Gearing up for research in the Netherlands

My dissertation compares Abraham Kuyper and Dietrich Bonhoeffer in an effort to define and apply a historical notion of the common good that is based in public, theological witness.

American research libraries lack the resources necessary for my investigation particularly into Dutch political and theological history.  So, I will be spending the 2013-14 academic year in the Netherlands in order to utilize key research libraries and archives - and this will allow me to conduct the majority of my dissertation research and writing.

While in the Netherlands, I will work closely with several prominent scholars at two Dutch institutions to pursue research on the historical, theological, and ethical relationship between German Lutheranism and Dutch Calvinism.  Dr. George Harinck, my primary advisor in the Netherlands, is director of the Archives and Documentation Centre at the Theologische Universiteit Kampen and is Professor of History at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.  Dr. Harinck is currently editing a pioneering volume on the German Lutheran Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Dutch Calvinist Abraham Kuyper (to which I have contributed a chapter entitled “Distinct Discipleship: Abraham Kuyper, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Christian Engagement in Public Life”). 

At VU Amsterdam, I will also be working with the Bonhoeffer scholar Dr. Gerard Dekker, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, and Dr. Kees van der Kooi, Professor of Western Systematic Theology and Director of the Center for Evangelical and Reformation Theology.  In Kampen, I will be working with the Bonhoeffer scholar and Professor of Dogmatics Dr. Barend Kamphuis and the Dutch Calvinist scholar and post-doctoral fellow Dr. James Eglinton.  

With the guidance and expertise of these scholars, and especially with access to the archives and resources unique to their institutions, my ability to contribute further to the emerging field of German Lutheran and Dutch Calvinist dialogue will be enhanced considerably.

Neo-Calvinist Consultation

Fuller hosted the first "Neo-Calvinist Consultation" with Dr Richard Mouw July 25-27, 2013.  Dr Mouw retired from the Fuller presidency on June 30, after 20 years at the helm.  After a sabbatical year, he will take on a new role at Fuller as a faculty member and head of the new Fuller Institute for Faith and Public Life.  Dr Mouw has had a legacy at Fuller for fostering an atmosphere of civil dialogue and engagement with the broader issues of faith, politics, and society.  Much of his conviction for robust civility comes from his philosophical and theological work in the historical Dutch Neo-Calvinist tradition of Abraham Kuyper.  This "consultation" was an opportunity for about twenty Neo-Calvinist doctoral students, scholars, and practitioners from across the U.S. and as far away as China to gather together and share ideas about the future of the Neo-Calvinist movement.  I was both excited and honored to have a seat at the table.

This wasn't a typical academic conference, in the sense that we didn't sit around all day listening to 45-minute papers being read.  Instead, we were each tasked with submitting a one-page paper outlining our current research or practice questions.  In turn, we were each assigned a paper or two to prepare a short response in order to open up a dialogue around the table.  The result was that each paper or set of questions received 45 minutes of focused and intense conversation, with input from an impressive variety of scholars and practitioners.  I received some helpful feedback on my dissertation ideas, and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to respond to others both formally and in the course of our fascinating conversations.

The Neo-Calvinist tradition is infusing some of the most creative and dynamic scholarship and ministry around the country and globe.  This is a small but important subset of philosophical and theological ethics, and it is worth further exploration and application.  There are so many tools available in this tradition for focused and intellectually strong engagement with the pressing issues of contemporary society.  Over these few short days, I was reminded of the strength, diversity, integrity, and passion of God's workers in the world today - from The Center for Faith at Work at Redeemer Church in New York City to The Center for Public Justice in Washington, D.C. to the Chesterton House at Cornell to Guandong Union Theological Seminary in China to Calvin College in Grand Rapids to The Institute for Northwest Theology and Culture at Fuller NW and back to Dr Mouw's new Institute for Faith and Public Life in Pasadena - God is certainly at work.