LA MIRADA, CALIF. — Theologians from across the world will convene in Los Angeles to discuss the central doctrine to Christian thought — Christology.

“Lots of theological life going on in the western United States but everyone is kind of in their silos,” said theologian Fred Sanders, Biola University professor.

The first annual Los Angeles Theology Conference is coming to the city of angels January 17-18, 2013. An idea come to life from the minds of theologians Oliver Crisp and Sanders, where scholars, students and theologians alike will gather to discuss Christology. A book will also be published with the conference presentations in October 2013.

Sponsored by Biola University, Zondervan Academic and Fuller Theological Seminary, the conference will seek to bridge denominational boundaries and work constructively towards systematic theology.

2013 Conference Theme: Christology, Ancient and Modern: Explorations in Constructive Theology. Christology was the central doctrine articulated by the early councils and remains relevant and crucial to theological investigation today across all denominational settings.

When: January 17-18, 2013

Where: Biola University

Goal: This first annual Los Angeles Theology Conference seeks to make a positive contribution to contemporary dogmatics in intentional engagement with the Christian tradition.

Speakers: There are five planarian speakers this year.

  • Oliver Crisp, Ph.D., King’s College, University of London, professor of systematic theology, Fuller Theological Seminary
  • George Hunsinger, Ph.D., Yale University, professor of systematic theology, Princeton Theological Seminary
  • Peter J. Leithart, Ph.D., Cambridge University, senior fellow of theology, New Saint Andrews College, Moscow, Idaho
  • Katherine Sonderegger, D.Min., Yale University; Ph.D., Brown University, professor of theology, Virginia Theological Seminary
  • Alan J. Torrance, Ph.D., University of Erlangen-Nurnberg, chair of systematic theology, St. Mary’s College of the University of St. Andrews, Scotland

Cost: Conference entry is $100 for general entry and $80 for students. Conference fee includes access to all sessions, exhibits and conference materials.

Press Passes: Limited number of press passes available. Request a press pass by Tuesday, January 15. Speaker interviews available upon request.

About: The Los Angeles Theology Conference is a new event that will be held annually in different locations in southern California. Each year it will focus on a different doctrine, with the first three years being devoted to the incarnation (2013), the Trinity (2014), and the atonement (2015). It is the west coast's premiere conference in academic systematic theology. The annual conference is a collaboration between two professors and a publisher. Fred Sanders, Biola University Torrey Honors Institute professor, and Oliver Crisp, Fuller Theological Seminary professor, are partnering with Katya Covrett from Zondervan to establish a better climate for academic theology in the western region of the United States. A book of conference proceedings will be published each year. The christology volume should publish by October 2013, and later volumes on a similar schedule.