"Junior Member Issue" of Perspective Available Now

Envelopes for the September issue of Perspective are being addressed at this moment. Those of you who receive Perspective by mail can expect to see your copy soon. People who prefer to read it online, or to print it out themselves, can get it right now at perspective.icscanada.edu/48-2

This issue of Perspective is called the "Junior Member Issue" because a group of ICS students stepped forward to help us create the largest and perhaps most engaging issue in recent times. This issue includes four original essays by junior members, and junior members organised and performed editorial duties for much of the rest of the issue, including a feature article by Lambert Zuidervaart. Also in this issue are an article by ICS past president Harry Fernhout welcoming Doug Blomberg to the role of president, and an interview with ICS alumni and professor of philosophy at Dordt, Neal De Roo.

We avoided calling this issue "special" because that term can imply an additional issue outside of the usual series, not merely an exception to the norm. "Special" may in fact be an accurate description in the latter sense, but the kind of work reflected within this issue's pages, the attention paid to topics that matter, is a regular part of the lives of ICS junior and senior members. In a sense, this issue simply brings what is normal at ICS to the fore. We are well pleased with the results and we hope that you will be too!

Update: CETA Fall Conference Sat. Oct. 18

Toward an Evangelical Feminism. On Saturday, 18th October, the ICS's Centre for Philosophy, Religion and Social Ethics, along with Wycliffe College, will co-host this year's Fall conference of the Canadian Evangelical Theological Association (CETA). The topic this year is Evangelical feminism, and the keynote will be given by Dr. Marion Ann Taylor. For more details, or to register for the conference online, click here. We hope to see you there!

NOTE: To those who have already registered, be advised that the schedule has been revised to account for last-minute cancellations. Links to the revised schedule and abstracts can be found on the page for this conference.

Justice and Faith Research Project Reports Now Available

The interim results of the Justice and Faith project are now available! The CPRSE, in partnership with the Christian Reformed Church and the Centre for Community Based Research, have finished the first of two years of this project examining justice in the context of a life of faith. You can find out more about the project, as well as download copies of the representative survey results and a summary of the findings from the interviews we conducted, either at the Centre's own site devoted to the project: www.icscanada.edu/cprse/justice-and-faith, or at the CRC's page: www.crcna.org/CanadianMinistries/justice-and-faith-project. We are planning upcoming community connection events, and will let you know as soon as details become available.

Doug Blomberg in Kuala Lumpur

At the end of the month ICS President Doug Blomberg flies to Kuala Lumpur to attend the International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education for the next three days. This meeting of Presidents and other institutional leaders is designed to foster collaboration between Christian universities and colleges. Former ICS President, Harry Fernhout, is currently chair of IAPCHE and will also be participating.

Lambert Zuidervaart to Publish a New Book

Lambert Zuidervaart, Senior Member in Philosophy, has learned that McGill-Queen’s University Press plans to publish a book with the working title Religion, Life, and Society: Essays in Reformational Philosophy, Volume 1. The book contains 15 of Lambert’s essays and papers in and about reformational philosophy, with a focus on questions about faith, knowledge, and social critique. It will appear in late 2015 or early 2016. Lambert is currently putting together a second volume of his reformational reflections, with an emphasis on the arts, culture, and education

Shannon Hoff in Vancouver

As the President of the Canadian Society for Continental Philosophy, Shannon Hoff has been planning the annual congress for several months. On Wednesday, October 1st, she will travel to Vancouver for the congress, which will take place from October 2-4.

CPRSE Co-Hosting Canadian Evangelical Theological Association Conference

Toward an Evangelical Feminism. On Saturday, 18th October, the ICS's Centre for Philosophy, Religion and Social Ethics, along with Wycliffe College, will co-host this year's Fall conference of the Canadian Evangelical Theological Association (CETA). The topic this year is Evangelical feminism, and the keynote will be given by Dr. Marion Ann Taylor. For more details, or to register for the conference online, click here. We hope to see you there!

Prayer Letter: October 2014

Wednesday, October 1: The Professional Status Committee meets today to consider a sabbatical proposal and adjunct appointments, among other items. Faculty will also meet for lunch and a time of fellowship. We pray for God’s blessings on these meetings.
As the second month of the fall semester begins, we ask God's guidance and wisdom for all our Junior Members who are working hard in their courses and for a sense of balance as they deal with families and jobs as well. We pray too that student jobs will be found where they are needed.

Thursday, October 2: Senior Member Shannon Hoff will be in Vancouver for the annual congress of the Canadian Society for Continental Philosophy. We pray for safe travel and blessings for all who are attending.

