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Over the past two years, our discussions at Open Table have been building toward a better understanding of Paul - his passion, his heart, and his theology.
Beginning Wednesday, September 9, 2026 our journey culminates with our third and final year focusing on his most profound, influential, and debated work: The beautiful, complex, and deeply challenging letter to the Romans.
A fascinating letter, Romans has long been celebrated as Paul’s theological masterpiece on salvation. Yet, it is also the very text that sparks our deepest questions and most challenging faith discussions.
In order to even attempt to do justice to this massive work, we are dedicating our entire year to it—slowing our pace to give it the time and attention it deserves.
Like our previous classes, this will not be a passive lecture series. Instead, participants sit in on a live, dynamic conversation featuring a panel of six to eight highly qualified biblical scholars and theologians. By interpreting Scripture together in real-time, they will offer fresh, diverse perspectives that move beyond individual lectures and into a living community.
Get ready for an incredibly powerful experience!!!
We hope you will join us!
Price
General Admission: $99 per person +fee
includes
Admission to all 24 weeks of live discussion
Unlimited access to the video recordings of each session
Handouts and other materials
Access to the private Facebook group
When
Beginning Wednesday, September 9, 2026
12-1:30p PDT
How often
Same time every Wednesday, for 24 weeks.
About the Class
We invite you to join our panel each week as we focus our attention on Paul’s letter to the Romans. Paradigms will be challenged and our perspectives reimagined and clarified as we open our hearts and minds to the Spirit and each other.
As usual, registrants will have unlimited access to stream the video recordings of this 24 week series. Each session will be available 48 hours after the live webinar. These recordings are free to all registrants but can only be obtained if you register by midnight, Sept 23. The video recordings of the class will be available for purchase sometime in May of 2027. We will also have audio-only files of the class which you will be able to download to your device.
A private Facebook page will be created where the class can continue the conversation. Panelists will also visit the page from time to time contributing to the discussion.
*** An opportunity for graduate studies credit ***
Dr. Bradley Jersak will personally supervise qualified students who would like to earn three credit hours through St. Stephen's University's (SSU.ca) Master of Ministries program. The accredited cohort will be capped at 25 students, so if you are interested, please contact Brad before August 15th at bjersak@ssu.ca.
the panel
Fr John Behr, Julie Canlis, Douglas Campbell, Chris Green, Brad Jersak, Sr Vassa Larin, John MacMurray, Cherith Nordling, Kenneth Tanner, Paul Young, and Brian Zahnd. Hover over the images below to read a short bio.
Fr John Behr
Fr. John Behr is the Regius Professor of Humanity at the University of Aberdeen, previously having been at St Vladimir’s Seminary, New York, where he also served as Dean. His publications include an edition and translation of Origen’s On First Principles and a study of the Gospel of John.
Cherith Nordling
Cherith is a theologian, writer, and mentor in Christian formation with a Ph. D. from the University of St. Andrews. Most recently she served as Associate Professor of Theology at Northern Seminary in Lisle, Illinois. She also taught for five years at Calvin College and Seminary while serving as Co-Director of Christian Formation with her husband, Robert. She has taught as adjunct professor at numerous other institutions and continues as a seasonal lecturer for Regent College, Vancouver, BC and for the YWAM Masters Program in Christian Formation.
Kenneth Tanner
Kenneth is pastor of Church of the Holy Redeemer in Rochester Hills, Michigan, where he lives with his wife and seven children. His writing has appeared in “Books & Culture”, “Huffington Post”, “Sojourners”, “National Review”, “Christianity Today”, “Behemoth”, and “Real Clear Religion.”
John MacMurray
John is the founder and director of the Northwest School of Theology and the Open Table Conferences. Formerly an adjunct professor in Bible Literature, he now speaks internationally, and writes. His books include “A Spiritual Evolution” and “Father Fiction” (co-written with Donald Miller). He is also a landscape nature photographer, published in National Geographic, Sierra Club, and Audubon.
Dr. Brad Jersak
Brad is an author and teacher based in Abbotsford, Canada. He is editor-in-chief of “Christianity Without the Religion” magazine and teaches at Westminster Theological Centre. He is also the author of over a dozen books, including “Can You Hear Me? Tuning in to the God Who Speaks” and “A More Christlike God: A More Beautiful Gospel.”
