The Open Table Conference in 2018 was held at Warner Pacific College in Portland, Oregon, in June. Below you can listen to all of the Plenary Sessions, a Q & R session, and two musical interludes.
Prelude
Music - Swimfish
Swimfish is a unique, colorful band featuring high quality, original folk/rock music. The line-up is bass, drums, guitars, pedal steel guitar & vocals, but their focus lies in first class songwriting. Swimfish has a sound no other band will ever have. Originality is what they strive for and thatʼs what makes them special.
The Undiluted Gospel
Plenary session 1 - Dr. C. Baxter Kruger
Baxter is the Director of Perichoresis. He has a degree in Political Science, a Doctorate in Philosophy and is the author of eight books including “The Great Dance”, “Across All Worlds” and “The Shack Revisited”. He resides in Mississippi with his wife Beth. They have four children and recently became proud grandparents.
God is Love, plus nothing
Plenary Session 2 - Dr. Brad Jersak
Brad is an author and teacher based in Abbotsford, Canada. He is editor-in-chief of “Christianity Without the Religion” magazine and teaches at Westminster Theological Centre. He is also the author of over a dozen books, including “Can You Hear Me? Tuning in to the God Who Speaks” and “A More Christlike God: A More Beautiful Gospel.”
Change
Plenary Session 3 - Wm. Paul Young (w/ dr. Brad Jersak)
Paul is the author of “The Shack”, “Eve”, “Cross Roads”, and “The Shack Reflections. He was born a Canadian and raised among a stone-age tribe by his missionary parents in the highlands of what was Netherlands New Guinea (now West Papua). He suffered great loss as a child and young adult, and now enjoys the “wastefulness of grace” with his family in the Pacific Northwest.
An Astonished Heart
Plenary Session 4 - Fr. Kenneth Tanner
Kenneth is pastor of Church of the Holy Redeemer in Rochester Hills, Michigan, where he lives with his wife and seven children. His writing has appeared in “Books & Culture”, “Huffington Post”, “Sojourners”, “National Review”, “Christianity Today”, “Behemoth”, and “Real Clear Religion.”
Interlude
Music - String quartet
A special musical treat of a classical string quartet.
Incarnation
Plenary Session 5 - John MacMurray
John is the founder and director of the Northwest School of Theology and the Open Table Conferences. Formerly an adjunct professor in Bible Literature, he now speaks internationally, and writes. His books include “A Spiritual Evolution” and “Father Fiction” (co-written with Donald Miller). He is also a landscape nature photographer, published in National Geographic, Sierra Club, and Audubon.
God Purposes
Plenary Session 6 - Wm. Paul young (w/ Dr. Brad Jersak)
Paul is the author of “The Shack”, “Eve”, “Cross Roads”, and “The Shack Reflections. He was born a Canadian and raised among a stone-age tribe by his missionary parents in the highlands of what was Netherlands New Guinea (now West Papua). He suffered great loss as a child and young adult, and now enjoys the “wastefulness of grace” with his family in the Pacific Northwest.
Our Imago Dei
Plenary Session 7 - Katie Skurja
Katie founded Imago Dei Ministries and is the author of “Paradox Lost: Uncovering Your True Identity in Christ”, which peels away misconceptions of the nature and character of the triune God. She holds a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy as well as a Masters of Spiritual Formation. She and her husband, Jim, have two sons.
The Blessed Trinity
Plenary Session 8 - Dr. C. Baxter Kruger
Baxter is the Director of Perichoresis. He has a degree in Political Science, a Doctorate in Philosophy and is the author of eight books including “The Great Dance”, “Across All Worlds” and “The Shack Revisited”. He resides in Mississippi with his wife Beth. They have four children and recently became proud grandparents.
Panel Discussion
Question and Response
All of the speakers offer responses to questions posed by the participants in an open mic forum.