Firbush 2021 Virtual Retreat: The Trinity and Science

Sept 23-25, 2021

Videos now available; see links inline below.

Firbush Retreats

Firbush retreats are organized and led by Robert T. Walker. They are usually held bi-annually at the Firbush Retreat Centre of the University of Edinburgh, located on Loch Tay in the Scottish Highlands. Firbush retreats are designed to make the best theology accessible to as many people as possible and especially those not trained in theology and often not familiar with routine technical terms. They combine times of worship and prayer with reflection on a theme related to Torrance theology. For more information, see the Firbush Retreats page or contact us.

Videos / Asynchronous Participation

Sessions will be recorded and made available to those who are registered after the retreat. Due to time zones and scheduling issues, more people will participate asynchronously by watching the videos than will attend in real time. And everyone is free to come and go as desired. Zoom fatigue is real! There is no reason to attend the whole event, especially all in one go. So register now, and you will be able to watch the recorded sessions at your convenience. Note: In order to promote spontaneous discussion, Q&A time is omitted from the posted videos.

All times UK = Edinburgh, London (US Central time in parentheses = Chicago, Dallas). World clock.

Sessions will begin on time. Please sign in on Zoom five minutes before each session for preliminary info; give yourself an extra minute because a Zoom log-in is required. Zoom info will appear in the right sidebar after you log in to this Fellowship website. If you experience technical difficulties email the webmasters.

Wednesday 22 September

7:00-8:00pm UK (1:00-2:00pm US Central)

Happy Hour / Tech check-in (7:00 to 7:45): "Really over when..." This introductory session is a fun way to get to know other participants. It also provides an opportunity to test your log-in to the Fellowship website, to make sure the technology is working before the main days of the Retreat.
Worship – 7:45 to 8:00 pm. Led by Eckart Floether, with Candace and Kerry Magruder reading (Download PDF). Video.

Thursday 23 September

2.00pm – 3.30pm UK (8am US Central)
- Introductory welcome
- Opening worship – led by David W. Torrance (Video)
- SESSION 1 - Prof David Fergusson: The place of T. F. Torrance in the history of theology (Video)
4.00pm – 5.00pm UK (10am US Central)
- SESSION 2 – Dr Kate Tyler: Torrance as a theologian of the personal (Video)
5.00pm – 6.15pm UK (11am US Central)
- Break for dinner. Throughout the Retreat, consider sharing a meal or a coffee break with other participants. See the Participants List (log-in required) for contact info.
6.15pm – 7.45pm UK (12:15pm US Central)
- SESSION 3 – Prof Kerry Magruder: The Trinity and (geo)Science.
  (Download Slides PDF for actual version; cf. video of uncut version)
7.45pm - 8.00pm UK (1:45pm US Central)
- Closing worship – led by Jennifer Floether, with Bob Walker, Robin and Karen Noad reading (Download PDF; Video)

Friday 24 September

2.00pm –2.15pm UK (8am US Central)
- Opening worship – led by Gerrit Dawson. George Herbert, "Prayer Before Sermon." (Download PDF; Video)
2.15pm – 3.30pm UK (8:15am US Central)
- SESSION 4 - Prof Tom Noble and Dr Dick Eugenio (#2014-DOE-1): Interview on Torrance and the Trinity: Reflections on Research; with guest appearances by Hakbong Kim (#2021-HK2-1) and Stavan John. (Video)
4.00pm – 5.00pm UK (10am US Central)
- SESSION 5 – Dr Robert Walker: Torrance on the Trinity, science and the nature of reason. (Download PDF; Video)
5.00pm – 6.15pm UK (11am US Central)
- Break for Dinner
6.15pm – 7.45pm UK (12:15pm US Central)
- SESSION 6 – Dr Bruce Ritchie: T. F. Torrance and James Clerk Maxwell: Science and the Trinity. (Download PDF; Video)
7.45pm - 8.00pm UK (1:45pm US Central)
- Closing worship – led by Tom Noble. (Download PDF; Video)