Chris E.W. Green
Chris is Professor of Public Theology at Southeastern University (Lakeland, FL), Director of St Anthony Institute for Theology and Philosophy, and Teaching Pastor at Sanctuary Church (Tulsa, OK). He and his wife Julie live in Tulsa with their kids, Zoë, Clive, and Emery. Chris has written extensively, his most recent book being the revised edition of Sanctifying Interpretation: Vocation, Holiness, Scripture.
Douglas Campbell
Professor of New Testament & Director of the Prison Program at The Divinity School, Duke University (Durham NC USA)
Douglas was born in London to transplanted New Zealanders but was raised primarily in NZ when his parents returned there when he was 3.
He did both his Masters and PhD studies at the University of Toronto. However, at his first position at the University of Otago, Dunedin NZ, where he taught for seven years, he met Alan Torrance and in Douglas’ words “that friendship changed his life”.
Douglas also taught at King’s College London for seven years before taking a position at Duke University where he still currently teaches. He has also written five books during his tenure at Duke.
Douglas is the Co-Director of the Prison Program at Duke and with his wife Rachel, strongly supports several individuals who are currently doing time.
Visiting Panelists
Sr Vassa Larin
Sister Vassa Larin (born Barbara Larin, December 11, 1970 in Nyack, New York) is a Russian Orthodox liturgiologist. She is author of many scholarly articles and books, including, most recently, Praying in Time. The Hours & Days in Step with Orthodox Christian Tradition. She is also host of the online catechetical programs and YouTube channel, "Coffee with Sister Vassa." Her online-mission includes a daily Newsletter (with a brief reflection on Scripture), a weekly audio-podcast called “Monday Morning Coffee” (on the feasts, saints, and Scripture-passages of the week), an ongoing video-course on Divine Liturgy, available on patreon.com/sistervassa
Brian Zahnd
Brian is the lead pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri, which he and his wife Peri founded in 1981. He is the author of several books including “Water to Wine”, “Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God”, and “Postcards from Babylon.” His favorite activity is spending time with their three sons, two beautiful daughters-in-law, and seven grandchildren.
Julie Canlis
Julie is married to Matt, stays at home with their four children, and teaches Sunday School for 11-13 year olds. She likes her food slow, and her church slower. Along with Matt, she has been instrumental in the writing of the small group curriculum for Godspeed to help churches translate the Scottish documentary onto their own soil. In addition to the above, Julie teaches at Whitworth University, published her PhD as Calvin’s Ladder: A Spiritual Theology of Ascent and Ascension (Templeton Prize; Christianity Today Award of Merit), and most recently, A Theology of the Ordinary.
SCHEDULE
Classes are held Wednesdays, from 12 - 1:30p PDT.
September, 2026
9th - Introduction to Romans
16th - Introduction to Romans
23rd - Chapter 1:1-15
30th - Chapter 1:16-32
October
7th - Chapter 2
14th - Chapter 3:1-18
21st - Chapter 3:19-31
28th - Chapter 4
November
4th - Summary/review chapters 1-4
11th - Chapter 5
18th - Chapter 6
25th - Chapter 7
December
2nd – Chapter 8:1-14
9th – Chapter 8:15-39
16th – Summary/review chapters 5-8
23rd - No Class - Holiday Break
30th – No Class - Holiday Break
January, 2027
6th - Chapter 9
13th - Chapter 10
20th - Chapter 11:1-16
27th - Chapter 11:17-36
February
3rd - Chapter 12
10th - Chapter 13
17th - Chapter 14
24th - Chapter 15
March
3rd - Summary/review
Online Class
We are using Zoom
Zoom video conference software has quickly become one of the number one ways to connect people, either for personal or business use, during this world-wide crisis. We will be using Zoom to bring the class to you live, and we will be recording every class so you can watch it all again later.
Zoom is free to use. Click the link below to learn more.
FAQs
When does registration for the class close?
September 23 at midnight Pacific time.
Do I have to be online for the entire webinar?
No, every session will be recorded. We encourage you to tune in to as many live sessions as possible.
How do I access the video recordings?
Within a couple of days after class begins, those registered will receive a link and password to access the recordings.
Is the fee per household?
No. The $99 registration fee is per device (computer, tablet, or phone).
Do you have a schedule?
The schedule is posted above.
When will I receive the link to the webinar?
You will receive instructions and the link to the Zoom webinar within 24 hours of the event. You will also receive reminders of the event.
Can we ask questions during the sessions?
Yes, this is interactive. Participants will be able to submit questions through Zoom’s Q&A function during each discussion session. The chat button will also be activated for the questions and comments the final 30 minutes.