CCSN 2025 SUMMER WORKSHOPS and CONFERENCES in Communication
[Return to Main Workshop Page]1. Registration is now open for all 10 summer events.
2. Format: All 10 events are offered in the virtual environment through Zoom and are from 11:30 am – 3:00 pm EDT, on Monday and Thursday (with one exception, June 25, Wednesday), beginning June 2 and ending June 30. Recordings of each event are available for purchase. Contact rwoods@theccsn.com to purchase a recording.
3. Student discounts available for all events. (Promo Code: STUDENT) ($25.00 off regular price)
4. Summer passes to cover all 10 summer events at a discounted price are available. LEARN MORE
5. Group and institutional summer passes and discounts for all events are available. LEARN MORE
6. Sponsorships for all events are available, which provide you with time in the schedule to share about your program or organization or latest initiative. Please contact rwoods@theccsn.com if you have questions.
7. Kristos Logos Paideia Undergraduate Honor Society members can attend all workshops for free. Contact Director Brandon Knight (BKnight@wmcarey.edu) for details on how to access all summer events if you are a KLP member.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the CCSN’s Executive Director, Robert Woods (rwoods@theccsn.com).
Sincerely,
Robert Woods
CCSN Executive Director
No. 1
Word-Gardening: From Seed (Idea) to Fruit (Publication)
Lead Presenter/Facilitator: Rodney Clapp, Editor, Cascade Books
Date/Time: Monday, June 2, 2025 | 11:30 am – 3:00 pm EDT
Description: Drawing on nearly fifty years’ work editing newspapers, magazines, and books, Rodney Clapp offers tips and guidance for the span of the writing process—from nurturing an idea, to effective writing, to publication. This workshop will focus on book writing and publication. It will be of special interest both to scholars and those writing for a more general or popular readership. Clapp will begin with a discussion of arriving at and cultivating a book idea. He will then discuss what makes for successful (and enjoyable) writing. Finally, he will zero in on crafting appealing proposals and presentations to book publishers. Throughout, he will provide glimpses behind the “Wizard of Oz’s” curtain, with what happens in the sometimes mystifying process of writing and publishing books. Clapp will encourage questions and suggestions from participants, who are free to bring their own ideas and experiences into the discussion.
Rodney Clapp is an editor at Cascade Books, focusing on the subjects of theology, theological ethics, and popular culture. He has been an editor at Oklahoma newspapers, Christianity Today, InterVarsity Press, Evangelicals for Social Action, and Brazos Press (which he cofounded). For five years, he wrote the American Soundings column for The Christian Century. He is the author of ten books, most recently Living Out of Control: Political and Personal Faith in Waning Christendom. Other, award-winning, titles include A Peculiar People: The Church as Culture in a Post-Christian Society and Tortured Wonders: Christian Spirituality for People, Not Angels. He has lectured at dozens of universities throughout North America, including the University of Virginia, Duke Divinity School, Baylor University, and Middlebury College. He now lives in Sweet Home, Oregon, with his spouse, Sandy, and a beloved chocolate labradoodle, Ury. Connect with Rodney here.
Registration Fee: $45.00
No. 2
Strategies for Cultivating a Writing and Publishing Agenda while Teaching Full-time
Lead Presenter/Facilitator: Robert Woods, Executive Director, Christianity and Communication Studies Network
Date/Time: Thursday, June 5, 2025 | 11:30 am – 3:00 pm EDT
Description: Faculty and administrators in Christian higher education who desire to write and publish are faced with unique challenges, including heavy teaching and student advising loads, limited resources, and a campus culture where classroom instruction is valued above research. How can individuals balance quality teaching and administration with a desire to do scholarship that integrates a Christian worldview and transforms lives? How do they “find time” to write when are faced with all the other things that go along with being a faculty member and administrator in Christian higher education?
Robert will share strategies from his own publishing experiences and conversations with more than 75 faculty from 50+ Christian colleges and universities about practical ways to cultivate a productive research and publishing agenda while carrying a full-time teaching load. Topics include motivations for writing, communication habits that help promote writing, and strategies for developing content for books. Outlining, writing schedules, and other strategies for bringing a project from concept to final publication will also be discussed. Participants will have an opportunity to connect with other authors and potential collaborators, and several Christian publishers.
