Category: News

by Abigail Bates '26

“Limits on God’s Sovereignty” will begin next Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Willard J. Houghton Library, room 323, and is Around the Table credit. The panel is part of a series sponsored by Assistant Professor of Physics Dr. Katrina Koehler and Professor of Philosophy Dr. Benjamin Lipscomb. The series began in 2023 with the first discussion on Nov. 15 covering the conflict in Gaza and has since then covered topics like masculinity and censorship in the fall 2024 semester.

Koehler said they started the panel discussions to promote “thoughtful conversation[s] on hot-button issues.” They wanted to show how intellectual Christians can engage in complicated topics, not only “from their areas of expertise, but also as thinking believers,” she explained. Although such topics are discussed in classrooms, Lipscomb added, “it seemed to both of us that there was an empty space for something more.”

“If we as an institution don’t sponsor and model serious, challenging discourse, we abdicate our role as educators,” he said.

When Lipscomb arrived at Houghton in 2002, and throughout Koehler’s undergraduate years, Houghton University’s campus held many events similar to the current panel series. A few included topics on the Iraq War, nudity in art, sexual ethics and interpretations of feminism. 

In recent years, however, few such events have occurred. Lipscomb listed reasons such as the institution’s population decrease, COVID-19 pandemic and fears of cancellation.

“But we remember how valuable these panel discussions were to participants and attendees,” Lipscomb said, because the events exposed “students to professors outside their majors and [gave] students opportunities to listen in on and join serious, respectful conversations by members of their community.”

Next week’s panel will host Professor of History Dr. Christian Esh, Associate Professor of Old Testament Dr. Andrew Walton, Interim Dean of Spiritual Life Rev. Dr. J.L. Miller and Associate Professor of Vocal Music & Conducting Dr. Daniel Black.

Lipscomb explained that the topic of divine sovereignty is one that has long divided Christians. He added that “it’s the kind of thing students sometimes debate in dorm lounges late at night, but unless they’re in a theology class, they don’t get the opportunity of thinking in a more rigorous and grounded way about it.”

He expressed that even in theology classes, usually only one professor facilitates and comments on discussions between students, which limits the conversations.

“The whole point of the series, though, is to make available conversations of a different sort: open to more people, involving more people,” Lipscomb said.

He described the topic as pastoral, relating to the care and guidance of Christian followers, because it connects directly to who God is; what God controls and how he directs that control. “It’s not just academic; it’s existential,” he added. Some Christians are “suffering and watching others suffer,” he said. They wonder “what God has to do with it.”

Lipscomb hopes students leave the panel series with “a sense of what disagreement and mutual exploration within the body of Christ can be like.”

“In a polarized world,” Koehler said, “we want to demonstrate nuance, shades of grey, and the value of thoughtful discourse. Most importantly, we want to show that disagreement can be done well.”

Later this semester, the question “Should you have children?” will be addressed, which Koehler said “reveals deep, often unspoken value systems beneath our varied responses.” They are already considering future topic possibilities such as missions, immigration and AI, and are happy to take suggestions. ★