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About Me Laura A. Smit (Ph.D., Boston University) is associate professor of theology at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is ordained in both the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Christian Reformed Church and has served in a variety of pastoral settings. For details, see below. LAURA SMIT'S BIO Department of Religion and Theology Calvin College Grand Rapids, MI 49546 (616) 526-8580 lsmit at calvin.edu Education Ph.D. Boston University, college of The University Professors 1998 Theological Aesthetics and Medieval Philosophy M.Div. Calvin Theological Seminary 1987 B.A. Calvin College 1983
"Anselm as a Guide to the Integration of Faith and Learning," Integration of Faith and Learning: Methodological Approach, Proceedings of the 2008 Baekseok University Faculty Seminar (Seoul: Baekseok University, 2008), pp. 13-28. “Who Is God?” Conversations with the Confessions: Dialogue in the Reformed Tradition, edited Joseph D. Small (Louisville: KY, Geneva Press, 2005), 93-110. “Salvation in Christ: A Calvinist Perspective,” Salvation in Christ: Comparative Christian Views, edited Roger R. Keller and Robert L. Millet (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, 2005), pp. 327-344. “Aesthetic Knowing: Recapturing Bonaventure’s Franciscan Understanding,” Occasional Papers in Franciscan Thought, (Ft. Wayne, IN: St. Francis University, 2004). “Looking Forward to Judgment Day,” Perspectives, vol. 19 (December 2004), pp. 24, 20. (http://www.perspectivesjournal.org/2004/12/insideout.php) “The Faith of the Church Catholic,” PFR reFORM: The Essential Presbyterian, edited by Mary Holder Naegeli, Presbyterians for Renewal, 2003. “In Your Light We See Light: The Continuing Viability of a Christocentric Epistemology,” Realism and Anti-Realism, edited by William Alston, Cornell University Press, 2002, 167-180. “The Covenant Way: A Wedding Service Built on Promises,” Reformed Worship, vol. 59 (March 2001), 28-29. (http://www.reformedworship.org/cprw_rw59_covenant.htm) “Easter Sunday,” Word and Witness, April 15, 2001. “Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost,” Word and Witness, October 22, 2000. “Introduction to Virtue Ethics,” The Christian Courier, January 2000. “’Come, Let Us Worship and Bow Down’: Service Plans for a Four-week Series based Entirely on the Psalms,” Reformed Worship, vol. 52 (June 1999), 8-15. (http://www.reformedworship.org/magazine/article.cfm?article_id=361) Serving in Weakness: II Corinthians , with Leader’s Guide, Revelation Series for Adults (Grand Rapids, MI: CRC Publications, August 1998). “Towards an Aesthetic Teleology: Romantic Love, Imagination and the Beautiful in the Thought of Simone Weil and Charles Williams,” The Edmonds Papers, Boston University, 1996. “Where God’s Glory Flashes,” Reformed Worship, vol. 38 (January 1996), pp. 16-17. (http://www.reformedworship.org/magazine/article.cfm?article_id=528) “Good Friday,” Word and Witness, April 5, 1996. “Christ the King” and “Christmas,” Perspectives, vol. 11 (December 1996), 19. “Five Series for Lent,” Reformed Worship, Fall 1995. “Palm Sunday,” Word and Witness, April 9, 1995. “Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost,” Word and Witness, September 11, 1994. “Canceling the Summer Slump: A Summer Series based on the Apostles’ Creed,” Reformed Worship, vol. 23 (March 1992), pp. 21-24. (http://www.reformedworship.org/magazine/article.cfm?article_id=484) “The Prodigal the Morning After,” The Banner, vol. 125 (September 24, 1990), 10-11. “The Image of Home,” Theology Today, October 1988. (http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/oct1988/v45-3-article4.htm ) “God’s Delight,” The Banner, vol. 121 (October 6, 1986), 20. From March 1993 through December 1998, I also wrote a monthly column in The Christian Courier, a weekly newspaper published in Hamilton, Ontario.