Robert Woods (PhD, Regent University) served as Professor of Communication and Media at Spring Arbor University for 20 years. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Christianity and Communication Studies Network (CCSN) (www.theccsn.com), a non-profit network providing resources and training on faith-learning integration in the field of communication studies. He is the editor-in-chief of the CCSN’s imprint, Integratio Press. Dr. Woods has served as the President of the Religious Communication Association (RCA) and was named Scholar of the Year by RCA. He is the recipient of multiple research and scholarship awards and the editor/author of over a dozen books. Most recently, Dr. Woods is the co-author with Paul Patton on Everyday Sabbath: How to Lead Your Dance with Media and Technology in Mindful and Sacred Ways and Professing Christ: Christian Tradition and Faith-learning Integration in Public Universities. His book co-authored with Kevin Healey (University of New Hampshire), titled Ethics and Religion in the Age of Social Media: Digital Proverbs for Responsible Citizens received the Book of the Year Award from RCA. He recently served as a visiting scholar at Trinity Western University. Connect with Robert here.
Registration Fee: $45.00
No. 3
Teaching the Introductory Communication Course: A Covenantal Perspective for Integration, Student Self-Inquiry, and Classroom Engagement
Lead Presenter/Facilitator: Bill Strom, Professor of Media + Communication at Trinity Western University
Date/Time: Monday, June 9, 2025 | 11:30 am – 3:00 pm EDT
Description: The introductory communication course offers a special opportunity for instructors to lay a foundation for student expectations in the program and across the curricula at Christian liberal arts institutions. To this end, this presentation begins with diverse models of faith integration, proceeds to strategies for student self-inquiry, and concludes with assignments and activities to bring light and life to class. Attendees will be encouraged to consider new ways of designing their entry-level course to shape and empower students for thinking critically and Christianly at university and beyond. The workshop promotes the use of More Than Talk: A Covenantal Approach to Everyday Communication, with an eye for how covenantal ideas and ideals enlighten treatments on language and nonverbal communication to public speaking and media. Participants can expect to reflect on ideas, models, and practices and share their own materials with colleagues.
Bill Strom (PhD, University of Iowa) is Professor of Media + Communication at Trinity Western University in the School of Arts, Media and Culture, Langley, British Columbia, Canada where he teaches communication theory, relational communication, persuasion, public speaking and organizational communication. He earned a B.A. in speech communication (Wheaton College) and an M.A. in communication theory (Northern Illinois) in addition to the terminal degree. Bill has taught the introductory course for 38 years and published in the field of faith integration. In addition to serving twenty-six years as department chair, he served for eight years as Associate Director of Faculty Development. His research focuses on virtue and covenant in close relationships and is published in regional, national, and international journals. His faith perspective textbook (with Divine Agodzo), More Than Talk: A Covenantal Approach to Everyday Communication (6th ed., 2023), Kendall/Hunt Publishing) and trade book The Relationship Project: Moving from ‘You and Me’ to ‘We’ (The Foundry Publishing, 2014) continue these themes. He has taught the introductory course since 1987. Connect with Bill here.
Registration Fee: $45.00
No. 4
AI for Admin & Faculty: How do we work with this… thing?
Lead Presenter/Facilitator: Kevin Schut, Program Lead, Game Development; Professor, Media + Communication, Trinity Western University
Additional Presenters: Scott Macklin, Associate Vice President, Trinity Western University Online; Colin Madland, Director, Technology Integrated Learning and Assessment, Trinity Western University; Barish Golland, Senior Learning Technology Specialist, Trinity Western University; Stuart Schellenberg, Chief Information Officer, Trinity Western University
Date/Time: Thursday, June 12, 2025 | 11:30 am – 3:00 pm EDT
Description: Most faculty are wrestling (or will be forced to wrestle) with the impact of generative AI on our students and their learning processes. What academics seem to be talking about a lot less is the impact of AI on the work of university administrators, faculty, and staff. Are we called to resist this new technology in every way possible or can we use it responsibly and helpfully? If we do use it, what kind of guidelines should we follow? Is it okay for ChatGPT to write up a report for us? What about synthesizing a large quantity of data? Can we submit research articles partially or wholly written by an AI technology? What about using it to grade student work? This session will give an overview of the state of AI technology with a careful look at what it is capable of in regards to activities university administrators and faculty might regularly do. We will discuss the potential of AI and the pitfalls and risks surrounding it, and then discuss principles that might guide our usage of these technologies with careful looks at specific use cases (like the ones just mentioned) in order to craft some pragmatic and faithful approaches to the use of AI.
