Explore “Just Creation” in Job: Join the 2026 Rutlen Lecture with William P. Brown

Be-Wilded by Wonder: The 2026 Rutlen Lecture Explores Just Creation in the Book of Job

Luther Seminary and Faith+Lead invite you to the 2026 Rutlen Lecture, an annual learning experience that brings together Scripture, scholarship, and the ongoing call of the church to witness in a complex world. This year’s lecture, Be-Wilded by Wonder: Just Creation in the Book of Job, takes place Tuesday, January 13, 2026, from 6–8:30 p.m. CT, and is available online and in-person. Learn more and register at: faithlead.org/live-learning/rutlen26/

Renowned Old Testament scholar Dr. William P. Brown, ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and professor at Columbia Theological Seminary, will guide participants into a surprising question: What happens when we begin reading the Book of Job at the end? In this approach, creation—not suffering—is placed at the center of the book’s theology. Job’s encounter with the “God of the Whirlwind” becomes a doorway into awe, justice, and a renewed understanding of humanity’s relationship with the created world.

Dr. Brown’s work engages themes at the heart of Lutheran commitments to creation care and public theology. In an era of climate crisis, he invites us to rediscover the wildness, beauty, and justice embedded in God’s world—and to consider how Christians today hold creation with reverence, humility, and wonder.

Why Attend?

Participants will:

  • Reflect on creation’s role in Job and what it reveals about God’s character

  • Explore a theology of justice grounded in the natural world

  • Engage in Q&A with Dr. Brown

  • Consider how awe and wonder shape faithful evangelism today

In-Person or Online Options

Online attendees receive live access to the lecture, the opportunity to submit questions, and access to the event recording.

In-person attendees will gather at Luther Seminary for:

  • Live access to the lecture

  • A complimentary full-course dinner

  • Meaningful conversation and networking with fellow learners

  • Access to the recording afterward

Register Now

Learn more and register at: faithlead.org/live-learning/rutlen26/

Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardLuther Seminary, faith+leadComment