Featuring Dr. Cynthia Rigby, the W.C. Brown Professor of Theology at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary: Videos Available!

Excellent Convocation Address, Responses and Discussion held Saturday, January 25, 2020 at the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC

Guest Speaker

Rev. Dr. Cynthia Rigby
Austin Theological Seminary

Reformed Christians and Public Life: How Can We Speak to a Frayed Society?

Video of Dr. Rigby’s Presentation Here

Video of Responses and Discussion

Download Flyer with Bios

How can Christians and the Church speak to torn civic life with healing and hope?”  As Reformed Christians, how do we represent the Gospel in spaces, places, and communities that don’t speak the same theological language that we speak? Given the antipathy to organized religion and “religious”  people,  how do we regain trust as dialogue partners with others?  And what is it, exactly, that we have to offer to the brokenness we all share in and are trying to heal?  A number of Reformed themes address this question: Grace, Forgiveness, Restoration, Irreplaceable personhood.   In a world where you can only get what you can pay for,  where forgiveness is elusive,  where restoration (for example of failed civic leaders)  seems impossible,  and where everyone believes that “no one is irreplaceable,” we worship a God who tells us differently. But how do we get  this good news out to the wider church and to society?

Dr. Rigby is a prolific scholar, gifted teacher, and accomplished preacher and speaker. Her most recent book, Holding Faith: A Practical Introduction to Christian Faith (Abingdon Press, 2018), weaves the doctrines of the church into the rhythms and practices of everyday life. Her scholarship includes books on social righteousness, protestant perspectives of Mary, feminist theology, power in theology and scripture, and more. Rigby is an associate editor for the Journal of Reformed Theology and the Journal of the American Academy of Religion and serves on the board of the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation.

Responses were given by Rev. Jessica Tate of “Next Church,” and Rev. John Molina-Moore, General Presbyter of the National Capital Presbytery