Barnes Science and Faith Symposium
Barnes Science and Faith Symposium: Creation Care and Justice
October 16-18, 2024
An exploration of Creation Care & Justice with Dr. Sylvia Keesmaat, a biblical scholar, author, activist, and off-grid farmer. All events are free and open to the public. Registration is requested but not required.
Wednesday, October 16
11:00am | Cultural Life Center | Hale Auditorium
Chapel Service: “The Beautiful Creatures: Trees in the Biblical Story”
What would happen if we read the whole biblical story from the perspective of the trees? Would we discover a story of grief and hope? Would we discover the roots of our own healing?
12:00 – 12:50pm | Garlock Dining Commons | Ellen Stowe Dining Room
Discussion and Interaction with Dr. Keesmaat
Lunch covered for the first ten students to attend this event and/or for students with no meal plan.
Thursday, October 17
12:15am | Golisano Community Engagement Center | 102
First Year Seminar Conversations
Discussions about creation care and justice with First Year Seminar students whose class requests to attend this event. Non-FYS students and faculty are welcome.
Friday, October 18
12:00pm | Webinar*: Creation Care, Justice, and Formation
A dynamic conversation with Dr. Sylvia Keesmaat of Bible Remixed and Dr. Marlena Graves, Assistant Professor of Spiritual Formation at Northeastern Seminary. Together, they will explore how creation care, social justice, and spiritual formation interconnect and shape our faith and communities.
7:30pm | Keynote Lecture** | Golisano Community Engagement Center | 102
Lecture: “Torn Between Grief and Hope: Biblical Wisdom and the Climate Catastrophe”
We are often so weighed down with grief over creational destruction that it is difficult to look to the future with hope. This talk will explore not only the ways that this grief is present in the biblical story, but also how a future of possibility and renewal shaped the biblical imagination of those who lived with that grief.
* Northeastern Seminary/Canadian-American Theology Association Theology Symposium event
**Shared event with the Northeastern Seminary/Canadian-American Theology Association Theology Symposium. See their webpage for additional opportunities to interact with Dr. Keesmaat.
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Sylvia C. Keesmaat is a biblical scholar, activist, and farmer. She obtained her doctorate at Oxford University, studying with N.T. Wright. She was the Senior Member in Biblical Studies and Hermeneutics at the Institute for Christians Studies from 1994-2004, before leaving to more deeply ground her academic work in environmental issues. She has taught at Oxford University, Canadian Mennonite University, Wycliffe College and Trinity College (both part of the Toronto School of Theology) as well as for the Creation Care Studies Program in Belize.
Sylvia is the co-author, with Brian Walsh, of Romans Disarmed: Resisting Empire, Demanding Justice (Brazos Press, 2019) and Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire (IVP, 2004). She is also the author of Paul and His Story: (Re)Interpreting the Exodus Tradition and editor of The Advent of Justice. She has also authored many academic articles and book chapters, as well as popular articles.
Sylvia is the past co-chair of the Bishop's Committee on Creation Care for the Anglican Diocese of Toronto, and is Chair of the Board of Sanctuary Ministries in Toronto. She speaks frequently on topics related to the Bible and economic justice, climate catastrophe, gender justice, and Indigenous justice.
Sylvia founded her online teaching platform Bible Remixed in 2021 to help nurture a community of Jesus followers who are deeply rooted in the biblical story, and who are becoming a community of welcome, healing and nurture for those people and creatures who suffer most from the violence of our world. She offers online courses throughout the year that are open to all on a pay-what-you-can basis.
From 2016 to 2023 Sylvia held an heirloom tomato seedling sale every spring on her farm. She also speaks to horticultural societies and other groups about permaculture, forest gardening, and pollinator insects. She earned her permaculture design certificate in 2014.
Sylvia lives at Russet House Farm, an off-grid permaculture farm in the Kawartha Lakes with her husband, Brian Walsh, and a fluctuating number of people and animals.