Evangelical Free Church of America
Events

2025 EFCA Theology Conference

Feb 5–Feb 7, 2025
Arlington Heights, IL
The Orchard - Arlington Heights
Registration is now open.
Register today
Who
Pastors, leaders, missionaries and staff
When
February 5–February 7, 2025
Where
The Orchard - Arlington Heights
1330 N Douglas Ave
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Cost
Early-bird rate (through November 30): $159/person
After November 30: $189/person
One-day rate (Wednesday and Thursday): $99/person
One-day rate (Friday): $50/person

The EFCA Theology Conference will be held February 5-7, 2025, at The Orchard Church (Arlington Heights, Illinois). The conference theme is Theological Anthropology: “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

God pronounced his creation of human beings, male and female, “very good.” Today it is critical for us to understand what it means to be created in the image of God (imago Dei) in light of God’s revelation, the Scriptures. In response to the question of the main theological issues facing the church, it has been said the first millennium was Christology, the second millennium was soteriology, and thus far the third millennium is theological anthropology—specifically, what is a human being. This prompts the following questions:

  • How did we get here?
  • What is the image of God?
  • How does Jesus define what it means to be human?
  • How do we understand human sexuality which is biologically-sexed?
  • What does it mean to be created with agency and dependent with limitations?
  • What does AI mean for the image of God and what about transhumanism and posthumanism?
  • In all of this, how do we catechize God’s people?

Through our plenary messages and breakouts, we will shed light from God’s Word in response to these important questions related to theological anthropology.

Dates: February 5-7, 2025
Location: The Orchard - Arlington Heights Campus
Theme: Theological Anthropology: "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Registration

Registration now open—closes January 20, 2025 (walk-in registration available onsite).

Registration Cost:

  • $159/person early bird rate through November 30, 2024
  • $189/person after November 30, 2024
  • $99/person one day rate – Wednesday and Thursday
  • $50/person one day rate – Friday

There are registration scholarships available for the 2025 Theology Conference. Please complete the application, and our team will follow up with you.

Lodging

The following hotels are offering conference rates. Note: Reservations must be made by January 5, 2025:

  1. DoubleTree by Hilton, 75 W. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005

    • Rate: $108/night
    • Reserve online or by calling 800-774-1500 and using group code "90T."

  2. Hilton Garden Inn (11-4 E Woodfield Road, Schaumburg, IL 90173)

    • Rate: $129/night
    • Reserve online or by calling 847-524-0455 and reference "EFCA Theology Conference."

  3. Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel (1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg, IL 60173)

    • Rate: $156/night
    • Reserve online.

  4. Home2Suites (1300 American Lane, Schaumburg, IL 60173)

    • Rate: $131/night
    • Reserve online.

Questions?

Contact the Theology Conference Team.

Conference schedule
Day
Time
Session (Speaker)
Day
Wednesday, February 5
Time
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Session (Speaker)
English Preconference: Nicaea and the Nicene Creed: 1700th Anniversary (Donald Fairbairn)
Time
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Session (Speaker)
Spanish Preconference (Miguel Núñez)
Time
2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Session (Speaker)
Introduction to the Conference (Greg Strand)
Time
3 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Session (Speaker)
Session 1: “Theological Anthropology, the Imago Dei and the Third Millennium” (Daniel Treier)
Time
4:45 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Session (Speaker)
Session 2: “Theological Anthropology and Christology” (Michael Wilkinson
Day
Thursday, February 6
Time
9 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Session (Speaker)
Session 3: “Theological Anthropology, Sin, ‘Free’ Will, Personal Agency and Grace" (Hans Madueme)
Time
10:45 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Session (Speaker)
Session 4: “Theological Anthropology. Creaturely Limitations, and Disability” (John Kilner)
Time
2:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Session (Speaker)
Breakouts
Day
Friday, February 7
Time
9 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Session (Speaker)
Session 5: “Theological Anthropology, Artificial Intelligence, and Posthumanism" (Jason Thacker)
Time
10:45 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Session (Speaker)
Session 6: Theological Anthropology, the Christian, the Church and Catechesis (Miguel Núñez)
Time
12 p.m.
Session (Speaker)
Closing Comments (Greg Strand)
Speakers
DF

Donald Fairbairn

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Hamilton, Massachusetters), Union School of Theology (Wales)
JF. K

John F. Kilner

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, Illinois)
HM

Hans Madueme

Covenant College (Lookout Mountain, Georgia)
MNúñe

Miguel Núñez

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, Kentucky)
JT

Jason Thacker

Boyce College and Southern Seminary (Louisville, Kentucky), The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
DT

Daniel Treier

Wheaton College (Wheaton, Illinois)
MW

Michael Wilkinson

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Fort Worth, Texas)
Resources

2023 EFCA Theology Conference Resources

The Doctrine of God: The Ground of Being and Truth and the Goal of Theology and Life

helps.efca.org

2024 EFCA Theology Conference Resources

Marriage: God's Divine Design

helps.efca.org