Princeton Theological Seminary

Summer Hours
2024-08-30 08:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Wright Library, 25 Library Place, Princeton, NJ, 08540, United States
8am-1pm (no entry after 12:30pm)

Summer Hours
2024-08-31 09:00 - 17:00 | Wright Library, 25 Library Place, Princeton, NJ, 08540, United States
9am–5pm (no entry after 4:30pm)

Closed
2024-09-01 | Wright Library, 25 Library Place, Princeton, NJ, 08540, United States
Wright Library is closed on Sundays during the summer.

Closed, Labor Day
2024-09-02 | Wright Library, 25 Library Place, Princeton, NJ, 08540, United States

Fall Term Hours
2024-09-03 08:00 - 21:00, 2024-09-04 08:00 - 21:00, 2024-09-05 08:00 - 21:00, 2024-09-09 08:00 - 21:00, 2024-09-10 08:00 - 21:00, 2024-09-11 08:00 - 21:00, 2024-09-12 08:00 - 21:00, 2024-09-16 08:00 - 21:00 and 3 more dates | Wright Library, 25 Library Place, Princeton, NJ, 08540, United States
8am-9pm (no entry after 8:30pm)

Water is Alive: The agency and power of our most precious resource
2024-09-05 18:00 - 20:00 | The Farminary, 4200 Princeton Pike, Princeton, NJ, 08540, United States
“First Thursdays at the Farm” is a distinctive dinner series hosted at The Farminary, Princeton Theological Seminary’s 21-acre farm. Featuring a unique line-up of speakers, the intimate dinners are designed to generate meaningful conversation. No big presentations; just big ideas and delicious food in a one-of-a-kind venue.
COST: $125 per person; those who buy 3+ tickets get 15% off the total cost.
Spiritual traditions talk a lot about “living water.” This is usually used as a metaphor for something immaterial, spiritual, something that exceeds the world. But in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, the language of “living water” refers literally to water. Water that is touchable, drinkable. Water that is clean, fresh; alive and enlivening. It is, in the ancient world as today, our most precious, most threatened resource. How do ancient texts help reorient modern lives to this real, living water?

Water is Alive: The agency and power of our most precious resource
Elaine T. James, associate professor of Old Testament, joined the faculty in 2019. She is the author of An Invitation to Biblical Poetry (Oxford University Press, 2021) and Landscapes of the Song of Songs: Poetry and Place (Oxford University Press, 2017). Her work focuses on the literature of the Hebrew Bible, especially its poetry, examining its significance in ancient contexts and its legacies for the contemporary world. Guiding her research are questions about how aesthetic practices shape religious experience and theological thought. She is particularly interested in ancient concepts of ecology, art and creativity, and gender.
James earned her PhD and MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary. She previously served as associate professor of theology at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Chef: Margo Carner is the Chef and Founder of Fridge2Table, providing personal chef and catering services
ABOUT THE FARMINARY
The Farminary is a place where theological education is integrated with small-scale regenerative agriculture to train faith leaders who are conversant in the areas of ecology, sustainability, and food justice. It is designed to train students to challenge society’s 24–7 culture of productivity by following a different rhythm, one that is governed by the seasons and Sabbath. “The project’s main goal is to form leaders by cultivating ecological and agricultural sensibilities within them like paying attention to the seasons, understanding the interconnectedness of life and death, and becoming comfortable with failure,” says Nate Stucky, director of the Farminary Project.

Fall Term Hours
2024-09-06 08:00 - 18:00, 2024-09-13 08:00 - 18:00 | Wright Library, 25 Library Place, Princeton, NJ, 08540, United States
8am-6pm (no entry after 5:30pm)

Fall Term Hours
2024-09-07 09:00 - 17:00, 2024-09-14 09:00 - 17:00 | Wright Library, 25 Library Place, Princeton, NJ, 08540, United States
9am-5pm (no entry after 4:30pm)

Closed
2024-09-08, 2024-09-15 | Wright Library, 25 Library Place, Princeton, NJ, 08540, United States

Disability Matters, Then and Now with Dr. Amelia Kennedy
2024-09-12 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual/Zoom
Disability is as old as time, but what exactly does that mean? What impact did disability have in the Medieval Church, and what impact does disability have in the church today? In this conversation, we are joined by Dr. Amelia Kennedy, who serves as an assistant professor of the history of Medieval Christianity. Dr. Kennedy’s research interests include the history of health, medicine, aging, and disability, and her forthcoming manuscript focuses on aging during medieval monasticism. As we hear from Dr. Kennedy, we also hope to explore the question of why medieval histories matter for ministry and theological education today.

Thank you for your interest in Princeton Theological Seminary.
We look forward to seeing you!

