Members of the faculty from Seminary of the Southwest will take part in two national gatherings in early spring, bringing the seminary’s work in theological education, mental health formation, and clergy well-being into conversation with church and academic leaders from across the country.
At the end of February, Dr. Marlon Johnson, the Rev. Dr. Dominique Robinson, and Dr. Awa Jangha will travel to Chicago to present at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, one of the nation’s largest annual gatherings focused on faith, justice, and leadership in the Black church tradition. The conference, which convenes clergy, scholars, and community leaders each year, centers on preaching, public theology, and the intersection of faith and social transformation.
The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference gives a special focus on the seminarian experience, and, “affords an unprecedented and unique opportunity for seminarians to partake in a specially designed intensive.”
The Southwest faculty members will collaborate with the Rev. Dr. Brandon Crowley of Episcopal Divinity School on a panel addressing clergy well-being, entitled “Tending the Shepherds: Clergy Wellbeing in a Time of Burnout and Renewal”. Dr. Crowley was the Crump Visiting Professor and Black Religious Scholars Group Scholar-in-Residence for the 2021-2022 academic year at Seminary of the Southwest.
More information about this year’s gathering is available at https://sdpconference.info/.
The seminary’s presence at the Proctor Conference continues its longstanding engagement with national theological networks and conversations around pastoral leadership, racial justice, and congregational vitality.
Also, on Friday, March 6, Johnson will deliver a keynote address at the Texas Counseling Association’s midwinter gathering, entitled “Break, Bond, or Burn: Getting Fired Up for Counselor Education.” His keynote will explore “fire as a metaphor for advocacy and growth within counselor education and supervision.” Details about the conference can be found here.
Together, the upcoming presentations in Chicago and Texas reflect Southwest’s investment in both clergy well-being and counselor education at a time when faith communities and helping professions alike are grappling with burnout, rapid change, and new opportunities for collaboration.