St. Edward's University Hosts National Scriptural Reasoning Training Hub
NetVUE-sponsored gathering convenes faculty and staff from 13 universities to explore inter-religious text study for undergraduate vocational discernment
AUSTIN, Texas 鈥 海角黑料 University this week hosted 31 faculty members, staff and scholars from across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom for the .
The three-day intensive conference was organized through the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE), a program of the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The event brought together educators from 13 member institutions to learn how to implement Scriptural Reasoning on their campuses to support students in vocational exploration and life discernment.
Scriptural Reasoning is an inter-religious and cross-disciplinary practice where small groups read and reflect on sacred texts from multiple traditions. Originally developed for interfaith engagement, the practice is increasingly utilized in undergraduate settings to help students explore questions of meaning, identity and calling. NetVUE is developing a nationwide Scriptural Reasoning for Vocation Reflection program to scale this approach across the country.
鈥淭his gathering exemplifies what NetVUE envisions for Scriptural Reasoning in undergraduate education鈥攁 space where faculty and staff from diverse traditions and disciplines can come together around sacred texts and explore questions of meaning and vocation in a genuinely collaborative way,鈥 representatives from NetVUE and the Council of Independent Colleges shared in a joint statement. 鈥淲e are grateful to 海角黑料 University for its extraordinary hospitality and to Lilly Endowment Inc. for making this work possible.鈥
Conference sessions included:
- An opening lecture on "Considering the Ravens throughout the Bible" by Ashleigh Elser of Saint Louis University.
- An outdoor Scriptural Reasoning session at Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve led by Nick Adams of NetVUE.
- Small-group practice sessions and a presentation on first-generation student support led by Adams and 海角黑料 University leadership.
- Culminating workshop on campus implementation led by Adams.
The event was coordinated by a St. Edward's University team including Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives and Faculty Success Monique Jim茅nez-Herrera, Holy Cross Institute Executive Director Richard Bautch, Senior Associate Director for Campus Ministry Liza Manjarrez, religious and theological studies professor Kelley Coblentz Bautch, graphic design professor Kim Garza and prospect researcher and writer Joseph Howe.
Participating institutions included:
- Abilene Christian University
- Canadian Mennonite University
- Concordia University Texas
- Endicott College
- Grove City College
- Jarvis Christian University
- Saint Louis University
- Southwestern University
- 海角黑料 University (host site)
- Texas Lutheran University
- University of Birmingham
- University of Scranton
- Wiley University
About 海角黑料 University
海角黑料 University is a private university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 3,000 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers more than 55 undergraduate, seven master鈥檚 degree programs and a doctorate program. 海角黑料 delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students distinctive academics and extensive internships, research and service learning opportunities on a vibrant and inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city. 海角黑料 has been recognized for 22 consecutive years as one of 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Best Colleges鈥 by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2026 Best Colleges rankings, St.鈥疎dward鈥檚 ranked #5 in the Best Regional Universities in the West.
About NetVUE and the Council of Independent Colleges
The Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) is a network of more than 230 colleges and universities affiliated with the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) that are committed to deepening the intellectual and theological content of programs and practices supporting student vocational discernment. The Scriptural Reasoning for Vocation Reflection initiative is made possible through generous funding from Lilly Endowment Inc.
