The Mars Hill Forum series is where John Rankin interacts with qualified skeptics
or other
interlocutors
representing
different beliefs on
a given subject -- in university settings, churches and other venues. The goal is not polemics in a debate, but to win honest relationships in the face of cultural debates that otherwise divide people, all in service to the Gospel.
John began the Mars Hill Forum series in 1993, where he has invited the most qualified skeptics he can find who wish to question his evangelical worldview and its public policy implications. The goal is to provide a setting for intelligent and gracious interaction over issues of mutual interest between John and his guests.
A typical forum follows this format:
1. Introduction by Moderator (3-5 minutes)
2. Opening Address by Speaker A (20 minutes)
3. Opening Address by Speaker B (20 minutes)
The choice of who
is Speaker A or B
depends usually on
the phrasing of the
question, or the
preference of one of
the speakers. The
goal is for each
speaker to present a
positive argument
for the position he
or she holds.
4. Dialogic Interaction (20+ minutes)
Here both speakers question each other one-on-one in conversational style, as they pursue issues raised in the opening addresses. This is not a formal rebuttal, but rather an opportunity to get to the real issues of debate at a more honest and respectful level.
5. Audience Questions (45+ minutes)
Here members of the audience line up at one or two microphones, and address questions in the order they have lined up. If the question is directed to Speaker A, then Speaker B receives equal opportunity to address the question after Speaker A is done. And vice versa. Sometimes questions are addressed to both. In all cases, speakers are free, with moderator discretion in terms of the timetable and pace, to use the questions to dialogue with or question each other further. Audience questions are meant to be succinct, but free enough to allow set-up statements and follow-up questions as needful.
6. Final Remarks by Speaker A (2-3 minutes)
7. Final Remarks by Speaker B (2-3 minutes)
8. Conclusion and any Announcements by Moderator (2-4 minutes)
The forum is designed for about two hours, with flexibility depending on the variables and wishes of the participants and audience.
Many Mars Hill Forums have been transcribed, and can be located on a website sponsored by Pieter Crow in Riverton, WY: www.mars-hill-forum.com.
For a list of
previous Mars Hill
Forums, click
here.
For future Mars
Hill Forums, see
Calendar of Events.
For a list of TEI classes, click here.
