Our Theme: The Wisdom of
Douglas V. Steere
Douglas V. Steere
His life spanned almost the entire twentieth century and his
"friendly" contribution to global ecumenism remains unsurpassed.
Douglas V. Steere (1901-1995) became a convinced member of the
Society of Friends after much soul-searching in his young adulthood.
Long-time professor of religion at Haverford College, a spiritual
writer and guide, as well as a world-trotting peacemaker and
ecumenist, Steere ranged far from his Michigan birthplace.
The key to Steere's wisdom was to be found in his daily surrender
to the inner leadings of the Spirit. The depth of his lived Quaker
faith is underscored in this discerning quote: "I have come in
my later years to regard reluctance as almost as a sure sign that
that I will end up doing a thing and as almost a sure sign of
its rightness." Like John Woolman before him, Steere's faithful
vulnerability to God's guidance led him into a world of action.
Steere was an important instigator of post World War II relief
to Finland and was invited as an ecumenical observer at Vatican
II. His notion of "mutual irradiation" among religious traditions—as
a Christian founded upon the "universal reconciling love of Christ"—is
an idea vital to our growing global village.
At the "heart of things," there was also Steere's attentive concern
for every individual he met. Amazingly, he kept up with hundreds
of people through regular correspondence and visits. The letters
reveal a man who took the time in a very busy schedule to listen
and respond, prayerfully and tenderly, to each person he encountered.
Our speaker, Dr. Glenn Hinson, is the author of the well-received
biography of Steere, Love at the Heart of Things, published
in 1998. In addition to painstaking research into Steere's life,
Hinson was also a close friend of Steere and shares rich insights
from a long and close acquaintance.
 Our
Speaker: E. Glenn Hinson
E. Glenn Hinson is the recently retired Professor of Spirituality
and John Loftis Professor of Church History at Baptist Theological
Seminary at Richmond (VA). Born in St. Louis, he grew up on a
farm in the Missouri Ozarks near Sullivan. Educated at Washington
University in St. Louis (B.A.), The Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary (B.D., Th.D.), and Oxford University (D. Phil.), he taught
for more than thirty years at Southern Seminary. Currently, he
serves as Visiting Professor of Church History at Candler School
of Theology, Emory.
A Baptist ecumenist, Hinson has eagerly promoted the interests
of Quakers for decades. He is a member of the Ecumenical Institute
of Spirituality, originally founded by Douglas Steere and Godfrey
Diekmann. He has taught and lectured in numerous colleges, universities,
and seminaries around the world—including two visits to Earlham,
once in the sixties and later in the eighties. Love at the
Heart of Things is one of twenty-seven books he has written.
Love
at the Heart of Things : A Biography of Douglas V. Steere
by E. Glenn Hinson (to order from Amazon.com).
On
Being Present Where You Are by Douglas Steere (1967), a PDF
file from Pendle
Hill E Publishing.
Quaker
Meeting for Worship by Steere.
Friends
and Worship by Steere.
The
Prayer of Adoration, an excerpt from Dimensions of Prayer
by Steere.
Listing
of books and pamphlets by Steere.
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Schedule
All events meet in the
ESR Center building.
8:15 am - Registration & Coffee
9:00 am - Worship
9:30 am - "Learning Wisdom from Douglas
V.
Steere" E. Glenn Hinson
10:30 am - Refreshment Break
10:45 am - Small Group Discussions
(We will reflect on questions on the life and wisdom of Douglas
Steere)
12:15 pm - Lunch
1:00 pm - Guided Opportunities for Spiritual Reflection
(Choose one)
*Parable Walk
*Guided Journaling Experience
*Reflecting through Art
*Devotion in Motion
2:00 pm - "On Confirming What is Deepest
in Other Persons" E. Glenn Hinson (with time for questions)
3:00 pm - Closing Blessing
REGISTRATION
A $25.00 registration fee covers the daylong
event, which includes lunch and refreshments. The registration
form and fee should be received by April 12.
After that date, the cost increases to $35.00.
To register, send your name, address, phone number
and e-mail address along with your check to the address below.
 You
can download a registration form in PDF format here. Print the
form, fill it out, and send it with your check to the address
below.
Listening to the Spirit
Stephanie A. Ford
Earlham School of Religion
228 College Ave.
Richmond, IN 47374
Click here to download the free Acrobat Reader
to read the PDF.
Turn south on College Avenue off National Road
West (U.S. 40). Turn west on "D" Street into Earlham College campus.
Make a right turn and then another right (sign reads "Seminaries")
into the parking lot. Walk past the Admissions building to the
ESR Center building.
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