Chicago Theological Seminary

09/08/2026

In a new essay for For Such Times, CTS Distinguished Service Professor Ken Stone reflects on what biblical traditions might offer amid intensifying threats to the environment.

At a time when so many urgent matters of justice and compassion demand our attention, environmental concerns can easily recede from view. Professor Stone asks us not to lose sight of what is at stake, drawing on biblical visions of Sabbath, Jubilee, and an earth that belongs to God to consider care for the earth and its creatures as inseparable from the work of justice.

“If those of us who seek alternatives to such wickedness can be reminded of the importance of the earth and its beauty in our religious traditions, we may also find it possible to confront the forces of death that are wreaking havoc on the earth and its creatures, both human and other-than-human.”

Read Professor Stone’s reflection:

Ken Stone

08/25/2026

There's still time to register for this year's Castañeda-Jennings Lecture.

On August 27, Rev. Lis Valle-Ruiz, PhD, will present "Cuerpos Cuir que Cuentan: Preaching Pleasure Amid Peril," a timely keynote honoring Gilberto Castañeda's memory and exploring how theology, preaching, and embodied witness can speak to this moment.

Thursday, August 27
7:00–8:30 p.m. CT
Zoom

Register now!

https://ctschicago.edu/registrations/2026-castaneda-jennings-lecture/

08/19/2026

What stories have our bodies carried—and whose stories has the church overlooked?

Join Rev. Lis Valle-Ruiz, PhD, for this year's Castañeda-Jennings Lecture as she explores preaching, q***r theology, embodied performance, and the sacred work of bearing witness.

Thursday, August 27
7:00–8:30 p.m. CT
Zoom

Register today!

https://ctschicago.edu/registrations/2026-castaneda-jennings-lecture/

08/12/2026

A Message to Our CTS Community:

Chicago Theological Seminary and the University of Chicago have agreed to conclude the lease arrangement for the building at 1407 East 60th Street, where CTS has been located since 2012. Effective September 1, 2026, the University of Chicago will resume full stewardship of the building.

CTS remains committed to supporting our continuing students toward degree completion and to carrying forward our 170-year mission of preparing leaders for the work of justice. We are committed to communicating openly with our community throughout this transition and will share more about CTS’s path forward in the coming months.

Read the full announcement: https://ctschicago.edu/press/building-announcement

Questions and answers about this transition:

CTS Building Transition Press Release Building Transition and the Lapp Learning Commons Why is CTS leaving the building at 1407 E. 60th Street? CTS and the University of Chicago have mutually agreed to conclude the long-term lease arrangement under which […]

08/10/2026

Join us for the 2026 Castañeda-Jennings Lecture with Rev. Lis Valle-Ruiz, PhD.

In "Cuerpos Cuir que Cuentan: Preaching Pleasure Amid Peril," Rev. Dr. Valle-Ruiz reflects on what it means to proclaim pleasure as sacred rather than shameful in a moment when q***r bodies are increasingly under threat. Drawing on q***r theology, embodied performance, and the lectionary, this lecture honors Gilberto Castañeda's memory while inviting reflection on embodiment, faith, and public witness.

Thursday, August 27
7:00–8:30 p.m. CT
Zoom

Register today!

https://ctschicago.edu/registrations/2026-castaneda-jennings-lecture/

08/05/2026

Our partners at Axis Mundi continue the conversation around Our Seven Neighbors with a thoughtful interview featuring Reza Aslan on Straight White American Jesus.

In conversation with Brad Onishi, Aslan explores the myths surrounding "one nation under God," the realities of religious pluralism, and why these questions matter for American public life today.

Listen to the full episode here:

In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad Onishi sits down with renowned scholar, author, and television producer Reza Aslan for a wide-ranging conversation about America's religious past—and why that history matters more than ever. Drawing on Aslan's new podcast series, Our Seven Nei...

07/07/2026

Now streaming: the final episode of Our Seven Neighbors.

In Episode 9, “Divided: White Christian Nationalism, MAGA and Where We Are Now,” Rev. Dr. Pamela Cooper-White, Christiane Brooks Johnson Professor Emerita of Psychology and Religion at Union Theological Seminary, joins host Reza Aslan for a conversation on the rise of white Christian nationalism, the MAGA movement, and the forces shaping our current political and religious landscape.

Listen to the full series of Our Seven Neighbors wherever you get your podcasts. https://open.spotify.com/show/42HmLkMWqPPKx5uAF1JeFO?si=301dd86afda54818