2022 Annual Conference: Faithful to the Call--Renewing Theological Ethics from the Ground Up

Conference Outline 

May 11-13, 2022

Faithful to the Call: Renewing Theological Ethics from the Ground Up

What does faithfulness to the call of Christ demand within the political, economic, and social orders of today’s world? Where can Christians turn for help in discerning that call, and how can Christian ethicists serve those who must make difficult moral decisions? 

In May of 2022, prominent ethicists, theologians, philosophers, and practitioners will gather in Oxford to honour Professor Nigel Biggar’s efforts to do Christian ethics from the ground up. Our presenters will mark Professor Biggar’s retirement after fifteen years of work as Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology by offering creative and constructive proposals across a wide range of issues, including bioethics, just war, political theology, and academic freedom.

In addition to the McDonald Distinguished Lectures to be delivered by Oliver O'Donovan and Nigel Biggar, featured speakers include Chris Eberle, Jennifer Herdt, Gerald McKenny, James Orr, Daniel Philpott, Charles Matthewes, Patrick Smith, Eric Gregory, Krishan Kumar, and Baroness Onora O'Neill.

Please watch and listen to the featured presentations here at the 2022 McDonald Centre Annual Conference YouTube playlist.

A conference poster is available for download and can be found here.

 

Conference Schedule

Wednesday, May 11th

5:00 PM: 

Professor Oliver O’Donovan: “Statues” (McDonald Distinguished Lecture Series)

 

Thursday, May 12th

9:30-11:00:

Gerry McKenny:  "Barthian Thomism?" 

Charles Mathews:"On the Possibility and Actuality of Judgment: Lessons from Augustine's City of God 19 and 20"

11:00-11:30: Break

11:30-1:00:

Chris Eberle: “Christian Faith in the Profession of Arms: Reflections on a Platoon Commander in Fallujah"

James Orr: “The Liberty Above All Liberties: Academic Freedom and Public Reason”

1:00-2:00: Lunch

2:00-3:30 

Patrick Smith: “Toward a Common Grace Christian Bioethics: An African-American Protestant Engagement”

Jennifer Herdt: “Dignity, Responsibility, and Vocation beyond the Human

3:30-5:00: Tea Reception

5:00:

Professor Nigel Biggar: "'Honour the Fate you Are': Reflections on Christian Realism" (McDonald Distinguished Lecture Series)

 

Friday, May 13th 

9:30-11:00:

Onora O’Neill:  “Human Rights and Perfect Duties”

Daniel Philpott: “Resurrecting Justice”

11:00-11:30: Break

11:30-1:00:

Eric Gregory: “Nationalism for Gentiles”

Krishan Kumar: “Why Should We Be Interested in Empires?”