"Living the Grateful life," August 26, 2008, Handong Global University Faculty Retreat, Ulsan, Korea. "The Dangers of Ingratitude," August 25, 2008, Handong Global University Faculty Retreat, Ulsan, Korea.
Sacred Emptiness and Real Presence: John Calvin's Theological Aesthetic," October 13, 2006, Conference: Structure, Space and Meaning, 31st PMR Conference, Villanova University, Radnor, PA.
“Preaching the Ascension,” May 25, 2006, Conference: With a Shout! The Ascension and Everyday Life, “A Spare Aesthetic: Franciscan Asceticism, Cistercian Architecture, and Calvinist Iconoclasm,” May 5, 2006, “Our God is a Consuming Fire”: The Glory of God’s Goodness,” April 8, 2006, Wheaton Theology Conference The Beauty of God: Theology and the Arts, “Iconoclastic Aesthetics,” March 10, 2006, New College Conference on Medieval and Renaissance Studies, “Preaching the Ascension,” January 2006, CICW Worship Symposium, “Loves Me, Loves Me Not,” November 14, 2005, “Introducing the New Testament,” five lectures, October 31 through November 3, “Where Shall We Find Wisdom?” Opening Convocation address, September 6, 2005, “The Truth of a Tree: Christian Perspectives on Science from Bonaventure,” Calvin Science Division presentation, March 4, 2005. “ How Historical Christian Thinking about Beauty Can Enrich Ministry Today,” CICW Worship Symposium, January 2005. “An Augustinian Perspective on Ecumenism.” October 2004. In One Body Through the Cross: The Gospel Imperative for Christian Unity,” Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, AL. “Aesthetic Knowing: Recapturing Bonaventure’s Franciscan Understanding.” April 16, 2004, St. Francis University, Ft. Wayne, IN. “A Calvinist Sacramental Theology,” The Meeter Center Spring Lecture, March 31, 2004, Calvin College. “ Between Thomas and Zwingli: Introducing Calvin’s Doctrine of the Eucharist to Radical Orthodoxy.” Creation, Covenant, and Participation: Radical Orthodoxy and the Reformed Tradition, September 11-13, 2003, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI “A Calvinist Perspective on Soteriology.” Salvation in Christ: Interfaith Perspectives, April 2002, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT (http://www.byubroadcasting.org/salvationinchrist/default.asp?active=archive) “The Truth of a Tree: Logos Christology as a Foundation for a Christian Environmental Ethi c.” Lilly Foundation Environmental Ethics Conference, February 2002, Notre Dame, IN “A Family without a Home: Francis of Assisi's Experiment.” International Medieval Congress, July 9-12, 2001, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK “Divine Illumination and Propositional Truth in Bonaventure.” Mid-West Seminar on Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, International Medieval Congress, May 3-6, 2001, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI. “Tolerance, Neutrality and Celebration: Paradigms for Inclusivity.” Morality and Its Other(s) Conference, November 9-11, 2000, Albion College, Albion, MI. “In Your Light We See Light: The Continuing Viability of a Christocentric Epistemology.” Seminar in Christian Scholarship Conference, Realism and AntiRealism, May 2000, Calvin College. “In Your Light We See Light: Is a Christocentric Epistemology Still Viable?” Society of Christian Philosophers, Western Division Conference, March 2000, Pasadena, CA. “In Your Light We See Light: Is a Christocentric Epistemology Still Viable?” InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Graduate Conference, Taking Every Thought Captive, March 2000, Mundelein, IL. “The Aesthetic Pedagogy of Francis of Assisi.” Medieval Philosophy Section, Twentieth World Congress of Philosophy, August 1998, Boston, MA. (http://www.bu.edu/wcp/Papers/Medi/MediSmit.htm) “‘Failure is the key to the kingdom within’: Aquinas, Rumi, and Weakness of Will.” 1996 National Meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Philosophy and Psychiatry, New York City. “Crossing into Exile: The Need for Distinctive Identity in Religious Communities.” 1996 New England-Maritime Regional AAR Meeting, Harvard Divinity School. “Hugh of Saint-Victor’s De arca Noë: A Participative Guide to Contemplation.” 1996 Boston Area Graduate History Symposium, Boston College.
