"The Ministry of Writing" colloquium was endowed by individuals in honor of Tom Mullen at the time of his retirement as Dean of Earlham School of Religion in 1990. Tom retired from ESR in 1997 and passed away June 19, 2009. His "Writing for the Religious Market" class, first offered over 20 years ago, was the beginning of ESR's unique emphasis in the ministry of writing. This colloquium is one way the school demonstrates its commitment to the written word as an important form of ministry.

• 2012 keynote speaker Sharman Apt Russell - November 2-3, 2012
• 2011 Keynote Speaker: Scott Cairns, Nov. 4-5, 2011 (PDF Brochure)
• 2010 "Spirituality and the Arts" with Carrie Newcomer, Oct. 15, 16 2010 (Brochure PDF)
• 2009 "Writing as Ruin, Relic, and Resurrection" with Poet & Author Julia Kasdorf, October 30-31, 2009 (PDF brochure)
• 2008 Keynote Speaker: Robert Wicks, October 24-25 (PDF brochure)
• 2007 Keynote Speaker: Haven Kimmel, Oct. 26-27, 2007 (PDF brochure)
• 2006 Keynote Speakers: Robert Olen Butler & Elizabeth Dewberry, October 27-28 (PDF brochure)
• 2005 Keynote Speakers: Lauren Winner and Diane Glancy - also includes workshops October 21-22, 2005 (PDF brochure)
• 2004 Li-Young Lee - panel discussion, keynote, & workshops Oct. 22 & 23 (PDF brochure)
• 2003 Scott Russell Sanders - panel discussion, keynote, & workshops Oct. 22, 25 (PDF brochure)
• 2002 Phil Gulley - panel discussion, keynote, & workshops Oct. 25, 26
• 2001 Elizabeth Cox, keynote & workshops - Oct. 19-20
• 2000 Donna Jo Napoli, keynote & workshops - Oct. 20,21
• 1999 Will D. Campbell, keynote & workshops - Oct. 29,30

Previous keynote speakers for the Colloquium have been:

1992—William Zinsser
1993—Sam Keen
1994—Keith Miller
1995—Walter Wangerin
1996—Madeleine L'Engle
1997—James M. Wall
1998—Noel Paul Stookey
1999—Will D. Campbell
2000—Donna Jo Napoli
2001—Elizabeth Cox
2002—Phil Gulley
2003—Scott Russell Sanders
2004—Li-Young Lee
2005—Diane Glancy & Lauren Winner
2006—Elizabeth Dewberry & Robert Olen Butler
2007—Haven Kimmel
2008—Robert Wicks
2009—Julia Kasdorf
2010—Carrie Newcomer
2011—Scott Cairns