Kevin Schut (PhD, University of Iowa) is a Game Studies scholar. He is a graduate of Calvin College (Grand Rapids, MI; BA in Communication Arts & Sciences, History, 1996) and the University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA; MA & PhD in Communication Studies, 2004). He wrote the book Of Games & God: A Christian Exploration of Video Games (2013). He writes about the intersection of communication, culture, media, technology and faith, primarily by talking about computer and video games. He has published articles or chapters on fantasy-role-playing computer games and masculinity, on computer games and myth, on the presentation of history in computer games, and on evangelicals and games. He is currently researching moral and ethical decisions in video games. Kevin served as the Chair of the Department of Media + Communication, and he is the Lead for the Game Development program he founded in June 2019. He has also served as Associate Dean of the School of the Arts, Media + Culture. He teaches a range of courses on media and culture. Kevin grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, and still cheers for the Oilers. After graduating from Calvin College, he married and taught overseas in schools for missionary kids in the Cote d’Ivoire and Hungary for three and a half years. He has three daughters who love playing board games, adventure games, Mario Kart, and Vive Virtual Reality with him. His favorite game series is Sid Meier’s Civilization. Connect with Kevin here.
Scott Macklin (PhD, Nelson Mandela University) holds a MPhilF in Philosophical Aesthetics from the Institute for Christian Studies and a BA degree in Communication from Vanguard University (Summa Cum Laude). Scott creates stories using deep media and can usually be found looking for an espresso. He is an award-winning author, interactive designer and documentary filmmaker. His work focuses on developing narrative-based learning systems and comprehensive strategies to improve education and the ways we can reach and engage our students and constituents. His teaching and scholarship focus on developing critical career connected pathways. Central to his work is the notion of storytelling where stories are forged in the process of deep hanging out; where a story is made in collaboration with a community of practice, where one engages in the act of making the story “with” people from a particular community not just “about” them. Scott served as a Committee Member on the City of Seattle’s Music and Art Commission Community and Youth Development Commission, as the curator of TEDx Seattle, and on the advisory board of Seattle Interactive. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Institute of Christian Studies. Connect with Scott here.
Colin Madland is the Director of Technology Integrated Learning and Assessment at Trinity Western University in Langley, BC, Canada. He supports faculty and learners in using technology to make sense of the world around them. His professional work is currently focused on increasing access to higher education through asynchronous course designs that prioritize flexibility and opportunities for community and connection. He is researching the technology-integrated assessment framework that he and his committee proposed in his dissertation work. Colin has taught courses at the undergraduate and graduate level in technology-integrated learning, and transformational blended learning. Connect with Colin here.
Barish Golland has over 25 years of experience in learning, technology and change management, and holds a Masters in Ed Tech, PROSCI Change Practitioner and AI Cloud Strategy certification. He is the Change Management Lead for UBC IT Capital and Operational projects, as well as the Senior Learning Technology Specialist for Trinity Western University. Barish has expertise in technology training and group facilitation techniques known as Liberating Structures. Barish is in higher education Generative AI committees and is focusing on launching Microsoft 365 Copilot training in organizational contexts. He is passionate about enabling and including all voices in collective sense-making and positively moving forward with innovative solutions to face complex, multi-faceted challenges. Connect with Barish here.
Stuart Schellenberg based in Abbotsford, BC, Canada, is currently the Chief Information Officer at Trinity Western University. Stuart Schellenberg brings experience from previous roles at Trinity Western University, such as Executive Director of Information Technology and Manager of Software Development. Stuart Schellenberg holds a 2021 – 2023 Executive MBA from Trinity Western University, and has a robust skill set that includes IT Strategy, Leadership, Information Technology, Web Development, Team Leadership and more. Connect with Stuart here.
Registration Fee: $45.00
No. 5
Teaching Visual Storytelling: Curriculum Ideas For Students
Presenter/Facilitator: Lance Croy, Assistant Professor Communication+Media+Arts at Providence Christian College Pasadena, CA.
Date/Time: Monday, June 16, 2025 11:30 am – 3 pm PST
Description: The digital humanities acknowledge the importance of visuals in knowledge creation. For many students, transmitting ideas from their heads into a physical medium is challenging. When it comes to storytelling, some students feel “stuck” or encumbered by some other mental block when crafting a work based on a written prompt. This workshop will explore ways of producing visual prompts to invigorate student writing assignments that in turn serve to inspire more visualizations. After attending, participants will be equipped with assignment ideas for their classroom that aid students in developing a strong point-of-view through polysemic meaning-making. For example, instead of starting with a screenplay and turning it into a storyboard, start with recreating a master shot, set the mise en scene, underscore the emotional throughline through blocking, and then write the script, storyboard, and shoot it. One verbal assignment turns into five visual forms, which are all multimodal. Please join us for an interactive conversation sharing some best practices and happy accidents that evoke students’ imagination and creative expression.
