Hidden Hope in Lament: Pastoral Care, Preaching, and Suffering

Thursday 5th September – Friday 6th September

930am-330pm

£40 per day / £60 for the full conference

(includes refreshments and lunch)

Union Theological College

Main Sessions:

1. Can Christians Be Sad? Sean McDonough

2. A Theology and Practice of Life Karen Mason

3. The Neglected Genre of Lament Jeffrey Arthurs

4. Life Beyond Answers: The End of Job Sean McDonough

5. The Essentials of Suicide Prevention Karen Mason

6. Don’t Forget to Remember (Psalm 77) Jeffrey Arthurs

In the final session Dr Arthurs will preach as part of a worship service.

Contributors:

Dr. Jeffrey Arthurs, Robinson Chair of Preaching and Communication, Director of the Haddon W. Robinson Center for Preaching, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Dr. Arthurs is no stranger to Union Theological College, having spent six weeks serving as Visiting Scholar in early 2023. He, and his wife, Liz, have grown to love Ireland and are delighted to be returning to UTC!

Jeff was raised in western PA in a nominally Christian home and came to saving faith in Christ when he was fourteen years old. His life was turned upside down as he soon became deeply involved in the life of the church, receiving a call to preach at age sixteen. To this day his passion is preaching, and he uses his wide-ranging experience as a teacher, pastor, missionary, director, announcer, and consultant to equip others for more effective proclamation of the Word. His books reflect his love of preaching and communication: Preaching with Variety, Devote Yourself to Public Reading of Scripture, Preaching As Reminding, and Preaching Narrative.

Dr Karen Mason, Professor of Counselling and Psychology, Director of the Hamilton Counselling Department, Gordon-Conwell Seminary.

Dr Mason is a Professor of Counselling and Psychology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary where she has prepared students to be licensed mental health counsellors since 2006. She completed an MA in Old Testament at Denver Seminary and an MA and PhD in counselling psychology at the University of Denver with a minor in industrial / organizational psychology.

In addition to being a licensed professional counsellor and a licensed psychologist, she has managed teams and several high impact projects at the Mental Health Center of Denver. Before moving to Massachusetts, she managed the Office of Suicide Prevention at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. She has worked in the mental health field since 1990 with clients across the age-span and in a variety of settings. She is currently in private practice. Her research is focused on the clergy’s and faith community’s role in suicide prevention.

Dr Sean McDonough, Professor of New Testament, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Dr. McDonough came to Gordon-Conwell in 2000 from Pacific Theological College in Suva, Fiji, where he had served as the Chair of the Biblical Studies Department and as a lecturer in New Testament. Dr. McDonough remains active in ministry. He is a Sunday School teacher and occasional preacher at First Congregational Church in Hamilton. He is also a speaker for Medair, a Christian relief organization based in Switzerland. His research interests include creation/cosmology in the Bible and the Ancient Near East, Hellenistic Judaism, Greek philosophy and religion and the Book of Revelation.

Host or Publisher Union Theological College