Bethany Professors and Administrators Present at Annual Conference

Several Bethany teaching faculty members and administrators are presenting Equipping Sessions at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, which will be held June 28-July 1, 2026, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. All conference attendees are encouraged to attend.

Sunday, June 28, 2:30 p.m.

Bethany’s Success and Lessons for the Church (.1 CEU)

Presenters: Dr. Jeff Carter, Dr. Steve Schweitzer, Lori Current
Focus: Bethany Theological Seminary has seen success in its enrollment, financial stability, and connections to both the Church and the world. Seminary leadership will discuss key factors that contribute to that success: embracing innovation, acting from a generous spirit, and leveraging gifts already present. We believe that rather than beginning with what we do not have, we base our work on what God has already given us as a blessing. The practical way these shifts in perspectives can change outlook and outcomes in ways that are relevant to congregations and other ministry contexts will be addressed.
Location: Anthony Wayne B

Monday, June 29, 8:30 p.m.

Saving our Humanity in the Age of AI (.1 CEU)

Presenter: Dr. Russell Haitch
Focus: Whether the latest news about artificial intelligence brings excitement, fatigue, or dread, there’s still a discussion pastors and church leaders need to have about how it is affecting our humanity, one that runs deeper than headlines or “hot takes.” The bigger question is not only what AI is doing to our jobs but to our souls—our relationships with God and one another. As machines become human-like in language ability and robotic appearance, and as people become more mechanical with the integration of technology into our bodies as well as our lives, how can we ensure we do not lose our essential humanity as God’s image-bearers? Come hear and share insights that speak to this question.
Location: Anthony Wayne A

Dunkers and the Declaration of Independence: Then and Now (.1 CEU)

Presenter: Dr. Denise Kettering-Lane
Focus: Dr. Denise Kettering-Lane will be discussing the interplay between the Declaration of Independence and Brethren development during the early decades of our country, with a few thoughts about church and state in our times.
Agency/District: Brethren Historical Library and Archives
Representative: Keith Call
Location: Harrison E

Tuesday, June 30, 9:30 a.m.

Bible Study #1 Imagination and Future Hope: God’s Call to Vision and Action in the Hebrew Bible (.1 CEU)

Presenter: Dr. Steve Schweitzer
Focus: God invites us into the process of vision, hope, and imagination for the future. In the Hebrew Bible, we see various texts calling the people to imagine and live out God’s vision for God’s people and for this world. The prophetic and wisdom literature wrestle with the past, the present, and the future as they depict possible worlds that could be, if the people embrace what God is doing among them. Selected texts from the Prophets and Wisdom books will be examined, and put in conversation with other Hebrew Bible passages, as we step into God’s unfolding story of promise and possibility.
Location: Jefferson A

Tuesday, June 30, 10:45 a.m.

Bible Study #2 Imagining and Living the Future Reign of God (.1 CEU)

Presenter: Dr. Dan Ulrich
Focus: When New Testament authors proclaimed Jesus as Messiah, they understood that the Messiah’s role was to bring about God’s end-time reign of justice and peace. Despite the obvious continuation of injustice and conflict in the world they inhabited, they believed that God’s reign had already begun and that Jesus would complete the promised transformation of the world in due time. In this workshop, we will sample New Testament texts that call us to imagine and practice already the new way of living that God’s reign entails.
Location: Jefferson A

Tuesday, June 30, 12:30 p.m.

Imagination and Creativity through a Theopoetic Lens: Helping the Church Think Differently (.1 CEU)

Presenters: Faculty Panel
Focus: Bethany faculty teach from a theopoetic lens that celebrates imagination and creativity in bringing theology into conversation with the whole of life. Through examples from various genres (the arts, science fiction, and literature), faculty will explore how this wider view helps the Church to think creatively in ways that help develop theological imagination for the life of faith.
Location: Anthony Wayne A

Tuesday, June 30, 8:30 p.m.

Why Leadership Matters: Navigating Polarities (.1 CEU)

Presenter: Dr. Jeff Carter
Focus: The church has dedicated significant time to identifying and discussing the diverse closely held beliefs and positions within the denomination, often expressed during the Annual Conference. Engaging in conversations fosters understanding and empathy. However, how can we transition from discussion to shared action? Navigating polarities emphasizes shared action through a discovery process that aims to acknowledge differences and embrace commonalities. Leadership plays a crucial role in navigating polarities and guiding the church in fulfilling its mission.
Location: Anthony Wayne A

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