Register Now: https://apply.ptsem.edu/register/?id=7e8c7324-d388-490a-bdc9-cf1ce06139e0

Thinking Politically with Augustine
2024-09-16 19:00 - 21:00 | NJ
In the midst of America’s political climate this election year, Thinking Politically with Augustine turns to the past to explore the perspectives of Augustine (354-430 C.E.), a revered and intellectual predecessor in the faith. Through the lens of this prolific author, seminar participants will gain refreshed insights into citizenship, political humility, and the Christian journey as a pilgrimage. Over four sessions, we will closely read and critically discuss excerpts from City of God, a selection of sermons and letters, and a piece of contemporary Augustine scholarship.
Enroll Now
Please note: The cost of the Princeton Seminary Series is $399 for each 4-week session.

Sacred Texts + Modern Conversations: Women, Violence, and Power
2024-09-17 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual/Zoom
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This short course is designed to further enrich biblical interpretation skills — specifically the work of engaging difficult texts — and bring that learning into how women as leaders address equally challenging modern contexts.
In the synchronous online sessions, participants will come together to study a series of biblical passages that many refer to as “difficult” or “troubling” texts for their depiction of sexual violence or oppression. With the instructor, they will discuss why these passages trouble us now, how they have been read by various communities in the past, and what broader relevance these ancient texts might have to our own confrontations with the ongoing forms of violence and inequity we witness, face, and work to resist in the present. Together they will also consider the substantive challenges of engaging these texts in congregational or educational settings, and how to do so without reinscribing the traumas and harms they narrate.
Following the synchronous sessions, participants will be given access to pre-recorded conversations between our biblical expert and subject matter experts from fields outside of traditional theological education where they explore how church leaders can address individual experiences of trauma or harassment, and how congregations can best support and respond.
REGISTER ONLINE
Scholarships are available. Fill out the form at isi.ptsem.edu/supplementary-scholarships
Learn more about this event at: https://isi.ptsem.edu/shortcourse/

Sacred Texts + Modern Conversations: Women, Violence, and Power
2024-09-17 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual/Zoom
This short course is designed to further enrich biblical interpretation skills — specifically the work of engaging difficult texts — and bring that learning into how women as leaders address equally challenging modern contexts.
In the synchronous online sessions, participants will come together to study a series of biblical passages that many refer to as “difficult” or “troubling” texts for their depiction of sexual violence or oppression. With the instructor, they will discuss why these passages trouble us now, how they have been read by various communities in the past, and what broader relevance these ancient texts might have to our own confrontations with the ongoing forms of violence and inequity we witness, face, and work to resist in the present. Together they will also consider the substantive challenges of engaging these texts in congregational or educational settings, and how to do so without reinscribing the traumas and harms they narrate.
Following the synchronous sessions, participants will be given access to pre-recorded conversations between our biblical expert and subject matter experts from fields outside of traditional theological education where they explore how church leaders can address individual experiences of trauma or harassment, and how congregations can best support and respond.
Scholarships are available. Fill out the form at isi.ptsem.edu/supplementary-scholarships
Learn more about this event at: https://isi.ptsem.edu/shortcourse/

Center for Asian American Christianity with Dr. David Chao
2024-09-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual/Zoom
The Center for Asian American Christianity (CAAC) advances research and scholarship pertaining to Asian American Christianity through its events and publications, offers innovative conferences with leading practitioners and scholars from Asian American studies and Asian American theology, and equips and empowers the ministries of Asian American leaders and Asian American congregations. Dr. David C. Chao serves as the director of the CAAC, and in his role, Dr. Chao teaches courses on Asian American theology, organizes academic programming in Asian American theology and ministry, and mentors Asian and Asian American students.

Thank you for your interest in Princeton Theological Seminary.
We look forward to seeing you!

Register Now: https://apply.ptsem.edu/register/?id=512384bc-b84f-4ea5-914f-44bc43731b8c

Can We Hold Together in a World Coming Apart? Faculty Weigh in on the Gifts and Challenges of our Learning Community
2024-09-19 17:00 - 18:30 | Stuart Hall – Room 6, 64 Mercer St, Princeton, 08540, United States
In 2024, the PhD Studies program at Princeton Seminary was awarded a one-year grant from the Wabash Foundation.
“So That We Might Build Together: Cultivating Honest Conversation, Enduring Trust & Mutual Care in the Midst of Deep Difference” is a project that seeks to promote communal care and connection. The program’s goal is to equip participants with pedagogical practices that will sustain honest, difficult conversations and cultivate the enduring trust, mutual respect, and individual and community-wide care that is essential to flourishing.
To kick off this one-year program, PhD studies is hosting a community-wide event featuring a panel of Princeton Seminary faculty who will discuss the questions at the heart of the grant:

How do we sustain important conversations in the midst of deep disagreement, theologically and otherwise, and in a way that is life-giving even if also difficult?
What are the stakes of sustaining these conversations?
What would we lose if we narrowed the conversation?

