Candler School of Theology continues to lead the conversation on best practices in contextual education, this time by playing a leading role in the 2015 conference of the Association of Theological Field Educators (ATFE). The biennial gathering, held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from January 22-24, was the international organization’s largest in over a decade.

Faculty and staff from Candler held key positions in planning and overseeing the large-scale event that was in the works for more than two years. P. Alice Rogers, associate professor in the practice of practical theology at Candler and senior pastor of Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church, presided over the conference in her role as ATFE president, a position she has held since 2013. As conference host, Associate Professor in the Practice of Practical Theology David O. Jenkins nominated the site, selected the theme Changing Landscapes in Theological Education and recruited event speakers. Candler Events Manager Alice Tarkington served as logistics coordinator for the conference.

Thomas Elliott, Candler’s assistant professor in the practice of practical theology and director of Contextual Education II, and Richard Landers, director of Contextual Education I, also represented Candler in Santa Fe, as did three of the school’s longest-serving Contextual Education I site supervisors: Bob Duvall of Gwinnett Medical Center, Susan Bishop 75T of Lee Arrendale State Prison and Janice Johnson Hume 92T of Campbell-Stone Apartments. Candler had the largest delegation of any member school at the conference.