Event
The Southeastern Estuary Conference 2025 (a.k.a. "Southeastuary")
The first Southeastern Estuary Conference (a.k.a. "Southeastuary") is taking place October 17-18 at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The Estuary project was started by Paul VanderKlay and John Vandonk with the goal of creating a welcoming place for serious conversation and personal growth. These groups now meet regularly to practice a structured form of dialogue with a focus on meaningful topics. Additionally, Estuary conferences are now being held in various locations, and these conferences attempt to embody the same spirit within 2-3 days of focused conversation and fellowship.
The theme of the Southeastuary conference is "Even so, come! An Invitation to Dialogos." The practice of "dialogos" is something like "seeing each other through our words." It is not just a conversation, but a conversation that sees both ourselves and others as persons rather than as ideas, and as such, regards each of us as worthy of being seen and heard. The majority of us are Christian, and as such there is a heavy emphasis on the intersection between theology, philosophy, and what these ideas might or might not mean for persons living within the modern world, but we also have many valued participants in the Estuary project from other faith traditions, as well as many valued participants who are agnostic or nontheist. Whoever you are and wherever you are on your life's journey, we'd love to have you come talk with us.
Between the presentations by the guest speakers, the the conference will hold group estuary sessions, in which both conference attendees and speakers will form smaller groups together to have a conversation. Participants are encouraged to share their thoughts if they wish to, but if they do not wish to, they are welcome to simply listen.
The conference will feature 7 guest speakers:
1) Dr Chris Green:
Chris Green is Professor of Public Theology at Southeastern University (Lakeland, FL), Bishop of the Diocese of St Anthony (CEEC), and Director for St Anthony Institute of Theology, Philosophy, and Liturgics. He is the author and editor of a number of books, including most recently All Things Beautiful: An Aesthetic Christology. He and his wife, Julie, live in Cleveland, TN with their sons Clive and Emery, and their Weimaraner, Auggie. Their oldest, Zoë, is currently attending the University of Oklahoma.
2) Jordan Hall:
Jordan Hall is an entrepreneur and angel investor with a focus on the internet and digital media space. Having received his law degree from Harvard and practicing for all of 93 days, he sought greener pastures, becoming an advocate for efficient, collaborative, open models of information dispersal. Jordan's work Game B theory and exploration of what makes for a healthy community ended up leading him into the Christian Faith.
3) Nate Hile:
Nate is an autodidact with a deep interest in theology and philosophy who is fortunate to have very smart and wise friends who are willing to come and talk with him on his Grail Country YouTube channel. Nate believes that structure of the real is dialogical and that entering into dialogue helps us connect to the real, and that is why he does what he does.
4) Esther Meek:
Esther Lightcap Meek is an American philosopher and a Professor of Philosophy emeritus at Geneva College in Western Pennsylvania. She is a Fellow Scholar of the Fujimura Institute with artist Makoto Fujimura, an Associate Fellow with the Kirby Laing Center for Public Theology, and a member of the Polanyi Society.
5) Yosef Razin:
A lover of G-d, devoted to his growing family, and never far from a good book or a lively Discord thread, Yosef weaves together intellect, kindness, and a dash of nerdiness. His days are filled with the pursuit of curious knowledgewhether its a deep dive into obscure Jewish lore, a lively debate on exegesis, or the nature of trust. A man of great heart and a poetic soul, he works tirelessly to gather the Divine Sparks and brings much love to the communities of this little corner.
6) Shari Suter:
Shari is the shepherdess of the lower Grail Country, tending to flocks with wisdom and grandmotherly love. She knits a good yarn, sitting by the fire, spreading the warmth of coffee and G-d's love in the cool Canadian Rockies.
7) Jordan Wood:
Jordan holds an M.A. from Saint Louis University and a Ph.D. from Boston College, both in Historical Theology. His interests range from Greek patristic theology to modern philosophy, especially Idealism. He is an assistant professor of Theology at Belmont University. He is married to Alexis, a registered nurse, with whom he has four wonderful daughters.
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LocationLake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center (View)
91 N Lakeshore Dr
Lake Junaluska, NC 28785
United States
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Categories
| Minimum Age: 18 |
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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Accessibility
All buildings are wheelchair accessible.
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