Faculty Panelists
Kenneth G. Appold, James Hastings Nichols Professor of Reformation
Lisa Cleath, Assistant Professor of Old Testament
Keri L. Day, Elmer G. Homrighausen Professor of Constructive Theology and African American Religion
Kenda Creasy Dean, PhD ’97, Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture
Panel Moderator
Heath Carter, Associate Professor of American Christianity, Director of PhD Studies
Zoom Link

The Future of Church Property: Evolving with Integrity
2024-09-20 - 2024-09-21 | Online & In-Person, 64 Mercer St, Princeton, 08542, United States
This seminar for pastors and congregational leaders is focused on church property — when to stay, when to shift, and most importantly, how to make those decisions with integrity and a justice lens. The two-day program is designed for both virtual and in-person participation. It includes two plenary sessions and a customizable workshop schedule in the afternoon.
Virtual Cost: $99.0
In-Person Cost: $499.0
Scholarships are available. Fill out the form at isi.ptsem.edu/supplementary-scholarships
Plenary Speaker:

LINDSAY BAKER is CEO of the International Living Future Institute. Her organization advocates for a world where everyone lives in buildings that are safe, healthy, decarbonized, and affordable, and has been at the leading edge of helping organizations reimagine how their built environment speaks to broader values and strategy.
Lindsay Baker is a movement leader, speaker, author, and podcast host working nationally and internationally to transform the building industry for a regenerative future. As CEO of the International Living Future Institute, Lindsay advocates for a world where everyone lives in buildings that are safe, healthy, decarbonized, and affordable.
A lifelong environmentalist and building scientist, Lindsay has spent her career leading and scaling impactful initiatives, partnerships, and programs across sectors. She was a Senior Fellow at RMI, taught at UC Berkeley, and serves as a board member and advisor to numerous nonprofits and climate tech startups, including The Clean Fight and SPUR.
Workshops:

WHY BEHIND THE PROPERTY CONVERSATION: THEOLOGY, ETHICS, AND IMAGINATION
with Mieke Vandersall
We wouldn’t be here if we weren’t interested in the repurposing of church space and property. At the base of all of the myriad of details of what we might do, how we might do it, and who it might help, are important questions of theology. When we ask the question of who the property belongs to, the answer varies. Answers can be: God, the community, indigenous people, or us. Each answer has profoundly different implications. Together we will explore these answers and provide a variety of theological frameworks to consider as filters for making property decisions.

CHURCHES CURIOUS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
With Nina Janopaul
For pastors interested in thinking more about their real estate holdings through a social justice lens. Ms. Janopaul is the former President/CEO of Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing and currently serves as President of the Board of Trustees for Virginia Diocesan Homes, a nonprofit affiliated with the Episcopal Church to support congregational discernment and explore new mission uses of real estate, not just housing.

STRATEGIC APPROACH TO BUILDINGS AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE
With Kate Farewell
Designed to help pastors and lay leaders better understand the different aspects of facilities assessment and how that shapes budgeting and planning. Ms. Farewell is the Vice President at Zubatkin, a project management and owner representation firm. She is a licensed professional engineer and accomplished leader with over two decades of experience directing capital programs for institutional clients.

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL ENTERPRISE IN IMAGINING FUTURE USE
With Rev. Jess Lowry
Pastor Jess Lowry is the Pastoral Leader at Sunset Ridge Church and Executive Director of Sunset Ridge Collective, a group commissioned to move outside of the church walls and into the neighborhood to reimagine what it means for a church to be a good neighbor. This has included creating park plans, partnering with a coffee trailer, and hosting community gatherings to work for the flourishing of one another and our neighborhood.
She earned a Masters of Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary and has served Sunset Ridge Church for 10 years. Prior to that she spent 10 years in business leadership and management. Jess has a calling to point each person to the belovedness that they carry, and a heart for eye-to-eye conversations over a good cup of coffee. She spends her time with her husband Nathan, who plays guitar in our worship band, and her three children Luca, Julian, and Shiloh—who are each her favorite. When not on campus she can be found adventuring, hosting dance parties, attending Pearl Jam concerts, or with her nose in a book.

FINANCING THE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION
With Christine Symington and Alex Dill
A conversation tailor-made for New Jersey congregations, local experts from Sustainable Princeton lead a conversation about how organizations can make the clean energy transition, and understanding how provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act can help fund that important work.
Christine Symington is the Executive Director of Sustainable Princeton. Alex Dill is the Program Manager of Sustainable Princeton.
To learn more about this event’s schedule, visit https://isi.ptsem.edu/property/
