Bay Area Theology Symposium - Dialogues on Religion and Politics

With Jonathan Leeman, President of 9Marks, and Brad Dacus, President of the Pacific Justice Institute

The second annual Bay Area Theology Symposium will address the important topic of the intersection of politics and Christian theology and ministry in the 21st Century. The speakers will include scholars and ministers from the free church tradition who will approach these complex issues from biblical, historical, and practical perspectives. Join fellow pastors and ministers to discuss free speech, immigration, Christian nationalism, Christian Zionism, and the religious origins of America’s founding, in addition to the practical matters of leading church ministries in our divisive political climate.

Plenary Speakers: Jonathan Leeman, President of 9Marks and Brad Dacus, President of the Pacific Justice Institute

Early Registration (July 15 - Aug 30)

$40 in person

$25 remote

Regular Registration (Sept 30 cutoff)

$50 in person

$30 remote

Sessions

Bible and Theology

• Jeff Mooney, Professor of Old Testament Interpretation and Theology, California Baptist University: "Reading the Old Testament with 'Revolutionaries:' Assessing the Hermeneutics of the New Apostolic Reformation"
• Stephen Feinstein, Pastor, Sovereign Way Christian Church: "Why Christians Should Be Pro-Israel: A Biblical, Historical, and Geopolitical Case"
• Alex Stewart, Dean to the Faculty at Gateway Seminary: "To Submit or Not to Submit, that is the New Testament Question: A Discussion of Paul and John’s Differing Visions of Governmental Authority and Purpose"
• Robb Torseth, Public Services Librarian of Gateway Seminary: "A Theology of Speech & Freedom, or, How Speech is Free Indeed"

Historical

• Ryan Rindels, Pastor, Bell Road Baptist Church, "Prescriptive or Descriptive?: Politics and the Early Christians"
• Chris Chun, Professor of Church History and Director of Jonathan Edwards Center at Gateway Seminary, "The History of the Baptist Understanding of Church and State"
• Chase Porter, Chair, Department of History and Government, California Baptist University: "The Theologies of the American Founding"

Practical

• Alan Cross, Pastor, Petaluma Valley Baptist Church: "Southern Baptists, Human Dignity, and the Global Crossroads: 80 Years of Baptist Witness Regarding Race, Ethnicity, Immigration, Refugees, Persecuted Christians, and Religious Liberty in the Post-WWII Era"
• Craig Shigyo, Lead Pastor of Valley Church of Cupertino: "Neither Silent nor Sovereign: Pastoral Authority Amid Political Contention" 
• Ryan Rippee, Pastor, Trinity Church of Benicia: "Liberty of Conscience and the Limits of the Pulpit: Preaching and Politics at America's 250th"
• Brad Dacus, President and Founder, Pacific Justice Institute: "The Legal Boundaries of Religious Liberty in a Politically Polarized America"
• Jonathan Leeman, President of 9Marks: "Church & State: A Biblical Vision"