2006 to present: Associate Professor of Theology, Dept. of Religion, Calvin College 2003 to 2008: Dean of the Chapel, Calvin College 1999 to 2006: Assistant Professor of Theology, Dept. of Religion, Calvin College 1997: Teaching Assistant to Prof. Herbert Mason, Boston University 1995: Instructor in Philosophy; Cumberland County College, Vineland, NJ 1989 - 1995: Solo Pastor; First Presbyterian Church, Clayton, NJ 1987 - 1989: Director of Youth and Christian Education; 1 st Presbyterian, Buffalo, NY 1985-1986: Intern Pastor, Knox Presbyterian Church, Kenmore, NY
Member of the D.Min. Board, Western Seminary Summer 2003 to present Speaker, Student Leadership Challenge, Snow Mountain Ranch, CO June 2000, 2001, 2002 Consultant for Worship Redesign, Wedgewood Christian Youth Home, 2001-2002 Speaker, Grand Rapids Christian Schools Faculty Orientation August 2001 Speaker, Honors Convocation, Calvin College May 2001 Adult Education series, Kellogesville Christian Reformed Church Nov/Dec 2001 Adult Education series, John Knox Presbyterian Church Winter 2000 to Spring 2002 I preach frequently in area Presbyterian and Christian Reformed congregations, as well as at the LOFT service here on campus and at chapel.
2005/2006: NEH Grant for Summer Seminar on Francis of Assisi 2004-2005: CCCS Grant, Interdisciplinary Working Group on the Implications of Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension across the Disciplines Spring 2004: CCCS Grant, Interdisciplinary Colloquy on the Reformed Valuation of Beauty (with Jim Turner, Cal Stapert, David Laverell, et al) Spring 2003: Social Research Grant, Data Analysis, The Ethics of Romance Summer 2001: McGregor fellowship, The Ethics of Romance Spring 2001: ALIVE grant, web-site development, Introductory Theology Questionnaire Spring 2000: Alumni grant, course re-development, Christianity and Culture 1998-1999: The University Professors Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Boston University
2005—present: Member, Re-Forming Ministry Core Cluster on Ecclesiology, Presbyterian Church (USA), Louisville, KY 2005—2006: Member, Provost Search Committee 2005—2006: Member, Synodical In Loco Committee, CRC 2003 – 2007: Chair, Chapel Committee, Calvin College 2001 – present: Member, Executive Committee, Meeter Center Governing Board 2002 – 2004: Member, Sexuality Task Force, Calvin College 2002 – present: Parish Associate, Forest Hills Presbyterian Church 2002-2003: Member, Institute for Reformed Theology’s National Colloquy, “Reformed Worship, Reformed Theology: The Reciprocal Relationship,” Union Seminary, Richmond, VA 2000-2002: Parish Associate, John Knox Presbyterian Church 1999-2001, 2002 – present: Member, Higher Education Agency, Lake Michigan Presbytery 2002 – present: Member, Governing Board, “True North”, Grand Rapids Area Presbyterian Campus Ministry (GVSU & GRCC) 2001 – 2002: Chair, Presbytery Organizing Committee, GR Campus Ministry 1999-2001: Member, Strategic Planning Committee, Calvin College 1999: Participant, Summer Seminar, “Realism and Antirealism”
The American Academy of Religion
I have dual-standing in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Christian Reformed Church. I was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) on October 22, 1989, and am currently an active member of Lake Michigan Presbytery and a parish associate at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church of Grand Rapids. I was ordained a minister in the Christian Reformed Church in North America on November 7, 2004, at Calvin Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, MI, where I am an active member.
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