Students of Life: The Webcast
Discover wisdom for celebrating our collective journey — a call to unite in contemplative action through the transformative power of shared purpose.
Please check the schedule for specific times.
About This Event
In these uncertain and challenging times, the importance of connection and togetherness is paramount. Both action and contemplation are essential for a complete spiritual journey, but we cannot undertake this journey alone.
Students of Life: The Webcast will feature live streamed talks from the mainstage of our invite-only, in-person event, featuring Carmen Acevedo Butcher, James Finley, Barbara Holmes, Brian McLaren, Richard Rohr, and Randy Woodley.
We look forward to exploring how our inner spiritual work grounded in the Christian contemplative tradition can translate into impactful, real-world change when done together.
Becoming Students of Life
To be a student of life is to embrace all of life as an opportunity for prayer and connection. The day-to-day moments we experience become the curriculum of our lives, teaching us what we need to know to grow together in faith and community, and to work towards the healing of our world. Drawing strength and stability from spiritual practice and from each other, a student of life learns to rely on their connection with God and others to navigate life’s complexities with grace and resilience.
On our own we can do very little. But together, we can face challenges, support one another, and work hand in hand to transform and heal our hurting world.
Speakers
Carmen Acevedo Butcher
Affiliate Faculty
Carmen Acevedo Butcher, PhD, is an award-winning author, poet, and translator of spiritual texts. She teaches at UC Berkeley, focusing on language evolution and inclusive communication. Her work highlights the power of words and the connection between personal and global healing. Learn more.
James Finley
CAC Faculty
Dr. Jim Finley is a clinical psychologist and contemplative practitioner. Drawing from his experience as a former monk and spiritual directee of Thomas Merton, Jim offers trustworthy guidance for the spiritual journey through this website, online courses, and retreats.
Learn more.
Barbara Holmes
CAC Faculty
Rev. Dr. Barbara Holmes is a spiritual teacher, activist, and scholar focused on African American spirituality, mysticism, cosmology and culture. She is President Emerita of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and served as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Memphis Theological Seminary (2005–2010). Learn more.
Brian McLaren
Dean of Core Faculty
Dr. Brian McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity” that is just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. Learn more.
Richard Rohr
CAC Founder & Faculty Emeritus
An internationally recognized author and spiritual leader, Fr. Richard teaches primarily on incarnational mysticism, nondual consciousness, and contemplation, with a particular emphasis on how these affect the social justice issues of our time. Learn more.
Randy Woodley
Affiliate Faculty
Randy Woodley, PhD, is the co-founder of Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice and Eloheh Farm & Seeds, promoting sustainable farming and Earth justice. Randy, a retired professor, writes and speaks on American culture, faith, justice, race, and Indigenous issues, emphasizing the natural world’s role in our lives and Indigenous wisdom. Learn more.
Event Details
This 3-day online event will feature live-streamed talks from the mainstage of our invite-only, in-person event in Albuquerque, NM, from CAC faculty and affiliate faculty Carmen Acevedo Butcher, James Finley, Barbara Holmes, Brian McLaren, Richard Rohr, and Randy Woodley.
Registration Details
Registration for the webcast is open from September 24 through October 28 or until capacity is reached. The cost to register for this event is $250. All registrants will be able to access the webcast replay up to 30 days after the event.
Financial Assistance is available for up to 50% off the registration cost. Apply for a scholarship to Students of Life: The Webcast. If you would like to apply for a scholarship, please apply prior to registering. Contact our Community Support team with any questions or to learn more.
Registration for the Students of Life webcast does not include access to the in-person event. Only mainstage presentations will be featured in the webcast. It will not include electives or other programming.
Schedule
All times are in Mountain Time (MT). Please use this online time zone converter to determine when the session will air live in your time zone.
Friday, November 1
9:00 am: Session 1: Contemplation as a Transformative Path
Featured speaker: James Finley
This session includes a dialogue with James Finley, Richard Rohr, and CAC staff.
10:20 am: BREAK
10:40 am: Session 2: Contemplation: Past, Present, and Future
Featured Speakers: Brian McLaren, James Finley, Dr. Barbara Holmes, Carmen Acevedo Butcher, Randy Woodley, and CAC staff
4:00 pm: Closing session (approximately 45 minutes)
Saturday, November 2
9:00 am: Session 3: Personal Transformation Through Difficulty
Featured speaker: Carmen Acevedo Butcher
This session includes a dialogue with James Finley, Carmen Acevedo Butcher, and CAC staff.
10:20 am: BREAK
10:40 am: Session 4: Collective Transformation Through Difficulty
Featured speaker: Dr. Barbara Holmes
This session includes a dialogue with Dr. Barbara Holmes, Brian McLaren, and Randy Woodley.
4:00 pm: Closing session (approximately 45 minutes)
Sunday, November 3
9:00 am: Session 5: Eloheh: A Vision of Wholeness
Featured speakers: Randy Woodley and CAC staff
10:20 am: BREAK
10:40 am: Session 6: Partnering Together in Loving Action
Featured speaker: Brian McLaren
This session includes a dialogue with Brian McLaren, Richard Rohr, and CAC staff.
NOON: Closing Session
Featured speaker: Carmen Acevedo Butcher
This session includes a dialogue with Brian McLaren, James Finley, Dr. Barbara Holmes, and Randy Woodley.
END OF WEBCAST
All those registered will have access to these videos for 30 days after the event. Main stage presentations will occur between 7:30 – 11:30am (PST); 8:30am – 12:30 pm (MST); 2:30 – 6:30pm (GMT). Event details are subject to change.
Register Now
This webcast will offer an opportunity to reconnect with our faith, deepen our personal practice, and strengthen the bonds within our community.
If you have any questions, please contact our Community Support team.
Frequently Asked Questions
The in-person Students of Life event is a closed conference for current and former Living School participants and CAC partners. We are excited to offer the mainstage presentations for virtual viewers!
Participants will need a device with reliable Internet access, such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer to access the event website.
Financial Assistance is available for up to 50% off the registration cost. Apply for a scholarship to Students of Life: The Webcast.
If you would like to apply for a scholarship, please apply prior to registering. Contact our Community Support team with any questions or to learn more.
All those who register will have access to the Student of Life webcast replay for 30 days after the event.
To cancel your Student of Life webcast registration and request a refund, please send your request to our Community Support team
If written notice of your cancellation is received by CAC on or before October 23, 2024, the amount of each cancelled webcast registration will be fully refunded to the credit card used to register.
Unfortunately, we cannot refund webcast registrations canceled after October 23, 2024.
Registrations for the Student of Life Webcast are individual registrations. We ask that you do not share event access outside of individual or household viewing.