Friday, October 3: Today, President Doug Blomberg will be undergoing minor surgery, which will require a week’s convalescence. Please pray that the Lord will bring healing through the surgeon’s hands and that Doug’s recovery will be comfortable and complete.

Monday, October 6: The Leadership Team meets today. We pray for God's wisdom to guide their discussions and decisions.
The Educational Policy Committee meets to review course proposals for the 2015-16 academic year, and other matters. Courses are obviously key to ICS’s mission, and we pray for discernment in this process.

Tuesday, October 7: Senior Member Bob Sweetman will represent ICS at Classis Toronto in Alliston, Ontario. We ask for fruitful interaction with those gathered.

Wednesday, October 8: The Friends of ICS Board meets today by conference call. FICS is the advancement arm of ICS in the United States. Please pray also for Matt Heynen and (ICS alum) Drew Van’t Land who are contracted as consultants to FICS.

Thursday, October 9: We ask God's help and guidance for all those who are doing advancement work for ICS. Please pray that support for the vision and mission of ICS continues to grow.

Friday, October 10: Today we ask for God's help for those who are struggling with cancer and other illnesses. We pray for strength, patience and for good results from treatment.

Monday, October 13: Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada. As we celebrate and give thanks for the bounty of the harvest, may we reflect on the grace of God and the rewards of our labour. We are grateful that ICS is sustained by both God's grace and the dedicated work of its support community, administrative staff, and Senior and Junior Members.

Tuesday, October 14: As the Thanksgiving weekend ends, we offer prayers of gratitude for the many people who have given ICS gifts of prayers, money, concern and appreciation. It is truly a blessing to have the interest and support of so many people.
The Board meets this evening.

Wednesday, October 15: The Academic Council meets today. We pray for God’s wisdom to guide this meeting.

Thursday, October 16: ICS President Doug Blomberg will be meeting with the President and other senior officers of Nyack College in New York to explore avenues of collaboration.

Friday, October 17: Dr. Richard Middleton, ICS alumnus and Professor of Biblical Worldview and Exegesis at Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, will this morning lead the first of our Scripture, Faith and Scholarship Seminars for 2014-2015.
Presidents and senior academic officers of the Association for Reformed Colleges and Universities will meet today and tomorrow at Providence Christian College, Pasadena CA. On Saturday afternoon, they will participate in the inauguration of Dr. James Belcher as the third President of PCC.

Saturday, October 18: Today ICS's Centre for Philosophy, Religion and Social Ethics, along with Wycliffe College, will co-host this year's Fall conference of the Canadian Evangelical Theological Association (CETA). We pray for blessings on all who are attending.
ICS President Doug Blomberg hopes to meet with ICS supporters in California today and tomorrow. We pray for blessings and safe travel.

Monday, October 20: Reading Week begins today! Please pray that our Senior and Junior Members will be able to use this break from classes to catch up, get ahead, or use the week for whatever they may need to help them in their studies.

Tuesday, October 21: Many of our Junior Members are working on their their Masters and PhD thesis projects. We pray for our Junior Members and ask that they will have time, focus and wisdom.

Wednesday, October 22: As Reading Week continues, please pray that it will be a fruitful week for the academic body at ICS as many Senior and Junior Members have projects they are working on beyond normal class work. Whether these are publications, papers for conferences, or other scholarly activities, pray that this week will afford extra time to make progress in these areas.

Thursday, October 23: Today we pray for the work of Senior Members. Bless their ongoing tasks, both administrative and academic. Give them the relief they need when things pile up.

Friday, October 24: We ask for God's blessing on those who are planning the Annual General Meeting to be held in early December. We pray for energy and enthusiasm for all who are involved. Also, please pray for the ICS Board recruitment process, that committed and able candidates for Board vacancies will be offered to the ICS membership for approval this fall.

Monday, October 27: Please pray for the Institute and the continued mission of ICS. To be even more specific, we ask that you pray with us that we have good responses to our donor appeals in the remaining months of 2014.

Tuesday, October 28: We pray for blessings for the Friends of ICS Board and all those who are doing advancement work in the US.

Wednesday, October 29: We are now fully into our new academic year! Give thanks for the insightful, talented, and hard working ICS faculty and staff, and pray for energy and enthusiasm to sustain with their workloads.

Thursday, October 30: Today we pray for the general well-being of the ICS. We ask for blessings and energy for ICS faculty and staff as they work together to manage their many responsibilities.

Friday, October 31: Doug Blomberg flies to Kuala Lumpur today to attend the IAPCHE for the next three days. We pray for safe travel and fruitful sessions.