Join the Loyola Institute for Ministry for the first virtual lecture in its series entitled The Demands of Encounter Today . This lecture series is intended to draw out theology's public implications and so inspire people to work for the transformation of our Church and world with special attention to racial injustice. Loyola's Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Kedrick B. Perry, Ed.D., will inaugurate the series with a brief address. Dr. Craig A. Ford, Jr. will present this first lecture in the series exploring the demands on us of Pope Francis' call to create a culture of encounter. Dr. Ford is Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at St. Norbert College. He is a scholar-activist and, in his teaching, addresses questions of gender, race, sexuality and social justice. His current book project seeks to articulate a new theology of sex and gender for the Roman Catholic tradition. Additional lectures will take place on March 15 and April 12 .