B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary at ETBU hosts spring Colloquy

B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary at ETBU hosted Dr. Holly Allen, retired Professor of Christian Ministries and Family Science at Lipscomb University, as the keynote speaker for the Frank W. and Pauline Patterson Lecture Series, held April 27–28 on the ETBU campus as part of the Seminary’s Spring 2026 Colloquy.

This semester’s theme, “Pilgrims Together: Nurturing Spiritual Formation Across All Ages,” guided participants through a biblical, theological, and practical exploration of intergenerational ministry within the life of the Church. The two-day event brought together pastors, ministry leaders, faculty, students, and scholars for study and dialogue.

Dr. Allen has devoted her academic and ministry career to the study and practice of intergenerational Christian formation. Prior to her retirement in 2022, she served as Professor of Christian Ministries and Family Science at Lipscomb University. She has also taught at John Brown University, Biola University, and Abilene Christian University, and continues to contribute to the field through teaching, writing, and speaking engagements focused on children’s spiritual formation and intergenerational ministry.

From 2015–2021, Dr. Allen chaired two biennial international, cross-denominational conferences, InterGenerate and the Children’s Spirituality Summit, helping to shape global conversations around faith formation across generations. She is the co-author of Intergenerational Christian Formation: Bringing the Whole Church Together in Ministry, Community, and Worship (2nd ed., InterVarsity Academic, 2023) and Forming Resilient Children: The Role of Spiritual Formation for Healthy Development (InterVarsity Academic, 2021). She also edited InterGenerate: Transforming Churches through Intergenerational Ministry (ACU Press, 2018) and contributed to numerous academic journals and publications, including Christian Education Journal, Lifelong Faith, and Christianity Today. Dr. Allen holds a Ph.D. in Christian Education from the Biola University Talbot School of Theology.

The lecture series featured three keynote sessions led by Dr. Allen:

• Session One (April 27): “Biblical and Theological Support for Intergenerational Ministry” — an exploration of the scriptural and doctrinal foundations for engaging all generations in shared spiritual life.
• Session Two (April 28): “Fostering Spiritual Growth and Development Across Generations” — a practical look at how churches can nurture faith formation in ways that connect and strengthen every age group.
• Session Three (April 28): “Why Bring the Generations Together?” — a compelling case for the spiritual and communal impact of intergenerational ministry in today’s Church.

Across all three sessions, Dr. Allen returned to a unifying emphasis grounded in both research and ministry practice: intergenerational community is not merely a helpful model, but a vital expression of the Church’s life, where every generation both contributes to and is strengthened by shared spiritual formation.

“Truly intergenerational communities welcome children, emerging adults, recovering addicts, single adults, widows, single parents, senior adults, those in crisis, empty nesters, teens whose parents are not around, and struggling parents of young children into a safe, but challenging place, to be formed into the image of Christ,” Dr. Allen said. “I’m very convinced that we all need each other.”

Throughout both days, attendees engaged in lecture sessions, dialogue, and question and answer session with Dr. Allen, carrying on the Patterson Lecture Series and Carroll Colloquy mission of uniting rigorous academic study with spiritual formation and practical ministry application to prepare leaders to serve Christ in diverse and global contexts.

“Our desire is always to make students think, both about their discipline and across disciplines,” Director of PhD Programs for Carroll Seminary Greg Tomlin said. “A speaker like Dr. Allen shows how investigation of such topics cuts across theology, church practice, and even psychology and counseling. That is what the Colloquy is designed to do—to make the next leaders in the academy and the church think about, even question, why we do what we do in the body of Christ, and even if what we do is best practice. I thank the Patterson family for generously supporting the opportunity to do this type of study.”

For more information about B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary at East Texas Baptist University, visit www.ETBU.edu/bhcarroll.