Knowing What's True. Doing What's Good.
In preparation for the symposium, we invite you to watch Dr. Willard’s 2010 lecture on Moral Knowledge.
Dr. Willard teaching on The Disappearance of Moral Knowledge
Symposium Program
9:00 a.m. | Welcome and Opening Remarks |
9:15-9:30 ![]() |
What is The Disappearance of Moral Knowledge? Aaron Preston, PhD |
9:30-10:30 ![]() |
Knowledge, Facts & Opinions, and Moral Knowledge Jim Taylor, PhD |
10:45-11:45 ![]() |
Science and Moral Truth: What Our Unique Biology Can and Can’t Provide Jeff Schloss, PhD PDF of Article by Dr. Schloss (This article is similar to what Dr. Schloss will discuss, but is written for a secular audience.) |
11:45-1:00 | Lunch Break |
1:00-2:00 ![]() |
The Necessary Struggle to Regain the True, the Good and the Beautiful – Part 1 Mary Poplin, PhD |
2:15-3:45 ![]() |
Q&A with Full Symposium Panel Moderated by Scott Lisea, DMinScott is married to Jamie. They have raised three sons. He has been captured by Jesus for over 30 years, but it’s slow work. He lives in Santa Barbara where he serves as the Campus Pastor at Westmont College, his alma mater. |
4:00-5:00 ![]() |
Summary of the Day and Q&A for Oaks Christian School’s Faculty and Staff Moderated by Rich Gregory, MDivRich Gregory is Husband to Kristin, Dad to Noah, Corinne & Nate, Pastor of Lifesong in Newbury Park, and High School Spiritual Life Director at Oaks Christian School. Rich earned an M.Div from Fuller, and is working on his Doctorate through APU and The Apprentice Institute. |
9:00-9:30 ![]() |
Video Welcome from Dr. Gayle Beebe, with additional opening remarks. Gayle is President of Westmont College; author of The Shaping of an Effective Leader: Eight Formative Principles of Leadership; co-author of Longing for God: Seven Paths of Christian Devotion, with Richard Foster. |
9:30-10:30 ![]() |
On Becoming a Good Person: What's Knowledge Got To Do With It? Aaron Preston, PhD |
10:50-noon ![]() |
Coaching for Character: Wisdom that Works Chazz Anderson |
Noon-1:00 | Lunch Break |
1:00-2:00 ![]() |
Diversity and The Common Good: The Urgent Need to Train the Minds of Children and Renew the Minds of Adults Natasha Sistrunk Robinson, MA |
2:00-3:00 ![]() |
The Necessary Struggle to Regain the True, the Good and the Beautiful – Part 2 Mary Poplin, PhD |
3:15-4:00 ![]() |
Summary of the Day and Q&A for Oaks Faculty and Staff Moderated by Audie Diggs, MA |
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Timothy Delkeskamp, D. Min. Senior Pastor of Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church, Thousand Oaks, CA. |
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Stephen C. Hagberg, MA Stephen teaches Chemistry here at Oaks Christian School. He earned his B.Sc. in Biology at Los Angeles Baptist College and his M.A. in Christian Thought at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. |
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Mark O. Hiepler, Esq. Named one of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America by the National Law Journal, Mark is a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He handles wrongful death, serious injury, and insurance denial matters. Mark and his wife, Michelle, are partners in the law practice of Hiepler & Hiepler, and have three children, Sarah, Ryan and Paul. |
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Rick Ifland, M.St., MBA Rick is Chair of the Economics & Business Department at Westmont College where he also directs the Eaton Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. |
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Dee Dee Mayer, MA |
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Cat Moore Director of Belonging at USC’s Office of Religious + Spiritual Life; designer of CLICK!, an experiential class for students, staff and faculty on making meaningful relationships; cross-industry Connection Consultant; completed her honor's thesis on the conditions for diverse community under Dallas Willard's supervision. |
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Mark Nelson, Ph.D. Monroe Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Dallas Willard Research Center at Westmont College. Mark specializes in Ethics (especially Metaethics), Epistemology, and Philosophy of Religion. |
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Matthew R. Northrop, Ed.D. Matt is an educator, husband, dad, and Christ-follower. Having spent over 20 years in K-12 private, independent, Christian schools, he currently serves as the Associate Head of School for Academics and the Arts at Oaks Christian School. |
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Alan Smyth Executive Director for Saving Innocence, an anti-human trafficking organization focused on child victims of sex trafficking. Alan has responsibility over Direct Services and Business Operations including budgeting and resource development. www.savinginnocence.org |
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Shawn Thornton, M.Div. Senior Pastor of Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, CA. Author of his memoir, All But Normal: Life on Victory Road published by Tyndale House. Shawn’s memoir focuses on his story of being raised in a home with a mother suffering from mental illness. |
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Mariah Velasquez Associate Director of the Martin Institute for Christianity and Culture, and Director of the Dallas Willard Center for Spiritual Formation at Westmont College. |
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Kenneth L. Waters, Sr., Ph.D. APU Associate Dean of Personnel, Contracts, and Undergraduate Studies, and Professor of New Testament in the School of Theology. Author of Afrocentric Sermons: The Beauty of Blackness in the Bible; I Saw the Lord: A Pilgrimage through Isaiah Six; and Logos Bible Software Survey of the Pastoral Epistles. |
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