On 7th and 8th November, 2025, the Parish Life Center of St Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston was filled with warmth, insight, and joyful fellowship as friends of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, gathered for the Wycliffe Forum: Resurrection – Then and Now. This two-day event brought together scholars, clergy, and laypeople to explore one of Christianity’s most enduring and transformative themes: the Resurrection — as history, as theology, and as a model for life and hope today.
The Forum opened on Friday morning with Morning Prayer, led by the Revd. Dane E. Boston, followed by a stirring welcome from Revd. Dr. Michael Lloyd, Principal of Wycliffe Hall. In his introduction, Dr. Lloyd reminded guests that the Christian faith is “good news—not primarily good ethics or speculation,” which set the tone for two days of deep reflection and lively discussion.
The program that followed was exceptional. The Rt. Revd. Prof. N.T. Wright, one of the world’s leading New Testament scholars, conducted sessions on "The Resurrection in History," "The Resurrection in Theology," and "Resurrection and the Task of the Church," offering a blend of rigorous scholarship and accessible inspiration. His conversation with Michael Lloyd on Friday afternoon was a highlight for many, filled with humour, intellect, and hope.
Other speakers enriched the gathering with fresh perspectives. Dr. Kira Moolman Pettit reflected movingly on grief and resurrection in Christian life, while Revd. Dr. Jonathan Brant encouraged participants to see resurrection as the Church’s ongoing call for renewal and creative mission. On Saturday afternoon, Revd. Dr. Oliver Wright presented "Mahler, Resurrection, and Me," which closed the weekend on a high note, weaving together theology, art, and music into a deeply personal meditation on joy beyond suffering.
Throughout the Forum, the atmosphere was vibrant and full of gratitude; conversations over coffee and lunch continued long after the sessions ended. Delegates spoke of feeling both intellectually challenged and spiritually renewed.
As the event concluded, guests left St Martin’s with a renewed faith in the power of resurrection—not merely as a doctrine of the past, but as a living reality that shapes hope for the future. The Houston Forum was a celebration of friendship between St Martin’s and Wycliffe Hall, and a joyful expression of the Hall’s mission to bring Oxford’s theological depth into conversation with the world.