Lance Croy (PhD, Southeastern University) is Assistant Professor of Communications+Media+Arts at Providence Christian College. As a SAG/AFTRA member, he performed in and produced theatrical, commercial, and industrial film projects. He also presented at the University of Michigan’s Arts, Sciences, and Letters Conference, the Association for Theatre in Higher Education Symposium, and Regent University’s Leadership Roundtable. His peer-reviewed publication on Charles Spurgeon and Followership is in the Theology of Leadership Journal. Finally, Lance has edited three plays published by Integratio Press written by Paul D. Patton, whom he considers a mentor. Lance, his wife Tara, and their son Zayvier reside in Pasadena, CA. Connect with Lance here.
Registration Fee: $45.00
No. 6
Habits of the Mind: Principles of Thought for the Christian Professor
Lead Facilitator: Robert Woods, Executive Director, Christianity and Communication Studies Network; Visiting Scholar
Additional Presenters: Geri Forsberg, Western Washington University; Jim Cook, Exec. Director, Academic Connections; Bethan Willis, Oxford; Terry Halliday, Research Professor Emeritus at the American Bar Foundation
Date/Time: Thursday, June 19, 2025 | 11:30 am – 3:00 pm EDT
Description: The Bible speaks a lot about the importance of the mind. We are told, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37-39). But how can we, as Christian professors, better love Christ with our minds? The Bible says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). What does this mean for you and me as Christian professors in the university? What does it mean to have the mind of Christ? The Apostle Paul tells us not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by renewing our minds (Rom. 12:2). How can our minds be renewed on a daily basis? What is the evidence of a transformation of the mind? What are the implications of a transformed mind at university? How does it affect our relationships and our scholarship? What about
our time in the classroom with our students?
Geri E. Forsberg (PhD, New York University) has shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with professors since 1991. After completing her doctorate at New York University, Geri taught at Trinity Western University and traveled to university campuses throughout North America to speak to professors. Not only does she teach in the English Department at Western Washington University, but Geri has also led an outreach to professors there for over twenty years. Geri has served as a full-time staff member and an affiliate staff member with CRU since 1975. Currently, she serves as a Faculty Fellow with Faculty Commons, the faculty ministry of CRU. She is also the co-president of the International Jacques Ellul Society and serves on the board of CCSN. Geri’s scholarship focuses on the faith of various media ecologists. Her most recent writings include: “Being Human in a Technological Society: A Theological Perspective,” to be published this spring in Questioning 21st Century Technology with Jacques Ellul (2025). “Informationally Lost with No Sense of Place,” published in Quentin J Schultze’s Habits of the High-Tech Heart: Living Virtuously in the Information Age (1924). And “Transformation in the Public University,” Professing Christ: Christian Tradition and Faith-Learning Integration in Public Universities, ed. Jonathan Pettigrew and Robert H. Woods, Jr. Integratio Press, (2022). She is active in her Anglican church, leading a weekly life group. In 1996, Geri married Paul Madison, and they have one married son who lives with his wife, Honoka, in Tokyo. Connect with Geri here.
Jim Cook founded Academic Connections in 2010 and serves as its Executive Director. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri in Economics (minor in Mathematics) and holds M.A. degrees in Philosophy of Religion (honors) and Biblical Studies (honors). His two MA theses were: “An Analysis and Critical Study of Alvin Plantinga’s Account of Reformed Epistemology” and “An Evaluation of Norman Geisler’s Philosophical Apologetic.” He and his wife, Phyllis, live in Louisville, Colorado, and have one adult son. Jim has served with CRU’s and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship’s faculty ministry leadership teams. For more than 35 years, he has been helping Christian professors consider the intellectual and spiritual contributions they can make to their institutions. Jim serves Academic Connections as a Ministry and Research Fellow. His academic research interests are epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of mind, and virtue ethics. His ministry research interests include forming and sustaining Christian faculty communities on secular campuses, the relationship between “Christ and culture,” Christian integrative scholarship, and ministry ethos. He provides resources and mentors professors on about 79 campuses in the U.S. and abroad through Academic Connections. He and his wife, Phyllis, live in Colorado, where he has enjoyed 30+ years coaching individual campus fellowship leaders and leadership teams. Learn more about Jim here.
Bethan Willis (PhD, Exeter University) leads the Oxford Pastorate, an Anglican chaplaincy serving the academic community in Oxford since 1893. The Oxford Pastorate focuses on integrating faith and scholarship, running year-long formation programs for emerging academics and leaders, and partnering with organizations such as Developing a Christian Mind, Global Faculty Initiative, and Veritas. Bethan has previously headed up programs for the Oxford Character Project, held fellowships from the University of Connecticut and the Library of Congress, and worked for the Church of England in teaching and consulting roles. She has a PhD in Theology from Exeter University and is a Wycliffe Hall, Oxford member. Connect with Bethan here.
