This is the first of four planned episodes featuring content gathered at our 2009 Calling Congregations conference in Atlanta, GA

This is the fourth and final episode from the 2007 FTE Doctoral Conference hosted at Duke Divinity School. The theme of the 2007 Conference was Teaching Religion and Theology in the 21st Century. In this episode, Dr. Stephen Ray, Neal F. and Ila A. Fisher Professor of Theology at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, delivers a sermon during the closing worship service of the conference. After three days of networking, workshops, advising sessions, lectures, and good fellowship, Dr. Ray sends the assembled group of FTE Doctoral Fellows back home to their studies, considering the role of Jesus as teacher.

This is the third of four episodes from the 2007 FTE Doctoral Conference hosted at Duke Divinity School. Annually, we gather our awarded fellows and distinguished faculty to provide our students with opportunities for professional development, mentoring support, and exploration of issues critical to the work and life of theological educators. In addition to the financial support FTE provides for Ph.D. and Th.D. students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, these gatherings help to provide the relational support and professional networks that students need to flourish in graduate school and beyond. Since 1999, through these programs, we have supported over 300 Ph.D. and Th.D. students from African-American, Latino, Asian-American, and Native American backgrounds, over 100 of which have completed their programs. It is also important to note that while PhD programs in the humanities in the US have a 50% dropout rate, we through our partnership with a committed community of faculty mentors and advisors, we have been able to achieve a 98% retention rate since 1999.

The theme of the 2007 Conference was Teaching Religion and Theology in the 21st Century. You’re about to hear from four of our former fellows who are now teaching and, after their first few years in the profession, have some wisdom to share with younger rising scholars. This roundtable discussion on the realities of the first years in the profession is moderated by Dr. Evelyn Parker, Associate Professor of Christian Education at Perkins school of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

You’ll hear reflections from:

- Jalane Schmidt, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, University of Virginia

- J. Kameron Carter, Associate Professor of Theology at Duke University

- James Samuel Logan, Assistant Professor of Religion and African and African American Studies at Earlham College

- Tammy Williams, assistant professor of theology and black church studies at Duke Divinity School

The theme for this conference was Teaching Religion and Theology in the 21st Century. What you’re about to hear is a lecture and demonstration on Teaching an Intro Class. This lecture presented to a gathering of graduate students, FTE fellows, looking forward to the day when would enter the classroom as professor and not pupil. This Master class was led by Dr. Evelyn Parker, Associate Professor of Christian Education at Perkins school of Theology at Southern Methodist University, and Dr. Michael Joseph Brown, Associate Professor of new Testament and Christian Origins at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. After Drs Parker and Brown make their presentations, you will also hear observations on this teaching demonstration from Professor J. Kameron Carter Associate Professor of Theology and Balck Church Studies at Duke Divinity School, Dr. Valerie Bridgeman Davis, Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible/Homiletics and Worship, Lancaster Theological Seminary and Professor Cheryl Kirk Duggan, Professor of Theology and Women’s Studies at Shaw University Divinity School.