Four-College Conference: “Homes of the Sacred”

June 15-17, 2025 (in-person or online)

This year’s conference focuses on questions of sacred space, such as:

What is sacred space? How do we participate in co-creating sacred space? What theological responses and practices equip us for engaging hope in the world today?

The main speaker is The Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Y. Lartey, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Pastoral Theology and Spiritual Care at Candler School of Theology (Emory University), who will speak about how the various homes of the sacred are places of community and communal care. After his presentation, he will engage in dialogue with an additional scholar and then open the conversation to participants. A panel of STU Common Faculty members will also present on issues of sacred space from their disciplines.

This year’s conference also coincides with the biennial meeting of the International Academy of Practical Theology, offering participants a unique opportunity to engage with panels exploring Canadian and global perspectives on the theme of “imagining home.” Featured keynote addresses by Elder Maria Campbell and Joseph Naytowhow—both facilitated by members of the STU community—will deepen this exploration. The conference will conclude with a collaborative, guided session in which participants draw on the insights gained to co-create a “Christian Action Plan,” envisioning concrete ways to embody hope in their own communities and contexts.

The in-person registration includes all meals. Registrations before May 18 receive a discount.