Conference Brings Approximately 200 Theologians to Campus

Students might be gone, but McGee Hall was still bustling with activity last week. Last week, the College Theology Society made the University its home for four days, with approximately 200 theologians coming from across the U.S. to take part in the organization’s 62nd annual conference.

According to Glenn Young, Ph.D., assistant professor of theology and religious studies, 2016 marks the first time that Rockhurst has hosted the conference.

“I’ve been excited about this ever since we got the opportunity to host,” he said. “I wanted people to know about Rockhurst. This was a way to show off our campus a little bit, especially our new building.”

With theologians from a variety of different programs and research interests represented, sessions ranged from historical research to examinations of teaching methods, from smaller breakout sessions to large speakers in Arrupe Hall. In the lobby, a book fair displayed more work from leading theologians.

Among the conference's presenters was Tim Dulle, ’13, now a doctoral student at Fordham University, whom Young said was delivering his first academic paper presentation. It was a conference highlight for Dulle's former instructor.

“To see one of our alums go on and give his first academic paper at his alma mater was pretty cool,” he said on Friday.

It was not all business —because the attendees were all staying in close quarters at the University’s on-campus housing, Young said they had an opportunity to interact in non-academic ways, including some late night music jams.

And that feeling of togetherness has other benefits, as well. Young said conferences like the CTS meeting allow experts in their field to talk to each other in a way they might not otherwise.

“When you hear other people’s ideas and what they are working on, it inspires you to think about things that you might want to work on,” he said. “So that discussion and learning from one another is really rich.”