Featuring world-class academics, artists, musicians, and clergy from around the globe and a rich range of programming, DITA2025 was a four-day symposium at Duke University celebrating Nicaea and the myriad surprises the Creed holds in store for artists, academics, clergy, and parishioners today.
 

Thursday, September 4

The conference kicked off with check-in, mingling, and a time for connection, followed by the opening keynote, "A Surprising Welcome." This opening keynote included a talk by James K. A. Smith on the tension between metaphysics and history in the Nicene Creed and the impact of that tension on the arts and art making. Julian Davis Reid and Nnenna Freelon offered a powerful set of theological and jazz improvisations, including a performance of Reid's newly released single "Moan." The keynote concluded with a panel discussion with all three speakers, chaired by DITA Director Dr. Jeremy Begbie, including live audience Q&A.

Each generation is called to imagine a new one. Each generation of artists is called to perform and create—here, now, embedded in this context. Nicaea, in some ways, was its own kind of improvisation. We will never be done making.

James K. A. Smith, A Surprising Welcome

Thursday Gallery

Friday, September 5

The first full day of the conference featured an opening plenary by Rowan Williams; four seminar encounters on the power of Christian making in poetry, narrative art, music, and dance; afternoon hands-on workshops; and an evening event featuring a concert by Sandra McCracken, followed by a conversation with Rowan Williams and Chigozie Obioma, moderated by Mia Chung Yee on behalf of the Veritas Forum.

rowan williams delivering keynote in Duke Chapel

Of One Being with the Father

Delivered by former archbishop Rowan Williams, the opening plenary of DITA2025 explored the impact of Jesus's divinity for the world of the arts.

Watch the Video of the opening plenary
Sandra McCracken, Steve Guthrie, and Josh Rodriguez discuss on stage

Seminar Encounters

The opening set of seminar encounters reflected on the task of making poetry, narrative art, dance, and music in light the Creed's affirmation that “through [the one Lord Jesus Christ] all things were made.”

Steve Prince smiling

Workshops

Including both practical lectures and hands-on sessions, our afternoon workshops focused on integrating and translating conference content for application in attendee's contexts, communities, and crafts.

female musician Sandra McCracken sings with guitar

Fully Alive

The evening program opened with a concert by Sandra McCracken, followed by a conversation with Rowan Williams and Chigozie Obioma—all exploring what it means to be fully alive.

Watch the video of Veritas Forum recording

Friday Gallery

I’ve never seen a conference quite like it, with the scale of it but also of the great, great substance of it. Wow, DITA2025 was a spectacular success!

Dr. Jonathan Cat Tran, Duke Divinity School

Saturday, September 6

The second full day of programming mirrored the first, with an opening plenary by Dr. Amy Peeler, seminars that explored key contemporary topics in relation to art making, and afternoon panels with practicing musicians, non-profit leaders, podcast professionals, and academics in theology and the arts. The day concluded with a full-length orchestral concert in the Carolina Theatre of Durham, featuring the New Caritas Orchestra directed by Jeremy Begbie, a new single by Sandra McCracken, and the debut of a new orchestral composition by Argentinian-American composer Josh Rodriguez.

Amy Peeler delivers plenary lecture in Duke Chapel

In Accordance with the Scriptures

Dr. Amy Peeler expounded on how scripture informs art making and vice versa. Malcolm Guite offered a poetic response and his own comments on the topic.

Watch the Video with Amy Peeler and Malcolm Guite
three people discuss art in a classroom

Seminar Encounters

Saturday seminar encounters explored the topics of Art in A Suffering World, Art and Social Change, Art and Technology, and Art, Worship, and Our Common Life.

Two women discuss a music project in Goodson Chapel

Panels

Saturday afternoon panels included Arts in Non-Profit Leadership, Christian Podcasting, Christian Publishing, The Future of the Field, the Red Vineyard Project song share, and Motherhood and Theology and the Arts.

audience applauding at an orchestra concert

Life Unbound

Featuring the New Caritas Orchestra, soprano soloist Awet Andemicael, and the celebrated singer-songwriter Sandra McCracken, the evening was conducted Dr. Jeremy Begbie, who led the audience on a journey in sound—plumbing the depths of the world’s sorrow and scaling the heights of an Easter hope.

Saturday Gallery

I cannot describe what an incredible experience it was to be involved. And wow—the concert itself, I just have no words. To have so many conversations with people of faith in a classical orchestral setting was incredible. I’ve never experienced anything like it.

Taneea Hull, New Caritas Orchestra member

Life Unbound Gallery

Sandra McCracken singing on stage
Rowan Williams conducting an orchestra
musicians performing on stage
Jeremy Begbie conducting on stage
brass players perform in legacy boxes in theatre
orchestra standin gup on stage
Jeremy Begbie conducting the audience
woman singing a solo in theatre balcony
Deans of Duke Divinity playing percussion
audience singing during orchestra concert
Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams

Sunday Worship

DITA2025 culminated in the Sunday worship service at Duke University Chapel. Former Archbishop Rowan Williams delivered a homily on Luke, the Creed, and the call of self-emptying love.

Watch the Video of the Sunday morning service with Rowan Williams