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Nod to the Past
Christian writers convene on campus this weekend
From the Chimes archives
1980
This weekend students, professors, writers, and others interested in Christian literature will be attending the Contemporary Christian Writers in Community conference held on Calvin’s campus Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The conference will include lectures, short presentations, workshops, and informal discussions focusing on understanding and appreciating Christian literature. There will also be discussions focusing on understanding and appreciating Christian literature. There will also be discussion on problems Christian writers face—not only on practical problems like publishing but also on the mixed reception some writers receive from the Christian community.
Henry Baron of Calvin’s English department suggested holding the conference for Christian writers after a conversation with novelist Rudy Wiebe two years ago. A committee of eight English professors was set up to plan the conference, and a committee of students was set up to help run registration and other technical matters.
Many of the speakers are personally known by the committee members and are well known not only by the Christian writing community but also by the secular audience. Larry Woiwode has written for The Atlantic, Esquire, and The New Yorker. His latest novel is Born Brothers. Woiwode is giving The Stanley M Wiersma Literary Lecture at 8p.m. on Friday in the Gezon Auditorium. The topic for the lecture is “The Christian Writer: Communion or Community?” and the lecture is free to the public. Novelist Will Campbell gave the keynote address on Thursday on Writing as Subversion. Other speakers include James Cook, the editor of The Reformed Review; Elva McAllaster, poet-in-residence and professor of English at Greenville College; Aritha Van Herk, novelist and professor at the University of Calgary; and Rudy Wiebe. The speakers are all from different Christian backgrounds, but Baron said that they all take their art and their faith seriously and try to integrate them. Each session costs $2.
One of the main topics of discussion is the Christian writer’s place in the Christian community. Baron said that many writers question and criticize society and so are often pushed to the fringes of the Christian community because they make people feel uncomfortable. Writers may feel “alienated and rejected” by their community. Baron said that writers need encouragement to continue their “means of ministry” in writing. The conference is meant to encourage exploration of the question of what role the community has in shaping the Christian writer.
Approximately 100 people have signed up for the conference, including 30 students. Baron said that although they were hoping for 150 participants, the smaller turnout will make the conference more informal and intimate. Baron hopes that the conference will encourage writers and spark discussion, and that it will be a “celebration of people who try to write good literature.”
by Rachel M Koopmans
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