The Cost of Ambition with Miroslav Volf
About this Event
The Cost of Ambition with Miroslav Volf
What if your ambition is quietly making you a worse person?
It is one of the most uncomfortable questions of our time — and one of the most important.
We live in a world that celebrates striving, achievement, competition, and getting ahead. But what if the relentless drive to be better than others is shaping us in ways we barely notice? What if it is eroding our character, straining our relationships, and pulling us away from the life we were actually made for?
This September, world-renowned theologian and Yale professor Miroslav Volf comes to Calgary for a weekend of lectures, workshops, and worship exploring the spiritual cost of ambition — and what it means to follow Christ in a competitive world. This event is presented in partnership with the Chair of Christian Thought at the University of Calgary.
Whether you come for the free Friday presentation or spend Saturday in deeper conversation, this weekend will help you examine how ambition shapes your faith, work, relationships, and inner life.
September 18–20, 2026
Grace Presbyterian Church
1009 15 Ave SW, Calgary, AB
Early Bird pricing ends August 15. Saturday workshop spaces are limited. Please select your ticket type above to register.
Weekend Schedule
Friday, September 18, 7:00–8:30 PM
The Cost of Ambition — Public Presentation with Miroslav Volf
A public evening presentation exploring the cultural, spiritual, and personal cost of ambition. This free introductory lecture will outline the central themes of The Cost of Ambition and invite us to consider how the desire to succeed, achieve, and outperform others can quietly shape who we become.
A light reception will follow in the Family Room.
Cost: Free. All are welcome. Registration: Required.
Saturday, September 19, 9:30 AM–3:00 PM
Interactive Workshop: The Scriptural Roots of Ambition
Saturday's workshop offers a deeper, highly practical, and more personal exploration of ambition: where it comes from, how Scripture speaks to it, and how Christians can pursue excellence without being consumed by comparison, competition, or status.
This workshop is for anyone who wants to think more deeply about ambition, faith, character, and the pressure to achieve. Together, we will explore the biblical underpinnings of The Cost of Ambition and consider what it means to follow Christ in a demanding world.
Why join us on Saturday?
Interactive Format: Unlike Friday's lecture, the Saturday workshop features dedicated Q&A sessions, giving you the opportunity to engage directly with Dr. Volf.
Practical Application: Move beyond theory and consider how ambition shapes your work, relationships, leadership, faith, and daily life.
Meaningful Conversation: A catered lunch is included with select tickets, providing time to continue the conversation with others reflecting on the same questions.
Sunday, September 20, 10:30–11:45 AM
Morning Worship with Miroslav Volf
Miroslav Volf will preach at Grace Presbyterian Church in partnership with the Rev. Dr. Chris Joiner, Lead Minister.
Join us for a thoughtful and worshipful Sunday morning as we continue reflecting on ambition, character, and the life Christ calls us to live.
Cost: Free. All are welcome.
Tickets & Registration
Early Bird pricing is available until August 15. Secure your Saturday workshop seat early for the best rate.
Saturday Workshop + Catered Lunch
$50 — Early Bird Rate (till Aug.15) | $65 — Standard Rate
Saturday Workshop Only
$35 — Full Saturday session access. Does not include lunch.
Student Tickets: A valid student ID is required at the door.
$35 — Workshop + Catered Lunch
Friday Lecture Only
Free — Registration required.
Sunday Worship
Free — All are welcome.
About Miroslav Volf
Miroslav Volf is the Henry B. Wright Professor of Systematic Theology at Yale Divinity School and founding Director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture.
Born in Croatia and profoundly shaped by the violence and trauma of war in the former Yugoslavia, Volf's work explores theology, identity, reconciliation, memory, public life, and what it means to live faithfully in a fractured world.
His books — including Exclusion and Embrace, A Public Faith, and The End of Memory — have made him one of the most widely read and respected theologians in the world today. His latest book, The Cost of Ambition, is a timely and deeply human exploration of how the drive to be better than others can make us worse.
Location & Parking
Grace Presbyterian Church 1009 15 Ave SW, Calgary, AB
Parking: Free parking is available in nearby Indigo lots and on surrounding streets.
Accessibility: Accessible entry is available through the west doors.
Early Bird pricing ends August 15. Saturday workshop spaces are limited. This is a rare opportunity to engage one of the world's leading theologians in an intimate setting. Please select your ticket type above to register.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 0.00 to CAD 70.56
