The Mars Hill Forum series is where John Rankin interacts with qualified
interlocutors
on a range of
topics, usually with
skeptics of the
biblical worldview,
but also with fellow
believers on topics
of intramural church
concern -- in university settings, churches and other venues. The goal is
to win honest relationships in the face of cultural debates that otherwise divide people, all in service to the Gospel.
The term "Mars Hill"
is the Latin
reference to the
place in ancient
Athens that was the
center of political
authority and
philosophical debate
in its golden age.
After the Roman
conquest, political
authority was
stripped from Mars
Hill, but
philosophical debate
remained and
flourished. In Acts
17, the apostle Paul
was invited
spontaneously to
address a meeting of
the "Areopagus," the
original Greek term
for Mars Hill (both
references to the
god of war). Paul
appealed to the God
of creation and
unity of the human
race, even citing
Greek poets who were
yearning for the
same, and proclaimed
the resurrection of
Jesus in the
presence of hundreds
of skeptical
philosophers who had
rejected Greek
polytheism. From
many angles,
therefore, Mars Hill
is an apt metaphor
for good public
thinking on all
matters theological
and political.
John began the Mars Hill Forum series in 1993, where he has invited the most qualified
people possible who
are willing to
enter into such
dialogue. Prior to
that, when he headed
up an evangelical
pro-life ministry in
Massachusetts from
1983-1991, he was
invited onto
multiple dozens of
college campuses to
debate. There his
desire from the
outset was to seek
communication, in
the goal of winning
honest relationships
across debated
topics, rather than
mere debate.
A
typical forums
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
gain spontaneous
responses to chosen
questions.
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.
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