Terry Halliday (PhD, University of Chicago) is a Research Professor Emeritus at the American Bar Foundation, Honorary Professor at the School of Regulation and Global Governance at the Australian National University, and Adjunct Professor of Sociology at Northwestern University. Terry studied at Massey University, New Zealand, and the University of Toronto. He received his PhD in sociology from the University of Chicago. He is the author and co-editor of ten books with Oxford, Cambridge, Chicago, and Stanford University Press. His most recent books are Constitution-Making and Transnational Legal Orders, co-edited with Gregory Shaffer & Tom Ginsburg (Cambridge, 2019); Global Lawmakers: International Organizations in the Crafting of World Markets, with Susan Block-Lieb (Cambridge, 2017); Criminal Justice in China: The Politics of Lawyers at Work, with Sida Liu (Cambridge, 2016); and Transnational Legal Orders, co-edited with Gregory Shaffer (Cambridge, 2015). He has published articles in the American Journal of Sociology, American Sociological Review, British Journal of Sociology, European Journal of Sociology, Regulation and Governance, Socio-Economic Review, Chicago Journal of International Law, Journal of Law and Society, Annual Review of Law and Social Science, Asian Journal of Law and Society, Hague Journal on the Rule of Law, Law & Social Inquiry, and International Journal of Public Theology, among others. He has taught at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the Australian National University and has held visitorships at Oxford and Sciences Po, Paris. Terry’s public commentary on China has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Le Monde, among others, and he has testified before the U.S. Congress on legal rights in China. With Donald Hay (University of Oxford), Terry founded the Global Faculty Initiative, which promotes the integration of Christian faith and academic disciplines in research universities worldwide. Connect with Terry here.
Robert H. Woods Jr. (PhD. JD, Regent University) served as Professor of Communication and Media at Spring Arbor University for 20 years. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Christianity and Communication Studies Network (CCSN) (www.theccsn.com), a non-profit network providing resources and training on faith-learning integration in the field of communication studies. He is the editor-in-chief of the CCSN’s imprint, Integratio Press. Dr. Woods has served as the President of the Religious Communication Association (RCA) and was named Scholar of the Year by RCA. He is the recipient of multiple research and scholarship awards and the editor/author of over a dozen books. Most recently, Dr. Woods is the co-author with Paul Patton on Everyday Sabbath: How to Lead Your Dance with Media and Technology in Mindful and Sacred Ways and Professing Christ: Christian Tradition and Faith-learning Integration in Public Universities. His book co-authored with Kevin Healey (University of New Hampshire), titled Ethics and Religion in the Age of Social Media: Digital Proverbs for Responsible Citizens received the Book of the Year Award from RCA. He recently served as a visiting scholar at Trinity Western University. Connect with Robert here.
Registration Fee: $45.00
No. 7
Pastor Theologian as Communicator (Pastor, Pew, and Public Workshop Series)
Lead Facilitator: Brandon Knight, Assistant Professor of Speech Communication, William Carey University
Additional Presenters: Kevin J. Vanhoozer; Rick Langer, Biola University; Tim Muehlhoff, Biola University; Jim Beitler, Wheaton College; Andy Baker, Lead Pastor, FBC Oloh
Date/Time: Monday, June 23, 2025 | 11:30 am – 3:00 pm EDT
Description: How can pastors be better equipped to challenge the ever-increasing ideologies that seek to take captive the imaginations of faithful lay members? Even more, the public perception of the pastor is in question both by the public and those in the pastorate. What is the true role and task of the pastor? Theologian Kevin Vanhoozer recaptures the lost vision of the pastorate through the Pastor Theologian
whose “special role is to edify or build people up: in particular, to build them into the house of God, the body of Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit” (p. 22). That is not to say, however, that the pastor theologian’s role is only one of constructing. His task is also one of deconstructing, or tearing down, the rival social imaginaries vying for supremacy in the lives of believers. The 2025 Pastor, Pew, and Public
virtual workshop, hosted by the Christianity and Communication Studies Network, will emphasize the “Pastor Theologian as Communicator.” All participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in small group discussions throughout our time together.
Kevin J. Vanhoozer (PhD, Cambridge University) is Research Professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Previously he served as Blanchard Professor of Theology at the Wheaton College Graduate School (2009-2012) and Senior Lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland (1990-98). He obtained his BA from Westmont College, his M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia), and his PhD from Cambridge University.
He is the author of twelve books, including The Drama of Doctrine, Faith Speaking Understanding: Performing the Drama of Doctrine and Biblical Authority after Babel: Retrieving the Solas in the Spirit of Mere Protestant Christianityand, most recently, Mere Christian Hermeneutics: Transfiguring What it Means to Read the Bible Theologically – all four named Christianity Today Theology Books of the Year (2006, 2015, 2017).
