Re-Discovering Christianity's Surprise

The Vancouver School of Theology proudly presents the 2025 G. Peter Kaye Lecture & Workshop | Re-Discovering Christianity's Surprise: Cultivating Social Innovation at the Heart of the Gospel

Public Lecture — Friday, March 13 at 7pm

Workshop — Saturday, March 14 from 10am – 2pm (lunch included)

Join The Rev, L. Gregory Jones, President of Belmont University and Former Dean of Duke Divinity School, for the 2026 G. Peter Kaye Lecture at the Vancouver School of Theology.

This free public lecture invites participants to explore how Christian social innovation has shaped transformative witness throughout history. By revisiting the practices and convictions that made the early church so surprising, the session opens space to imagine how these patterns might inspire renewed and meaningful Christian witness in the 21st century.

Please note:

• The public lecture on March 13 will be available to watch online via livestream. You will be emailed a Zoom link in the days leading to the lecture. 

• The workshop on March 14 will only be offered in-person only. 

• Lunch is included in the $10 workshop registration cost. Please indicate dietary restrictions as prompted during check-out.

• There is limited parking at Epiphany Chapel (on Chancellor Mews), as well as paid parking on UBC campus. The North Parkade and Rose Garden Parkade are within a six minute walk. Public transportation to UBC is readily available. Epiphany Chapel is a 10 minute walk northwest of the UBC bus loop. 

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Public Lecture Abstract: 

Whenever Christian witness has been strongest and the Gospel has spread, a vision of Christian social innovation has been integral. We will explore the underlying practices, convictions, and relationships that made Christian witness so surprising in the ancient world, and offer patterns for a revitalized (and thus “surprising”) witness in the 21st century.

Workshop: Saturday, March 14 - “Crazy People Who Have Hope: Practicing Social Innovation as a Renewal of Institutions and Communities”

Jones will explore specific examples (and their underlying practices, convictions, and relationships) that inspire an imaginative approach to Christian witness through social innovation.

About: 

The Rev. L. Gregory Jones is a theologian whose work centers on the nature of forgiveness, the significance of Christian ministry and pastoral leadership, and social innovation and entrepreneurship. He has served as Duke’s chief international strategist to advance and coordinate the university’s global engagement. Between 1997 and 2010, and then between 2018 and 2021, Dr. Jones served as the dean of the Divinity School.

The author or editor of seventeen books, he has also published more than 200 articles and essays. A is Christian Social Innovation: Renewing Wesleyan Witness (Abingdon Press, May 2016). He coauthored the book Forgiving As We’ve Been Forgiven with Celestin Musekura and another book with Kevin R. Armstrong, Resurrecting Excellence: Shaping Faithful Christian Ministry.

Gilbert Peter Kaye, a dedicated philanthropist and former Chancellor of VST, established the G. Peter and Barbara E. Kaye Fund with the Vancouver Foundation. Since 1987 Peter Kaye’s generosity has allowed VST to host the annual G. Peter Kaye Lectures, bringing distinguished scholars to Vancouver whose insights deepen the spiritual life of the school, church, and wider community.