Preliminary programme

Sunday 30 August 2009

>> Registration: 17h00 – 18h30 (in the foyer, Theological Faculty)

18h30-18h50: Musical performance in the Dutch Reformed Church Stellenbosch (across the road from the Faculty).

Sunday evening at 19h00: Worship service in the Dutch Reformed Church Stellenbosch (Moederkerk) (English). The preacher will be Prof Piet Naudé (South African Reformed theologian from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth).

Monday 31 August 2009
Morning: Calvin and his reception in South Africa
Speakers:
- Prof Dirkie Smit (University of Stellenbosch)
- Dr Robert Vosloo (University of Stellenbosch)

Lunch: During lunchtime on Monday and Tuesday there will be short speeches engaging public life. On Monday the speaker will be Prof Russel Botman (rector of Stellenbosch University) with a focus on education.

Afternoon: Calvin, Barth, and Christian Humanism
Speaker:
- Prof John de Gruchy
Responses by Prof. Denise Ackermann, Prof. Piet Naudé and Prof. Tinyiko Maluleke

Evening:
Public lecture: Dr Allan Boesak (“Political sea-changes in South Africa and the relevance of the Calvinist tradition”)

Tuesday 1 September 2009
Morning: Theological and Ethical Perspectives in light of Calvin and his legacy
Speakers:
- Prof Katie Cannon, Union-PSCE, Richmond, Virginia: “Redemptive Ethics: More than the Removal of Sin”
- Dr Rachel Baard, Villanova University, Philadelphia: “Sin, Moral Responsibility, and the Kairos of HIV/AIDS: Calvinist Perspectives”

Lunch: The lunch time speaker will be Dr Fanie du Toit (Director of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation) focusing on reconciliation and justice in public life.

Afternoon:
Parallel sessions:
- “Calvin and creation” (Prof Ernst Conradie, University of Western Cape)
- “Calvin on ministry and the offices” (Prof Eddy van den Borght, Free University, Amsterdam)
- “The impact of Calvinism on the European Mind” (Prof Gijsbert van den Brink, University of Leiden)

Plenary session: Calvin on the Eucharist and the unity of the church
Speakers:
- Prof Martien Brinkman, Free University, Amsterdam
- Dr Coenie Burger, Communitas, Stellenbosch

Reception:
Guest speaker: Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

Wednesday 2 September 2009
Morning: Calvin and compassionate justice
Speakers:
- Prof Serene Jones (Union Theological Seminary, New York)
- Dr Setri Nyomi (General Secretary: World Alliance of Reformed Churches): Covenanting for justice – Where would Calvin stand?

Lunch: During lunchtime there will be a book launch of John de Gruchy’s book John Calvin: Christian Humanist and Evangelical Reformer.

Afternoon:
Although the official program draws to a close before lunch, there also will be two afternoon sessions.
- Doctoral students will present papers on the life, theology and legacy of Calvin.
- A session on "Calvin and ministry" will be aimed specifically at pastors (moderated by Dr Coenie Burger, Dr Andries Cilliers and Dr Robert Vosloo).

Conference venue
The conference will be held at the Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University. See maps page for more deatail.