How do Christian and non-Christians think about faith and work? Drs. Ecklund and Daniels will explore this question and its implications for life together in the academy, examining how Christians in different disciplines think about their work in light of their faith and their faith in light of their work. They will also explore ways we can engage in spiritual disciplines within the context of our own work.
As Christians in academia, we often face unique challenges when it comes to the intersection of our faith and our role in the university. At the InterVarsity Blue Ridge Faculty Conference you will:
Elaine Howard Ecklund is the Herbert S. Autrey Chair in Social Sciences, Professor of Sociology, Director of the Religion and Public Life Program at Rice University, and a Rice Scholar at the Baker Institute for Public Policy. Ecklund is a sociologist of religion, immigration, and science who examines how individuals bring changes to religious and scientific institutions. Her forthcoming book, Why Science and Faith Need Each Other: Eight Shared Values That Move Us beyond Fear, will be published in May 2020. Ecklund has been named one of Christianity Today’s “50 Women You Should Know.” Ecklund and her family attend St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Houston. (Photo Credit to Jeff Fitlow)
Denise Daniels is a Professor of Management at Seattle Pacific University (SPU). She recently co-authored a book titled, “Working in the Presence of God: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Work.” Denise’s scholarly interests include meaningful work, Sabbath, leadership, gender, and motivation. She is also the producer of a series of films known as Faith & Co., which are designed to deepen connections between faith and work. Denise has been married to Craig Barwell for 24 years, and they have four adolescent and young adult children. She attends Sanctuary Christian Reformed Church in Seattle.
Conference Details and Fees
The conference will be on June 25 – 28, 2020 at Ridge Haven Conference and Retreat Center located outside of Asheville, North Carolina, in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
Conference fees will vary based on the arrival date and rooming needs. The approximate cost will be around $400/person which includes meals, housing and conference program fees.
Day Ahead Option
You are invited to come a day ahead of the conference to play, rest or to partcipate in a guided retreat.
Who is this conference for?
All faculty are welcome at the conference. Whether you’re single, married, and/or have kids, the conference will have something for you! Spouses are welcome to attend and the gathering will be family-friendly. The conference takes place in the Blue Ridge Mountains, providing an opportunity to experience God’s creation while getting away from the daily stresses of life.
Children and Youth Programming
Activities for children and youth programming will be coordinated and run by the Ridge Haven Conference Center staff and will include many of the activities listed on their website. Contact them directly with any questions. Children's programming will cost $50/child with a maximum of $100/family. If registering more than 2 children, please do not pay the full balance when registering so that we can adjust the total due.
Getting to the Conference
The conference will provide ground transportation to Ridge Haven from the Asheville, NC (ASH) airport or the Greenville, SC (GSP) airport. If you are flying in, please check Allegiant Airlines and Spirit Airlines as they have non-stop flights to either of these airports. Here is a list of airlines that offer direct flights to the area. We will help you get to the conference center from the airport! Click here to let us know if you need help getting to the conference.
The address of the conference center is 215 Ridge Haven Rd., Brevard, NC 28712.
Conference Schedule
Click here to view last year's conference schedule. The schedule is subject to change.
Click here to visit the Conference Facebook Page
Registration
Please read this document before registering.
Don't miss Early Bird registration! Save $50 by signing up by May 4!
