Nitro Theology Series

For the months of October and November, we will have Nitro Cold Brew coffee available in Crail C as we infuse our hearts and minds with some engaging theological topics. 

• Oct. 6:Theology and Species Loss 
  • Dr. Tony Baker, Clinton S. Quin, professor of Systematic Theology at Seminary of the Southwest, will explore the intersection of Christian holiness with current issues in ecology. The reasons to resist climate change and biodiversity depletion are many. But are any of these reasons theological? What of God's image is lost when a species goes extinct? This study of some of the ancient writers of the church will suggest that our pursuit of participation in God's holiness makes grief and resistance an imperative of Christian discipleship in the Anthropocene Epoch.
• Oct. 13:  Holy Conversation: Canterbury Tales: The Changing Landscape of Christian Faith in the World
  
  • The Very Rev. David Monteith, Dean of Canterbury will join us via Zoom for a conversation moderated by our rector, Fr. Chuck Treadwell
• Oct. 20: Latinas in Ministerial Leadership and Theological Education: Changing the Landscape

  The Rev. Patricia Bonilla, Instructor in Christian Education, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, will explore the ways in which a feminist Latina theology informs ministry with Hispanic Youth. This lecture will highlight the ministry and scholarship of Latinas and how they are imaging and implementing new possibilities for faith formation and theological education. The presentation will engage decolonizing pedagogies, including intergenerational, peer-learning, and accompaniment mentorship practices.

• Oct. 27:  No lecture: Harvest Sunday
• Nov. 3:  Grace and the Problem of Suffering (Part I)
  • Dr. William Greenway, Professor of Philosophical Theology at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, starts a two-part presentation on grace and the problem of suffering. For many evil and suffering are major obstacles to faith in God. For centuries modern theologians have attempted to meet this challenge through the development of a variety of theodicies. None is convincing. But the modern understanding of the problem is confused. Properly understood, faith in God is never more sure than when standing before horrendous suffering and evil.
• Nov. 10:  Holy Conversation: The Education Achievement Gap in Austin 
  • This Holy Conversation will include a presentation by Dr. Rosamaria Murillo and Dr. Leah Newkirk Meunier of El Buen Samaritano, entitled Avanzando Futuros (Advancing the Future) through High Quality Education. Austin’s economic prosperity depends on a highly educated workforce. However, the quality of a child’s education often depends on their skin color and zip code. El Buen Samaritano is taking bold steps to level the playing field for the youth in our community. Join Dr. Murillo and Dr. Meunier as they explore the challenges facing Central Texas’ education system and how El Buen is leading innovative solutions to create an equitable future for all our neighbors.
    • Dr. Rosamaria Murillo is the Chief Executive Officer of El Buen Samaritano, an outreach ministry that serves the Latino community of Central Texas by providing access to healthcare, education, food and essential needs. Dr. Murillo is a recognized public health advocate who has secured close to $100 million to focus on health and human services at the national, state, and local levels throughout her career. During the pandemic, Dr. Murillo led El Buen’s emergency response efforts to support thousands of families with access to food and basic needs, including managing distribution of $8 million in cash and rental assistance, virtual adult and youth education classes, and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccinations and health care resources. Dr. Murillo holds a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from the School of Business at Our Lady of the Lake University, a Master of Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. 
    • Dr. Leah Newkirk Meunier is the Chief of Development and Communications at El Buen Samaritano. She has served the Austin nonprofit community for over 20 years, building pathways to success for children and families. Leah has taught Child Development at The University of Texas at Austin and served as a Master Teacher in UT’s Child and Family Laboratory School. Leah holds a B.S. in Psychology from Tulane University and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Sciences from UT Austin.
• Nov. 17:  Grace and the Problem of Suffering (Part II): with Dr. William Greenway

  • This two-part lecture continues asking should we pray and hope for miracles? If not, what use is prayer? What should we do? In and for what can we hope?

• Nov. 24:  Disability Theology
  
  • St. David's Seminarian Amy Waltz-Reasonover will speak on the topic, Disability and Deafness in the Bible and the Life of the Church
    Amy is a second-year seminarian at Seminary of the Southwest, serving St. David’s as their field parish. Amy is Deaf/Hard of Hearing and disabled and brings an inside view to the theology of disability. They are the founder of the St. Gallaudet Deaf Prayer Group—an online missional community in the Diocese of Texas. Prior to seminary, Amy served disabled and Deaf students at Lee College in Baytown where she/they worked to tutor students in writing, history, and life skills, and to teach faculty how to accommodate their students with disabilities in a classroom setting. Amy has recently completed an essay on disability and deafness in the Gospel of Mark for submission to the Anglican Theological Review and is currently beginning work on a thesis on Deaf Theology.