These symposium events are free and can be accessed at the following link:
https://sats.gl.reu1.blindsidenetworks.com/mat-jmx-xe5-tm7
The event page will be live 15 minutes before each symposium starts.
About the Speakers:
Dr. Batanayi I. Manyika is the Academic Dean at the South African Theological Seminary (SATS). He holds theological degrees from the University of Wales, Stellenbosch University, and a PhD in New Testament from SATS. His research interests are in Pauline literature, early Christianity, the social world of the New Testament, and public theology. Bat is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), Tyndale Fellowship, European Association of Biblical Studies (EABS), the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS), and the New Testament Society of Southern Africa (NTSSA). He has published a handful of academic articles and encyclopaedia entries and is currently working on a book publication named after his doctorate thesis, ‘Philemon: A Transformation of Social Orders’. (a book project tentatively titled Paul in Diasporic Reflection). Bat has been involved in church leadership in the UK, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. He is married to Vanesha, and they live in the north of France.
Dr. Shaun Joynt is a lecturer and postgraduate supervisor at the South African Theological Seminary. He holds a PhD in Practical Theology from the University of Pretoria. Shaun has been in pastoral ministry for more than 20 years, serving in rural, online, and megachurch contexts, in the areas of pastoring, worship leading, youth ministry, children’s ministry, and missions. He has a passion for clergy well-being and completed his doctorate on the topic of why clergy leave full-time ministry. He has spoken on clergy well-being, congregational aspects, burnout, compassion fatigue, and other topics. He has also more recently entered the academic field of forgiveness research in the area of positive psychology.
Dr. Matthew W. Bates (Ph.D., University of Notre Dame) is a Professor of Theology at Quincy University. His main teaching area is the Bible and early Christian literature. He also teaches courses in Western Religion, Church History, and Christian Spirituality. Dr. Bates is an award-winning author. His popular and influential books include Gospel Allegiance (Brazos, 2019), Salvation by Allegiance Alone (Baker Academic, 2017), and The Birth of the Trinity (Oxford University Press, 2015). Current book projects on salvation and Christology are underway. Dr. Bates also co-hosts OnScript, a Bible and theology podcast. He enjoys family life, hiking, baseball, and good conversation. More info on Dr. Bates, his publications, and his availability for speaking can be found at MatthewWBates.com.
Dr. Irene Banda (PhD) has a corporate background in retail banking and microfinance; she is a strategist and a financial services expert with a passion for transformative solutions, and a bias toward wealth creation and poverty reduction solutions. Irene served as Global Executive Director of ECLOF International under the World Council of Churches, based in Geneva; and as Africa Regional Director for Opportunity International, a global network of Christian microfinance institutions. She founded TUCUZA Associates, currently developing a model for working with smallholder farmers to enhance production for local and export markets; and FINCUZA Institute, a training entity with a focus on financial inclusion. She did her MA in Theology and Development Studies with the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. Her action research PhD was among poor urban and rural women in Zambia and Zimbabwe to learn how responding to their voices can inform sustainable development initiatives.