Theology in the City Conference September 23-27, 2024

Theology in The City, 2024 edition
Looking for a Home
INTRODUCTION
The overarching theme of Theology in the City 2024 Edition is “Looking for a
Home.” From September 23 to 27, 2024, different groups will approach the
theme from various angles and gradually zoom in from planet Earth as our
home to Canada, Montreal, and downtown as the home of thousands of
people.

Coming from many different backgrounds, whether students or
businesspeople, homeless people and older people, Indigenous people, and
tourists, they all try to make this beautiful city a temporary or permanent
home for themselves and others in many different ways.

On Monday, members of the Montreal Biblical Colloquium will discuss the
earth as God’s creation. We will ask ourselves whether the Bible is still relevant
today and what we can learn from Scripture regarding ecology and peace.
How can we keep our planet free of climate catastrophes, war, conflict, and
forced immigration?

On Tuesday, the Lonergan Group will examine his philosophy of lifelong
learning and how it can contribute to a better awareness and orientation
towards the real and the good. They will also discuss how one can practice
this daily and apply it to the many challenges of his world.

On Wednesday, members of the St. Jax and St. Andrew & St. Paul Church
communities will look at the challenges the digital world poses to all of us.
Especially young people, who, after years of COVID-19 forced lockdown,
loneliness and anxiety about the future when looking for a home for
themselves, often seem to turn to an increasingly virtual reality.

On Thursday, members of the McGill Office of Religious and Spiritual Life
and Concordia’s Multi-Faith and Spirituality Center will examine the
challenges that interacting with people of different backgrounds, religious
views, and political views poses to daily life as a student in Montreal.
On central moments of Monday to Thursday, all involved groups will
contribute with a celebration of inclusiveness and hope, inviting the many
less fortunate in this city to join a table of shared meals.

On Friday, a closing panel will conclude the week.

Locations: Concordia University, McGill University, MORSL, MFSC

PROGRAMME (SUMMARY)

Monday, September 23, 2024 Montreal Biblical Colloquium
Gerbern S. Oegema The Earth as Our Home
Keynote Speaker: Gerbern S. Oegema (McGill University), Homeland,
Homelessness and Home in the Life of Abraham

In this Colloquium of the Montreal Biblical Colloquium, the theme is the
Earth as our home and God’s home. This theme will be discussed by
interpreting Biblical texts through the lens of the Jewish-Christian
tradition and in light of the many challenges of today. The main focus will
be on man-induced climate change, war and conflict, and immigration,
and how this has affected both the earth as God’s creation and the world
as an ever more contested home for millions of people. How do climate
catastrophes, war and conflict between neighbours over land, such as in
the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as forced immigration worldwide,
affect the way people can live peacefully together? How do we respond to
these challenges from a Biblical-theological perspective?

Tuesday, September 24, 2024 Lonergan Day
Karen Peterson et al. At Home in the World
Keynote Speaker: J. Michael Stebbins, PhD (Boston College), “Being at
Home in an Incomplete Universe”

“At Home in the World: Lonergan’s Topics in Education”: Theology in
the City 2024 seeks academics (students and scholars) to share research
around the theme of “Finding a Home” and to generate public discussion
on this theme beyond the academy. In his 1959 lecture series for Xavier
University in Cincinnati, Ohio, later published as Topics in Education,
Bernard Lonergan, S. J. outlined a philosophy of education based on his
conviction that human learning is oriented toward the real and the good.
On this premise, teaching and learning become moral acts; they are how
we shape a world worth inhabiting. Therefore, Lonergan Day of TCIC 2024
seeks papers on contemporary education in its ethical dimensions,
inspired by Lonergan’s approach in Topics in Education. Possible
applications include the university/seminary and the human good, science
and the human good, racism and education, inter-religious education,
historical pedagogy, teaching and indigeneity, the good in art and
architecture, etc.

Wednesday, September 25, 2024 – morning MORSL and MfSC
Volunteer with MFSC and MORSL: Welcome Hall Mission
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/951481987237

Join students and staff from the McGill Office of Religious and Spiritual Life
and Concordia’s Multi-Faith and Spirituality Centre in service at the
Welcome Hall Mission. We’ll help Welcome Hall Mission staff prepare food
donations for clients of their Marché Bon Accueil, a grocery-store-like
market that serves up to 3000 low-income Montrealers a week. Inspired
by Eboo Patel’s Interfaith Youth Corps programming, this service-learning
opportunity allows individuals from various backgrounds to support a
good cause in the local community while working together to get to know
each other and build links. MfSC and MORSL staff will facilitate reflection
during the morning so that participants can articulate the values and
desires that motivated them to engage in community service and hear
others’ perspectives on the same question.

Wednesday, September 25, 2024 – afternoon Church of St. Andrew & St.
Paul
Susan Brasier (with Gerbern Oegema) Home in a Digital World

After a simple free lunch at noon, the TITC conference will continue with
an afternoon of dynamic presentations. The Rev. Jenna Smith will present
her ground-breaking work regarding the Quebec religious response to the
concept of home and intimate partner violence. Professor and
documentary filmmaker Dr. Eric Weisman will present his video essay,
Subtext: Real Stories (the idea of home when one is homeless), followed by
a lecture. The afternoon will conclude with a concert featuring the
acclaimed musicians from the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul’s music
department, followed by the keynote address from Dr Cory Labreque –
There’s No Place Like Home: Theological and Ethical Reflections on
Artificial Intelligence and Aging at Home in the Digital Age.

Thursday, September 26, 2024 Concordia and McGill Chaplaincies
Jennifer & Carlene Gardner Religious & Spiritual Diversity on Campus
Theme: Spiritual and Religious Homes on Campus: Talk & Walking Tour
Location: McGill and Concordia Campus (for details, see schedule
below)
Organisers: Jen Bourque, Multi-faith and Spirituality Centre and
Carlene Gardner, McGill Office of Religious and Spiritual Life

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/957305846557ç

1:00 pm: Talk by Carlene Gardner, MORSL and Jen Bourque, MfSC, on the
work of MORSL and MfSC on their respective campuses. Henry F. Hall
Building, Concordia SGW Campus, 1550 de Maisonneuve Ouest, room 655

1:45 pm: prepare for walking tour

2-4 pm: walking tour with visits to: Muslim Student Association space, Hall Building, 7th floor; Other Concordia religious student groups’ spaces; Hillel House; Chabad House; Newman Centre;

The tour will end at MORSL’s office with light refreshments.

Friday, September 27, 2024 Department of Theology, Concordia
The closing panel will be held with the speakers for all four days.
Creating a Home for All