Justice

Join us on March 25 for a transformative dinner event centering the voices of African, Indigenous, and Black women to reclaim our relationship with the planet and move beyond “sustainability” toward sacred connection.
Traditional climate justice activism often leaves people of color out. Ecowomanism changes that.
Register Now

Inside Iliff, an online Admissions informational meeting
2026-04-09 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 6:00 pm MT – ONLINE
REGISTER
The Iliff School of Theology invites you “Imagine Iliff” by exploring our graduate education offerings! Engage with our Associate Dean of Students, our Admissions Team, Leadership and current students/staff.
This FREE event will be informative, relational (not “salesy”), and include a Q&A session. A Zoom link will be sent a day or two before the event to all those who register.
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Inside Iliff, an online Admissions informational meeting
2026-06-11 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Thursday, June 11, 2025, at 6:00 pm MT – ONLINE
REGISTER
Join us for Inside Iliff, an online Admissions informational meeting designed to help prospective students explore how Iliff can support their spiritual and vocational journey.
This 90-minute session will provide a comprehensive overview of our degree programs and other educational offerings, including details on learning modalities, the application process, financial aid, and available scholarships. Participants will also have the opportunity to hear student stories and engage directly with our admissions team during a Q&A segment. Iliff’s priority application deadline is January 31, 2026. This is an important date for those seeking the best access to scholarships and early consideration.
If you are ready to do the work of justice, advocacy, freedom, ethics, prophetic leadership, religion, trauma, healing, and ministry, we invite you and your friends to register today.
REGISTER

Inside Iliff, an online Admissions informational meeting
2026-07-16 | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Thursday, July 16, 2025, at 6:00 pm MT – ONLINE
REGISTER
Join us for Inside Iliff, an online Admissions informational meeting designed to help prospective students explore how Iliff can support their spiritual and vocational journey.
This 90-minute session will provide a comprehensive overview of our degree programs and other educational offerings, including details on learning modalities, the application process, financial aid, and available scholarships. Participants will also have the opportunity to hear student stories and engage directly with our admissions team during a Q&A segment. Iliff’s priority application deadline is January 31, 2026. This is an important date for those seeking the best access to scholarships and early consideration.
If you are ready to do the work of justice, advocacy, freedom, ethics, prophetic leadership, religion, trauma, healing, and ministry, we invite you and your friends to register today.
REGISTER
