About the Conference

Throughout its history, the Christian church has been periodically remade. A fresh movement of God's Spirit brings forth renewed fervor and gives birth to new manifestations of the Body of Christ. The Believers Church tradition, also known as the Free Church tradition, is one such rebirth. Within that movement, several religious groups called for radical commitment to a living faith that emphasized religious experience, obedience and visible witness. Quakers, Brethren, Baptist, Church of God, and many other contemporary traditions have deep roots in the Believers Church tradition.

Perhaps the greatest challenge facing contemporary Christian descendants of these groups is that of recovering a distinct and radical edge to their witness.

This conference will examine the theological and practical distinctives of the Believers Church tradition. It will, however, offer more than a historical survey. Attention will be given to recovering a radical witness that is appropriate in a society significantly shaped by postmodernism.

Keynote Speaker

Barry Callen

This year's featured speaker is Barry Callen, Professor of Christian Studies at Anderson University. Professor Callen is author or editor of seventeen books, including Radical Christianity: The Believers Church Tradition in Christianity's History and Future published in 1999.

An ordained minister of twenty-eight years with the North Anderson Church of God (Anderson), Professor Callen brings a rich background of pastoral and classroom experience. As a student, Professor Callen's own educational journey included Anderson University, Asbury Theological Seminary, Chicago Theological Seminary, Ball State University, Nova University and Indiana University. As a faculty member, he has taught in numerous areas, including Bible, Theology, Ethics and Christian Spirituality.

Professor Callen will be joined on the program by faculty members from Earlham School of Religion and Bethany Theological Seminary. Together they will help conference attendees consider the insight and wisdom of Radical Christianity in ways that are useful to contemporary congregations. Special consideration will be given to ways this radical witness may be exercised in today's cultural setting.

Papers presented by:

	Stephen Angell (2001), Geraldine Leatherock Professor of Quaker Studies, B.A., Boston University, 1974; M.A. Earlham School of Religion, 1982; M.A. Vanderbilt University, 1987; Ph.D., Vanderbilt University, 1988, angelst@earlham.edu.
	Stephanie Ford (2000), Visiting Assistant Professor of Christian Spirituality, B.A., Oral Roberts University, 1981; M. A., Oral Roberts University, 1982; M. A., Oklahoma State University, 1985; M. Div., The Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, 1996; Ph. D. candidate, The Catholic University of America, fordst@earlham.edu
	David Johns (2001), Assistant Professor of Theology, B.A., Malone College, 1985; M.A., Earlham School of Religion, 1989; M.L.S., Kent State University, 1993; Ph.D., Duquesne University, 1999, johnsda@earlham.edu
	Tim Seid (2001), Associate Dean of Distributed Learning, B. A., Grace College, 1981; M. A., Wheaton College Graduate School, 1984; Ph.D., Brown University, 1996, seidti@earlham.edu