Here at the Emerging Scholars Network, we often think of what we do as applying the ideas of the faith and work movement to the work of being an academic. We believe God cares about all work, and calls believers to work in many different fields as a way of engaging with His good creation and witnessing to others about His grace. We try to apply that framework to the work of Christians in the university. Today, ESN editor Hannah Eagleson reflects on a recent experience at a Redeemer Center for Faith and Work conference and offers a brief spiritual exercise for academics at the end of the semester. [Read more…] about Ice Cream, Work, and Liturgy: Formed to Work for the Glory of God Conference
vocation
Advice for Graduates: 5 Things To Do as You Enter the Next Phase of Life
At ESN, we deeply value supporting and mentoring the next generation. In this post, Scott Santibanez, an ESN author who often writes for graduate students and faculty here at the ESN blog, takes a moment to share encouragement and advice for students finishing their undergraduate careers and moving on to the next steps in their vocation. If you are a graduating senior, we’re glad you’re here, and we hope this post encourages you in this key moment. If you’re heading to grad school and want to find community along the way, you can learn more about our network of Christian academics here and look for an InterVarsity grad chapter here. If you are a professor or graduate student and you know seniors who are believers, please consider sharing this post with them. For students headed to graduate school, it may be a great introduction to ESN. For others, we hope it’s encouraging as they pursue whatever God is calling them to next. [Read more…] about Advice for Graduates: 5 Things To Do as You Enter the Next Phase of Life
Master Yourself by Choosing Your Master (Masterclass in Writing, Part 5)
With Written on Their Hearts: Writing, Worship, and Spiritual Formation in the Life of the Mind, Dr. Royce Francis began a new series on writing with a new format for the ESN blog, i.e., Masterclass. Like a Masterclass in music or performance, it provides the opportunity to learn skills from an expert, as well as exercises designed by that expert to help you deepen those skills in your own academic life. In this series, which will run for the length of the spring semester, Royce will weave together theological reflection and practical suggestions on becoming a skilled writer in general and within your field. He will also provide exercises each week to give readers a way to put the ideas in the series into practice. Join ESN for a Masterclass in writing. Questions and conversation are welcome—feel free to use the Comments section to express them, or email them to http://www.intervarsity.org/contact/emerging-scholars-network. [Read more…] about Master Yourself by Choosing Your Master (Masterclass in Writing, Part 5)
The Christian Academic Vocation in “Restoring the Soul of the University”
“The Christian academic vocation is first and foremost defined by thinking about and living one’s vocation in the light of the triune God and God’s story of the world. These elements not only nourish the university’s soul but should also define professors’ fundamental identities and direct them to engage in certain story-formed virtues and practices that shape their vocations in unique ways. Thinking and living in the light of God and God’s story can also foster an integrated relationship for teaching, scholarship, and service as well as an integrated identity and life purpose. As image bearers of God we can then pursue a coinherence reflected in the Trinity. The vocation of the Christian scholar is defined by a different story, identity, and purpose. As a result, the Christian scholar is free to fulfill his or her calling without having one’s soul fragmented by it. . . .
[Read more…] about The Christian Academic Vocation in “Restoring the Soul of the University”
Collegial Connections, Week Three: Maintaining Connections
This fall, Renee Bourdeaux draws on her expertise in psychological research and her experience as a college professor to offer tips on building strong relationships with academic colleagues. In addition to applying her academic knowledge, each week Renee will also offer a prayer and a practical exercise to help build community in academic settings. Read Post 1 here, and Post 2 here.Â
This Collegial Connections series has so far covered Hallway Connections and Meeting Connections. Now, with any luck (and, of course, with some guidance from God), the intentionality we used to engage our colleagues in the hallways and during meetings hopefully led us to developing some stronger friendships with our colleagues. Now, I’d like to share some of the research on how to maintain those friendships.
Relational Maintenance Theory (Canary & Stafford, 1992; Stafford, 2011; Stafford & Canary, 1991; Stafford, Dainton, & Haas, 2000) explains that there are seven maintenance behaviors (positivity, understanding, assurances, network, sharing tasks/activities, relationship talks, and self-disclosure) that are used to sustain various types of relationships. For friendships, though, start by focusing on these two maintenance behaviors: sharing tasks/activities and self-disclosure. [Read more…] about Collegial Connections, Week Three: Maintaining Connections