In 1999 he was featured on the cover of Christianity Today, and in 2015 was the subject of a feature article by Wesley Hill in the same magazine. He has lectured in various countries on four continents. In 2017, he was on the steering committee that drafted A Reforming Catholic Confession, a document that celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. He is the theological mentor of the Augustine Fellowship, one of four groups associated with the Center for Pastor Theologians, and served as a member of the Theology Working Group that produced a paper on hermeneutics for the Lausanne 2024 Seoul Statement.
He is married and has two adult daughters, one son-in-law, and fourteen doctoral students. He is an amateur classical pianist and serious reader, and finds that music and literature help him integrate academic theology, imagination, and spiritual formation. Connect with Kevin here.
Rick Langer (PhD, University of California, Riverside) is a professor at Biola University, the Director of the Office of Faith and Learning, and co-director of the Winsome Conviction Project which seeks to help depolarize our discourse in the church, in Christian universities, and in the public square. He has authored three books and numerous journal articles applying theology to a wide variety of disciplines including business leadership, disability, suffering, bioethics, and vocation. He served as a pastor of a large evangelical church for 20 years before joining the faculty of Biola University in 2005. He has served on many boards and other leadership roles that have given him wide-ranging experience in conflict resolution within Christian churches, boards, universities and organizations. Connect with Rick here.
Tim Muehlhoff (PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) is a Professor of Communication at Biola University in La Mirada, California where he teaches classes in conflict resolution, apologetics, gender, and family communication. He is co-director of Biola’s Winsome Conviction Project that seeks to reintroduce compassion and civility into our disagreements. He’s the co-host of the Winsome Conviction Podcast where people with differing viewpoints are brought on for engaging dialogue. For more, check out Winsome Conviction Project. Tim has written extensively in the area of cultural engagement and conflict resolution including Winsome Conviction: Disagreeing without Dividing the Church and Winsome Persuasion: Christian Influence in a Post Christian World (with Biola professor Rick Langer) each having received a merit award from Christianity Today’s Book of the Year Awards. Tim’s newest book (co-written with Sean McDowell) is End the Stalemate: Moving Past Cancel Culture to Meaningful Conversations (Tyndale). Connect with Tim here.
Brandon Knight (PhD, University of Southern Mississippi) is Assistant Professor of Speech Communication and Director of Forensics at William Carey University. Brandon also earned an MDiv with an emphasis in Biblical Studies from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Prior to teaching in the Academy, Brandon served as a youth pastor for five years at two locations in the local Hub City area and, more recently, served as an interim at Leaf River Baptist Church in Collins, Mississippi. Brandon’s research is featured in the Journal of Communication and Religion, Management Communication Quarterly, the Journal of Christian Teaching Practice (in Communication Studies), the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion, and, most recently, the Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society. Connect with Brandon here.
Jim Beitler (PhD, University of Michigan) is Director of the Marion E. Wade Center and Professor of English at Wheaton College, where he holds the Marion E. Wade Chair of Christian Thought. His scholarship focuses on the rhetoric of Christian witness and writing as a spiritual activity, looking to C.S. Lewis, Dorothy L. Sayers, Desmond Tutu, and other exemplary communicators as guides for faithful practice. Beitler is the author of three books—Charitable Writing: Cultivating Virtue Through Our Words (with Richard Hughes Gibson, 2020), Seasoned Speech: Rhetoric in the Life of the Church (2019), and Remaking Transitional Justice in the United States (2013)—and he teaches undergraduate courses on C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, Tolkien and Environmental Stewardship, and Christianity and Fantasy. With Aaron Hill, he hosts the Wade Center Podcast. Connect with Jim here.
Andy Baker (PhD, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as the Lead Pastor at FBC Oloh, where he has served for sixteen years. Andy holds a Bachelor’s degree from William Carey University, as well as a Master of Divinity (MDiv), Master of Theology (ThM), and PhD in Theology from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he also serves as an Adjunct Professor. Andy is married to Elizabeth, and together they have three children. Connect with Andy here.
