The Holy Spirit and The Christian Life

The Vancouver School of Theology and St. Andrew's Hall proudly present the 2024 Cork Lecture & Workshop | The Holy Spirit and the Christian Life with Rev. Dr. Rob Fennell

Public Lecture — Friday, August 8 at 7pm

Workshop & Panel Discussion — Saturday, August 9 from 10am – 2pm (lunch included)

This year’s Cork Lecture and Workshop features a free public lecture by Rev. Dr. Rob Fennell on August 8 and an in-person workshop on August 9. Both events will be held at Epiphany Chapel at the Vancouver School of Theology. Workshop registration is $10 and includes lunch.

Rob’s keynote lecture will explore the question: Who is the Holy Spirit—and how can the Spirit be known? From a vague “something” to a real “Someone,” Rob will trace a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit as the dynamic, transformative presence of God in our midst. This topic will be of special interest to ministry leaders, students of theology, spiritual directors, and all who seek to explore the presence of God in everyday life and community.

Saturday’s workshop invites participants to consider how the Holy Spirit—God’s own self—dwells at the heart of spirituality. Through guided reflection and discussion, we will explore the Spirit’s movement within our personal faith journeys and the ministry of the Church. Come with an open mind and heart to dive into the Spirit’s embrace.

Please select tickets for either or both events you wish to attend.

Please note:

• The public lecture on August 8 will be available to watch online via livestream. Please select "General Admission (online)" and you will be emailed a Zoom link in the days leading to the event. 

• The workshop and panel discussion on August 17 will only be offered in-person. 

• Lunch is included in the $10 workshop registration cost. Please indicate dietary restrictions as prompted during the ticket-buying process. If cost is a barrier, please don't hesitate to contact VST's Executive Assistant, Rachael Shi at rshi@vst.edu.

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Abstract: 

Who is the Holy Spirit, and how can the Spirit be known? And what difference does that make in our lives and world events? This lecture traces the movement of the Spirit from mystery to intimacy—from abstract idea to lived encounter. In Saturday’s workshop, participants will explore how the Spirit lives at the beating heart of spirituality and empowers both personal faith and communal ministry.

About: 

The Rev. Dr. Rob Fennell is Associate Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology at the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax, and an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada. Since joining AST in 2006, he has served as Academic Dean (2017–2023) and Acting President (2022–2023). He holds a ThD from the University of Toronto and an MLitt in New Testament from the University of St. Andrews.

Rob’s teaching and research focus on hermeneutics, the Holy Spirit, pilgrimage, evangelism, and congregational vitality, and he is the founder of Camino Nova Scotia, a pilgrimage-based initiative for spiritual formation. He is the author of Camino Close to Home (2023), 31 Short Spiritual Practices (2021), and The Rule of Faith and Biblical Interpretation (2018).

He is also the recipient of the United Church of Canada Foundation’s McGeachy Senior Scholarship (2022–2024) for his research on the Holy Spirit across Christian traditions.

The Cork Lecture and Workshop is jointly sponsored by VST and St. Andrew’s Hall in honour of Mardee Cork, a generous supporter of theological education. The Cork Lecture and Workshop is made possible through allocations from a permanent fund held by St. Andrew’s Hall, with all distributions exclusively at the direction of the VST President. The Cork Lecture and Workshop aims to spotlight congregational vitality. This year's keynote lecturer is Dr. Kate Rae Davis, Executive Director of the Centre for Transforming Engagement at the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology.