Welcome to the GFM National Staff Conference 2025 Webpage
As followers of Jesus, we steward all of life under his Lordship. Therefore, our study, research, and work become essential places to grow in and express our love for God and neighbor.
Note from the Conference Planning Team
Dear GFM Colleagues,
The next GFM National Staff Conference will be held online Monday, March 24th through Thursday, March 27th, 2025. As we continue exploring the GFM Commitments, we will look together at: Integration of Faith, Learning, and Practice. The planning team crafted this definition to guide our time together:
As followers of Jesus, we steward all of life under his Lordship. Therefore, our study, research, and work become essential places to grow in and express our love for God and neighbor.
We are excited to announce that Dr. Elizabeth Sung will be our keynote speaker, helping us to see how our commitment to this aspect of discipleship flows out of our formation in Christ.
The following objectives will inform our experience together:
- Connect meaningfully with God and one another for learning and encouragement, particularly around our shared mission on campus
- Grow in our understanding of and response to God's gracious invitation to live integrated lives under the Lordship of Jesus
- Increase our confidence about faith-work integration with graduate students and faculty (what it is and how to do it)
We look forward to a good time of learning and engaging with God and one another!
— The GFM 2025 Staff Conference Planning Team
Conference Resources
Who should attend?
- Paid staff working 20+ hours/week are expected to attend
- Everyone else is encouraged (but not expected) to attend
- Talk with your supervisor if you have questions about your participation
Pre-Course Assignment
It's not time intensive, but you will want to complete this in advance, so please plan ahead. Look over the Pre-Course Assignment for an overview, including instructions for interviewing a grad student or faculty, and reflection questions to answer before the conference begins. Please be prepared to share reflections on the readings and your interview in our small group times.
Links to pre-conference readings:
Before the conference, use the link above to access a digital copy of two chapters of Steven Garber’s book, A Seamless Life. We encourage you to take advantage of the 50% staff discount with the code IVCFSTAFF50 to purchase the book from IVP.
Schedule
A favorite part of being together as a GFM community is the opportunity for study and robust discussion of Scripture with colleagues. The four objectives for our time in small groups during the 2025 GFM National Staff Conference are:
- Grow in our love for God
- Grow in our understanding and love for God's purposes in the world
- Experience a good time in Scripture with our GFM community
- Leave with Bible study tools to use on campus with students and faculty in discussions about faith and work (scholarship, teaching, research, etc.).
Monday, March 24: Beginnings
Setting expectations for the week and hearing from VP and GFM Director Lynn Gill
Opening Session
2:00 PM EDT / 11:00 AM PDT
Welcome, introductions, and meet your small group.
Join Opening Session
Tuesday, March 25: Integration—A Theological Framework
A day focused on understanding the theological foundations that guide our integration work.
Small Groups
3:30 PM EDT / 12:30 PM PDT
Journey through Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, surveying God's work in human history and considering its implications for our academic communities.
Join Small Groups
Seminars
4:45 PM EDT / 1:45 PM PDTFocused discussions on theoretical issues of integration.
Join Seminars
Wednesday, March 26: Integration—Models in Practice
Exploring practical applicationsof and perspectives on integration.
Models of Integration: Senior Scholar Panel
1:00 PM EDT / 10:00 AM PDT
Join Faculty Panel
Small Groups
3:30 PM EDT / 12:00 PM PDT
Continuing our Scripture journey, focusing on faith integration in academic contexts.
Join Small Groups
Meet Ups
4:45 PM EDT / 1:45 PM PDT
Connect with colleagues in your field or area of interest.
Join Meet Ups
Thursday, March 27: Integration—Models in Practice
Continued exploration of practical applications of and perspectives on integration.
Daily Prayer (optional)
12:00 PM EDT / 9:00 AM PDT
Join Daily Prayer
Models of Integration: Emerging Scholar Panel
1:00 PM EDT / 10:00 AM PDT
Emerging scholars share their work in bringing their faith to bear on their academic pursuits.
Join Student Panel
Small Groups
3:30 PM EDT / 12:30 PM PDT
Concluding our Scripture journey, discussing application in student and faculty ministry.
Join Small Groups
Seminars
4:45 PM EDT / 1:45 PM PDT
Focused discussions on practical ways to help students and faculty engage in integrative work.
Join Seminars
Wrap-Up
5:45 PM EDT / 2:45 PM PDT
Join us for a quick conference wrap-up and commissioning.
Join Seminars
Speaker Details
Dr. Elizabeth Sung
Elizabeth (Lisa) Sung, Ph.D., is a systematic theologian and a spiritual director. She is Visiting Associate Professor in Theology at Regent College (Vancouver, Canada); Visiting Professor at Northeastern Seminary (Rochester, NY); Visiting Researcher at The University of Saint Mary of the Lake (Mundelein, IL); and Theologian-in-Residence at The InterVarsity Institute. In both academic and ministry contexts, she teaches theology to foster the lived reality of personal integrity and flourishing in Christ as the catalyst for missional living, in a framework that explicitly reconnects systematic theology to spiritual formation, moral transformation, and world service.
Dr. Steven Garber
Steven Garber has been a teacher of many people in many places, and was the founder of the Washington Institute for Faith, Vocation and Culture, now also serving as the Senior Fellow for Vocation and the Common Good for the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, as well as Professor at-Large for the Economics of Mutuality, and for several years was the Professor of Marketplace Theology at Regent College, Vancouver BC. The author of several books, his most recent is The Seamless Life: A Tapestry of Love and Learning, Worship and Work.
Important Links: Conference Downloads and Printables
Schedules
Communications
