Welcoming Christopher Watkin
In an age of rapid cultural change, the question for every believer is both simple and urgent: What does it mean to faithfully follow Christ here and now? If we desire to navigate an increasingly non-Christian context with wisdom, courage, and grace, how we equip our pastors, church leaders, and everyday disciples is critically important.
This November, Redeemer Community Church, in partnership with Beeson Divinity School, is honored to welcome Dr. Christopher Watkin, author of Biblical Critical Theory, to Birmingham. Over the course of his stay, Dr. Watkin will help us think deeply and biblically about how the Bible speaks to – and transforms – every facet of life in our ever-evolving cultural moment.
Whether you are a pastor, student, or simply someone seeking to follow Jesus with faithfulness and clarity, this will be an excellent opportunity to think, learn, and grow alongside one of today’s leading Christian voices. We hope that you join us.
Schedule
Talkback with Redeemer College
Tuesday, November 11 • 7:00-9:00 PM
Watkin will be joining Redeemer College on Tuesday evening for a Talkback. These are times of teaching followed by questions from the audience about how to remain rooted in the Word of God, while in college.
While the gathering will be hosted by Redeemer College, all are welcome, and no registration is needed.
Ministry Leaders Forum
Wednesday, November 12 • 9:00 AM-1:00 PM
At this event, Dr. Watkin will speak specifically to the challenge that ministry leaders all over Birmingham, as well as all over the world, face daily: leadership that is both deeply biblical and culturally astute. Dr. Watkin will offer a framework for this leadership, and our hope is that this will be profoundly helpful to you as you navigate the difficult questions, conversations, and dynamics that are ever present in ministry.
Dr. Watkin will explore how the Bible’s grand narrative speaks into today’s cultural currents, and help us consider how to resist the pressures of conformity, articulate the hope of Christ with clarity, and shepherd our communities with faithfulness.
We hope everyone will stay after the Ministry Leaders Forum for lunch from 11:30 - 1:00, and an opportunity to fellowship with one another.
Everyone is welcome to attend, though we do ask that you register in advance if possible so we can plan for the proper amount of food. Registration is $10, but if cost is an issue, please let us know – we don’t want that to be a limiting factor for anyone.
An Evening Q&A with Christopher Watkin
Wednesday, November 12 • 6:00-8:00 PM
Later on, join us for an evening of continued teaching and conversation. He’ll offer a brief teaching on what it means to follow Christ faithfully in our rapidly shifting cultural moment, then open the floor for your questions. This is a unique opportunity to engage with one of today’s leading Christian thinkers and explore how the Bible speaks to the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
Everyone is welcome to attend. Childcare is available, though we do ask that you register in advance so we can plan for the proper amount of caregivers.
Our Guest
Dr. Chritopher Watkin is joining us from Melbourne, Australia, where he is a Senior Lecturer in French Studies at Monash University, as well as a fellow with the Keller Center for Apologetics at The Gospel Coalition. He is a leading voice at the intersection of philosophy, theology, and cultural critique and recently authored Biblical Critical Theory. His writing traces how individuals and societies make sense of the world—especially when confronted with contrasting beliefs and ideas. As a Christian thinker and teacher, Christopher brings deep intellectual rigor to bear on questions of meaning, culture, and faith in contemporary life.