Registration Fee: $45.00
No. 8
Academic Play: How Games Can Be a Part of Your University Curriculum
Lead Presenter/Facilitator: Kevin Schut, Trinity Western University
Additional Presenters: Brad Hickey (Dordt University), David Dockery, Texas A & M University
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 | 11:30 am – 3:00 pm EDT
Description: Games often have a bad reputation in educated and Christian circles: time wasters, violent, and addictive, depending on who is complaining. But they are also a unique medium for creative expression and deep thinking, a massive part of today’s global economy, and a very significant site of community building. This is a sector of culture worth engaging, both as a builder and critic, but many academics feel unequipped to do so, and many faith-based institutions especially are uncomfortable with games. From a Christian perspective, however, this doesn’t have to be the case. This session is designed for administrators and scholars who are interested in making games part of their university curriculum and culture. We will address three very different approaches to bring games to campus. First, we’ll talk about gaming and e-sports as a part of the student life on your campus with pioneer Brad Hickey of Dordt University, who has built a vibrant gaming culture on his campus, as well as an educational program for missional gaming. Second, we will consider how universities can make games part of their curriculum with gaming scholar David Dockery of Texas A&M. Third, we will talk about building a program to train students to work in the games industry with Kevin Schut, who build the Game Development program at Trinity Western University.
Kevin Schut (PhD, University of Iowa) is a Game Studies scholar. He is a graduate of Calvin College (Grand Rapids, MI; BA in Communication Arts & Sciences, History, 1996) and the University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA; MA & PhD in Communication Studies, 2004). He wrote the book Of Games & God: A Christian Exploration of Video Games (2013). He writes about the intersection of communication, culture, media, technology and faith, primarily by talking about computer and video games. He has published articles or chapters on fantasy-role-playing computer games and masculinity, on computer games and myth, on the presentation of history in computer games, and on evangelicals and games. He is currently researching moral and ethical decisions in video games. Kevin served as the Chair of the Department of Media + Communication, and he is the Lead for the Game Development program he founded in June 2019. He has also served as Associate Dean of the School of the Arts, Media + Culture. He teaches a range of courses on media and culture. Kevin grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, and still cheers for the Oilers. After graduating from Calvin College, he married and taught overseas in schools for missionary kids in the Cote d’Ivoire and Hungary for three and a half years. He has three daughters who love playing board games, adventure games, Mario Kart, and Vive Virtual Reality with him. His favorite game series is Sid Meier’s Civilization. Connect with Kevin here: https://www.twu.ca/profile/kevin-schut
Brad Hickey (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) wrote his dissertation on engaging gaming culture through a Kuyperian Reformed worldview. Dr. Hickey has published articles and book reviews on sites such as Think Christian and Christian Scholar’s Review and is currently under contract with Cascade Books to produce a forthcoming theological volume on faith and gaming. He serves as the Director of Gaming and teaches introductory theology and gaming courses at Dordt University in Northwest Iowa where he resides with his wife, two daughters, and numerous adorable cats. Learn more about Brad here.
David Dockery (Texas A & M University) is a doctoral student active in the areas of Religious Communication and Game Studies. He is interested in how digital games enable players to explore ideas of the sacred. These can include exploration of sacred spaces, participation in narratives of the sacred, and mythologies embedded in the world of the game. Some of his favorite games to play and analyze are Elden Ring, Minecraft, Civilizations VI, Battlefield, and Total War. He has previously done research in the field of rhetorical history, with a special interest in the rhetoric of the Founding Generation. His M.A. thesis was on interpretation of the Declaration of Independence as a way of arbitrating public moral controversies. Most of all, he welcomes a good conversation. David received his B.S. in Communication from Tennessee Tech University. He went on to receive an M.A. in Communication from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Afterward, he was excited to accept an opportunity to study in the Texas A&M doctoral program. Learn more about David here.
Registration Fee: $45.00
No. 9
Digital Wisdom in Christian Formation: Bridging Church and Campus
Lead Presenters/Facilitators: Garrett Gerhart, Life Bible Fellowship Church; Dr. Stacey Gerhart, Hope International University
Date/Time: Thursday, June 26, 2025 | 11:30 am – 3:00 pm EDT
Description: Today’s Christian leaders face unprecedented challenges in fostering spiritual formation in an increasingly digital world. Whether in church ministry or higher education, the question remains: how do we cultivate digital wisdom while maintaining spiritual and mental wellness? This workshop brings together unique perspectives from both church ministry and higher education to explore practical strategies for digital discipleship and wellness. Through case studies, interactive discussions, and practical application, participants will gain insights into implementing digital wisdom principles in their specific contexts. The workshop features video interviews with students and young adults, sharing real experiences and challenges in digital spirituality. Participants will leave with actionable strategies for creating sustainable digital wellness initiatives in their communities.
