Uncle Jim

Not many Americans share my last name — a few dozen, if that — and yet it sometimes feels like I can’t go anywhere without bumping into someone for whom the name Gehrz rings a bell. That’s partly because it’s a distinctive name: people can’t spell Gehrz (no, it’s not Gerhz, Gehrtz, or Gertz) or … More Uncle Jim

Pietism Colloquium Recap: Roundtable on Pietism’s “Usable Past”

Last Friday Bethel hosted its inaugural Colloquium on Pietism Studies. I’ve earlier posted summaries of Scot McKnight’s keynote address (on Anabaptism, Pietism, and evangelicalism) and Jon Sensbach’s post-lunch talk (on Afro-Moravian Christianity in the mid-18th century). This afternoon: a few highlights from the roundtable discussion that I moderated. In 2009, we hosted a research conference … More Pietism Colloquium Recap: Roundtable on Pietism’s “Usable Past”

Pietism Colloquium Recap: Jon Sensbach

Last Friday Bethel hosted its inaugural Colloquium on Pietism Studies. Yesterday I posted a summary of Scot McKnight’s keynote talk, in which he suggested that evangelicals delve more deeply into the history of Anabaptism and Pietism. This morning: a recap of our post-lunch talk. Later today: recapping our closing session… In his keynote address, Scot … More Pietism Colloquium Recap: Jon Sensbach

Pietism Colloquium Recap: Scot McKnight

Last Friday Bethel hosted its inaugural Colloquium on Pietism Studies, a one-day gathering that I hope to see become a biennial or triennial event. (It came three years after we hosted an international research conference on “The Pietist Impulse in Christianity.”) Thanks to our generous and supportive deans (Deb Harless and Barrett Fisher, in particular) … More Pietism Colloquium Recap: Scot McKnight

The Last Waltz

I had planned to write a recap of our Pietism colloquium this weekend, but… Well, I’m Pietism-ed out for the moment. So I decided I needed a palate cleanser of a post, to write about something or someone that couldn’t possibly be connected back to Pietism. So… My favorite Martin Scorsese movie is Goodfellas. Mine … More The Last Waltz