Saturday 25 September

2.00pm –2.15pm UK (8am US Central)
- Opening worship – led by Kate Tyler. (Video)
2. 15pm – 3.30pm UK (8:15am US Central)
- SESSION 7 – Drs Kerry Magruder and Bruce Ritchie: Interview/discussion on Ritchie’s book, “T.F. Torrance in Recollection & Reappraisal” (#2021-BR-1). (Video)
4.00pm – 5.30pm UK (10am US Central)
- SESSION 8 – Round up: plenary evaluation, closing discussion and prospect
5.30pm – 5.45pm UK (11:30am US Central)
- Closing worship – led by Bruce Ritchie. (Video)
6:00pm – 7:00pm UK (Noon - 1:00pm US Central)
- Last Words Lounge: This optional hour after the official retreat is over provides "hangout time" in informal breakout rooms. Presenters have the option of a private breakout room in which to meet with anyone who wants to continue the conversation. Guests may move from room to room, or request a room of their own. Think of the breakout rooms as tables in a large lounge. Drop by for a coffee and visit whichever tables you wish. It's like taking a walk along the shore of Loch Tay with someone or dropping by the lower level break room of the Firbush Centre for that last-minute conversation before driving home.
- Prayers: Candace and Kerry Magruder. (Video)

1855 views

2021 Firbush Retreat

Firbush speakers

Note: One sample publication shown; see profiles for additional bio. Links to profile pages require a log-in to access.

David A. S. Fergusson
Regius Professorship of Divinity
Cambridge University, UK
#2019-dasf-mwe-3 (index, profile)

Kate Tyler
College Director
Bishopdale College
Nelson, New Zealand
#2019-KT-1 (index, profile)

Robert T. Walker
Honorary Fellow, New College
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
2008-TFT-1 and #2009-TFT-1 (index, profile)

Dick O. Eugenio
Dean, School of Leadership and Advanced Studies
Wesleyan University – Philippines
#2014-DOE-1 (index, profile)

Thomas A. Noble
Senior Research Fellow in Theology, Nazarene Theological College, Manchester, UK
Professor of Theology, Nazarene Theological Seminary, Kansas City, USA
#2013-TAN-1 (index, profile)

Bruce Ritchie
Highland Theological College
Inverness, Scotland, UK
#2021-BR-1 (index, profile)

Kerry V. Magruder
John and Drusa Cable Chair of the History of Science
Curator, History of Science Collections
University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK USA
Love & the Cosmos (index, profile)

Use the least common, most unusual, most distinctive word in what you're searching for. Or surround phrases with quote marks.

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Access sessions

JOIN ZOOM
Log in to Zoom with your own Zoom account. For security reasons, retreat sessions will not admit anonymous Zoom users.
To access sessions, click this Zoom link (expired).
Meeting ID: expired
Passcode: expired
Do not share or post this Zoom info publicly (e.g., on Facebook or Twitter).

Note: Before clicking the Zoom link, make sure you are logged into your own Zoom account; for security reasons, no anonymous Zoom users are admitted. Zoom accounts are free. If you want a mobile connection, contact us for dial-up info.
OTHER RESOURCES
To access additional resources and web pages, including the Participants List, log in to the Fellowship website using a member password or guest pass. If you are not a member, a guest pass will be sent to you when you register.

("HOW TO" SUMMARY WITH SCREENSHOTS PDF)

Firbush Retreat Registration

Cost is free. Registration is required. Free Zoom account required.

To register, contact us with the following information.

Name
City and Country
Email address
Are you already a member of the TFT Fellowship?
– If yes, then you already have a member log-in. If you need assistance logging in to the website, contact us.
Would you like a guest pass?
– Answer yes if you are not a member and do not already have a guest pass from the 2021 Workshop earlier this summer.
Do you give us permission to include your email address on the Firbush Participants List?
– The Firbush Participants List requires a website log-on to view; it is not on the open internet. The reason email addresses are included on the list is to facilitate back-channel communication during breaks and mealtimes, and after the event. Answer yes or no; it's up to you.

Tip: To be sure that all information is included, copy the above 6 questions and paste them into an email.

Membership: See this page to join the T. F. Torrance Fellowship. There is no membership cost for students. Here's how to log-in if you have forgotten your password. Tip: Update your member profile before the event (how to).

Remember: A log-in to this TFT Fellowship website is required: either a member log-in or a Guest Pass. You do not need to be a member to participate in the Firbush Retreat. Registered non-member participants will be given a Guest Pass to log-in.