Garrett Gerhart serves as Communications Director at Life Bible Fellowship Church, where he leads strategic communication and digital engagement initiatives. With over 20 years of experience in ministry and communications, Garrett specializes in developing comprehensive communication plans and digital strategies for faith-based organizations. He holds an M.A. in Communication with a specialization in Leadership from Spring Arbor University and has been featured in Outreach Magazine for his work in youth engagement through digital platforms. His expertise spans content marketing, social media strategy, and digital community building, and he has been a speaker at various church communication conferences, including the Church Communicator Conference and Cultivate Conference. Learn more about Garrett here.
Stacey Gerhart (PhD, Loma Linda University) serves as Director of Student Development and Wellness at Hope International University, where she has built comprehensive campus-wide wellness programs to support students’ mental health needs. With a doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy from Loma Linda University, Dr. Gerhart brings extensive experience in student mental health and wellness programming. She has developed mental health initiatives and support systems while also serving as an adjunct professor teaching courses in development and career counseling. Her research interests include the effects of technology on mental health, trauma, and social-emotional learning programming, and she has facilitated numerous workshops on resiliency and student development. Learn more about Stacey here.
Registration Fee: $45.00
No. 10
Faith, Community, and Student Life
Lead Presenters/Facilitators: Brandon Knight, Assistant Professor of Speech Communication, William Carey University; Elaine V. Fung, Regent University
Additional Presenters: David Dockery, Texas A&M; Candace Saunders-Grewe, Regent University; Ines Petrovic García, Regent University; David Enns, Liberty University
Date/Time: Monday, June 30, 2025 | 11:30 am – 3:00 pm EDT
Description: In this workshop, Brandon and Elaine will discuss the importance of community and how CCSN is helping to meet this need for community, then communication graduate students will share stories on how they integrate Christian faith into their student life, and a round table discussion with undergraduate and graduate students. The graduate student stories’ topics include navigating coursework in a secular university as a Christian graduate student, servant co-leaders of a qualifying exam study group, faith in scholarship and academic publishing from the editor’s perspective, and integrating faith and authenticity into academic communication. Participants will be encouraged and equipped with practical ways to connect their faith and work as communication students.
Brandon Knight (PhD, University of Southern Mississippi) is Assistant Professor of Speech Communication and Director of Forensics at William Carey University. Brandon also earned an MDiv with an emphasis in Biblical Studies from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Prior to teaching in the Academy, Brandon served as a youth pastor for five years at two locations in the local Hub City area and, more recently, served as an interim at Leaf River Baptist Church in Collins, Mississippi. Brandon’s research is featured in the Journal of Communication and Religion, Management Communication Quarterly, the Journal of Christian Teaching Practice (in Communication Studies), the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion, and, most recently, the Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society. Connect with Brandon here.
Elaine V. Fung (ABD, Regent University), is working to complete her dissertation at Regent University. Her research interests include organizational and interpersonal communication. Elaine is also a Graduate Fellow with the CCSN. Elaine coordinates our summer workshops and conferences in communication, and supports our social media and content creation outreaches. Connect with Elaine here.
Ines Petrovic Garcia is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies and the Honors Program Director at Volunteer State College in Nashville, TN. She also serves as a journal editor for Artifact Analysis. Ines holds a BA in Communication Studies and an MA in Lifespan and Digital Communication from Old Dominion University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Communication Studies at Regent University. Her research explores leadership, interpersonal and intercultural communication, and the intersections of pop culture and communication. Connect with Ines here.David Dockery (Texas A & M University) is a doctoral student active in the areas of Religious Communication and Game Studies. He is interested in how digital games enable players to explore ideas of the sacred. These can include exploration of sacred spaces, participation in narratives of the sacred, and mythologies embedded in the world of the game. Some of his favorite games to play and analyze are Elden Ring, Minecraft, Civilizations VI, Battlefield, and Total War. He has previously done research in the field of rhetorical history, with a special interest in the rhetoric of the Founding Generation. His M.A. thesis was on interpretation of the Declaration of Independence as a way of arbitrating public moral controversies. Most of all, he welcomes a good conversation. David received his B.S. in Communication from Tennessee Tech University. He went on to receive an M.A. in Communication from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Afterward, he was excited to accept an opportunity to study in the Texas A&M doctoral program. Learn more about David here.
David Kenneth Enns, PhD candidate at Liberty University, is a pastor at GateWay Bible Church, Santa Cruz, CA, and scholar specializing in communication, digital engagement, and religious rhetoric. His research explores how religious worldviews interpret Christianese, the slang and jargon unique to Christian culture. He holds an MA in Christian Ministry and dual BM degrees in Theory/Composition and Music Management. With a background spanning entertainment, media, and theology, David brings a distinct perspective to communication, storytelling, and cultural engagement. He is passionate about bridging gaps in religious rhetoric and its impact on faith communication in digital and public spaces. Connect with David here.
Registration Fee: $45.00