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Roberts Wesleyan University and Northeastern Seminary to Host Rodney K. Sisco Symposium
The “Beyond Conference: Compassion & Conviction That Goes Beyond Self” will be hosted on campus Oct. 6-7, 2024. This two-day conference will help young adults and students discover humble discourse in the season of ideological divides through the compassionate conviction that goes beyond self.
Watch Dr. Sonnette Boscoe of Roberts Wesleyan speak to ARC Rochester about the symposium
This conference will help students discover compassion and conviction that goes beyond self. “As a student involved in planning the 2024 Beyond Conference, I’ve seen firsthand how this event encourages meaningful conversations around compassion and conviction. It’s a unique opportunity to connect with others and engage with topics that challenge us to live beyond ourselves, grounded in faith and community," said undergraduate diversity intern, Donovin Jones '24 (Marketing).
Donovin Jones
"As the Senior Advisor for University Culture at Roberts, I am excited about this incredible educational opportunity that offers our students invaluable hands-on learning and personal and spiritual growth. Roberts continues to fulfill its commitment to equipping our students with the practical skills necessary through intellectual and spiritual humility to navigate and thrive in a diverse and ever-evolving world," said Senior Advisor to the President for University Culture Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Sonnette M. Bascoe.
Dr. Sonnette M. Bascoe
This symposium continues the legacy of educators like the late Rodney K. Sisco, who worked for over 30 years in Christian higher education at Wheaton College. In his honor, this conference intends to inform, prepare, and influence future Christian leaders to see, embrace, and practice holistic biblical Kingdom Diversity through compassion and conviction.
"...We’re preparing young men and women to know…how to be people who are able to engage with difference and conflict in a way that still says we’re doing it as men and women of God." – Rodney K. Sisco
Rodney K. Sisco
Keynote speaker Justin Giboney, founder of the AND Campaign, will lead discussions on compassionate Christian engagement in sociopolitical issues. The conference will offer workshops and personal development opportunities equipping students to effectively engage in a diverse world. This event will challenge students to move beyond political affiliations, seeking to foster genuine dialogue and understanding instead. This is a mission of the AND Campaign that aligns well with the university’s Culture of Care framework.
Justin Giboney
As a campus community, we recognize that part of our diversity falls along a political spectrum and that Christians may differ on political issues. This year’s symposium, "Beyond Conference: Compassion and Conviction that Goes Beyond Self," aims to address political polarization through intellectual and spiritual humility, aligning with Roberts' Culture of Care framework for healthy engagement in conflict and resolution.
For more information, to register and the schedule of events