2025 EFCA Theology Conference

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?

The breakout sessions will address the following:

• Theological Anthropology, Gnosticism and the Early Church—the threat of Gnosticism, how the Church responded, similarities to today and lessons we can learn: Donald Fairbairn
• Theology Anthropology and Humanity’s Unified Diversity—the ground of our unity, how that is manifested in our diversity and how we reflect our heavenly citizenship: Steven Bryan
• Theological Anthropology and Paul’s Theology of the Body—why Paul grounds his moral teaching in the body, and its significance for the Corinthians and for us: David Pao

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

Registration includes Wednesday and Thursday lunches.

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.