Emerging Scholars Blog

InterVarsity's Emerging Scholars Network

theology of vocation

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. . . .

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My Calling at Church (Liturgies of Calling, Post 4)

singing church photo
Photo by TumblingRun

Now and then, we’ll take a break from our Sunday Scholar’s Compass rhythm to share other material that can be used in personal reflection and communal worship, and this week we conclude a series of liturgies from a recent InterVarsity conference. Every summer, InterVarsity hosts the Midwest Faculty Conference as a time for faculty to rest, reflect, and meet with God and each other. This year’s theme was The Faculty Vocation: Exploring a Christian Anthropology of the Academic Life. Mike Gehrling, InterVarsity’s Director of International Graduate Student and Faculty Ministry, crafted liturgies for worship at the conference around the theme of vocation. He shares them with us here. Part 1 can be found here, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here.

My Calling at Church – A Liturgy based on Colossians 4:2-18

Song – For All the Saints (William Walsham How and Ralph Vaughan Williams)

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My Calling at Home (Liturgies of Calling, Post 3)

father and son african photo
Photo by B.C. Lorio

Now and then, we’ll take a break from our Sunday Scholar’s Compass rhythm to share other material that can be used in personal reflection and communal worship, and this week we continue a series of liturgies from a recent InterVarsity conference. Every summer, InterVarsity hosts the Midwest Faculty Conference as a time for faculty to rest, reflect, and meet with God and each other. This year’s theme was The Faculty Vocation: Exploring a Christian Anthropology of the Academic Life. Mike Gehrling, InterVarsity’s Director of International Graduate Student and Faculty Ministry, crafted liturgies for worship at the conference around the theme of vocation. He shares them with us here. Part 1 can be found here, and Part 2 is here.

My Calling at Home – A Liturgy based on Colossians 3:1-4:1

Song – Jesus, What a Beautiful Name (Tanya Riches)

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My Calling at Work (Liturgies of Calling, Post 2)

professor teaching photo
Photo by University of Central Arkansas

Now and then, we’ll take a break from our Sunday Scholar’s Compass rhythm to share other material that can be used in personal reflection and communal worship, and this week we continue a series of liturgies from a recent InterVarsity conference. Every summer, InterVarsity hosts the Midwest Faculty Conference as a time for faculty to rest, reflect, and meet with God and each other. This year’s theme was The Faculty Vocation: Exploring a Christian Anthropology of the Academic Life. Mike Gehrling, InterVarsity’s Director of International Graduate Student and Faculty Ministry, crafted liturgies for worship at the conference around the theme of vocation. He shares them with us here. Part 1 can be found here.

My Calling at Work – A Liturgy Based on Colossians 1:24-2:23

Song – It Is Well With My Soul (Horatio Spafford, Philip Bliss)

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Liturgies of Calling, Post 1 (Highlighting Community)

cathedral cross photoNow and then, we’ll take a break from our Sunday Scholar’s Compass rhythm to share other material that can be used in personal reflection and communal worship, and this week we share a liturgy from a recent InterVarsity conference. Every summer, InterVarsity hosts the Midwest Faculty Conference as a time for faculty to rest, reflect, and meet with God and each other. This year’s theme was The Faculty Vocation: Exploring a Christian Anthropology of the Academic Life. Mike Gehrling, InterVarsity’s Director of International Graduate Student and Faculty Ministry, crafted liturgies for worship at the conference around the theme of vocation. He shares them with us here. 

[Read more…] about Liturgies of Calling, Post 1 (Highlighting Community)