ncouver School of Theology’s free summer public lecture series in July will feature several well known local and international scholars.

Marcus Borg, an American biblical scholar and author who is a professor at Oregon State University will speak July 17 at St. Mary’s Kerrisdale on “The Dream of God.” Borg is featured the “Living the Question” DVD programs.

                            Marty Haugen

Marty Haugen, hymn writer and performing musician, an adjunct instructor at United Theological Seminary in New Brighton, Minnesota, will speak at July 21 at West Point Grey United, 4595 West 8th Ave., Vancouver. Among his 14 hymns in the current Anglican hymn book, Common Praise, are “Gather Us In” and “This is the Day.”

Vancouver Sun columnist Doug Todd will join with VST professor Sallie McFague to discuss “Cascadia: The Elusive Utopia—Creating a Spiritual Model for the Planet” at VST’s Chapel of the Epiphany. Todd has recently written a book on spirituality in British Columbia and the US Pacific Northwest, and McFague has written several books relating Christian thought and spirituality to ecology and the environment.

Other lectures are listed below. All begin at 7 pm. For more information call VST at 604 822 9031.

July 9 – Patrick O’Connell, Annual Thomas Merton lecture, “Sixty Years of Tears: An Anniversary Encounter with Merton’s ‘Tears of the Blind Lions’”

(Pre-lecture reception in the Merton Reading Room, VST Library, Iona Bldg. 5:30 pm.)

July 16 – Centre for Indian Scholars Panel, Traditional Wisdom and Law for Today, see http://www.centreindianscholars.com for more details.