HOLY MOOT
‘Joy Beyond the Walls of the World’
A day conference on Tolkien & Theology
‘[The fairy-tale] does not deny the existence of dyscatastrophe, of sorrow and failure: the possibility of these is necessary to the joy of deliverance; it denies (in the face of much evidence, if you will) universal final defeat and in so far is evangelium, giving a fleeting glimpse of Joy, Joy beyond the walls of the world, poignant as grief.'
PRESENTERS
Joel ScandrettTolkien's Typology: Recapitulation, Representation, and Participation in Middle-earthJoel Scandrett is a priest in the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh and Associate Professor of Historical Theology at Trinity Anglican Seminary, where he has taught since 2012. Joel is a lifelong lover of JRR Tolkien and his works, and regularly teaches a "Theology of Middle-earth" seminar at Trinity.
Miriam EllisPainting "The Merciful Author"Miriam Ellis is an award-winning fine artist and a professional columnist. A book of her Tolkien-inspired artwork and essays will be brought out by Professor Tom Shippey's publishing house, Uppsala Books, in 2025. Her paintings have appeared in numerous publications, including The Tolkien Society's Translating and Illustrating Tolkien edited by Will Sherwood, Mallorn magazine, Amon Hen Magazine, the Beyond Bree calendar, The Tolkien Collector's Guide, Nerd of the Rings, and In Deep Geek. Her main inspirations are Tolkien's themes of recovery, escape, and consolation, and a lifelong love of hobbits.
Abby RobertsEven the Very Wise Cannot See All Ends: Uncertainty, Doubt, and Free Will in the LegendariumAbby Roberts is an author, essayist, and Tolkien fan from northern Virginia. Her debut short story, "A Hoard of Infinite Meanings," was published in Swords and Sorcery Magazine, and her essay "'What Lies and Threats': History and Nationalist Myth-Making in The Lord of the Rings" is upcoming in Speculative Insight. She is particularly interested in Tolkien's medievalism, constructed languages, and themes of existentialism and anti-authoritarianism.
Andrew NicewanderShattered Souls and a Poignant Grief: The Hope of Eucatastrophe for the Church-TraumatizedAndrew is a depressive castaway loved by his wife and children, who strives to live simply and softly. In real life, he is a seemingly mild-mannered software engineer who nerds out at Imaginative Lore and loves the Wild Wood; but in his heart he's an Ent with a busted hip who wrestles with his Maker. He's a recent graduate from Trinity Anglican Seminary (MAR, 2024) having written a thesis with the paragraphic title of "Shattered Souls and the Re-Enchanting Magic of Myth – The Role that J.R.R. Tolkien and His Projects of Eucatastrophe and Sub-Creation Can Play in the Healing of the Church-Traumatized"
Evan LeeMusical PerformanceEvan Lee is a multi-instrumentalist who plays most things with strings. His love of music started with the cello at five years old. God called Evan to use his musical talents for His glory as a Young Adult. Evan has lead worship at his church and played bass guitar and cello in a worship band that toured regionally leading worship at various church events and camps. He writes and records music at his home studio and is a session musician for a local recording studio. Through his wife Jessica, Evan has grown to love the musical world of Middle-earth whether music from screen adaptations or J.R.R. Tolkien’s use of music in the books.
Brian McGreevyJoy in the Real WorldThe Rev. Brian K. McGreevy is Assistant to the Rector of St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Charleston. Rev. McGreevy teaches and speaks regularly on C.S. Lewis and the Inklings and, in association with Inklings expert and author Colin Duriez, has led several study tours to the UK focusing on Lewis, Tolkien, and the Inklings. His podcasts on Lewis’s works are followed by thousands of listeners, and he served as the co-organizer of the 2023 Mere Anglicanism Conference “Telling a More Beautiful Story: Lessons from C.S. Lewis on Reaching a Fractured World” – the largest Lewis conference ever held, selling out with some 900 attendees. He is married to the former Jane Hollis Whitney, and they have four children and four grandchildren.
Jessica Fulton LeeHelm, Théoden, and Northern CourageThe Rev. Jessica Fulton Lee is a priest in the Anglican Church of North America and lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia with her husband Evan Lee. Jessica is an associate pastor at Beach Church and a doctoral student in Northwind Theological Seminary’s Romantic Theology program where she is working on the completion of her treatise. Jessica and Evan serve on mission to their local animal rescue community and have a creative adult daughter, two beloved dogs and a cherished cat.
Nick PolkResonances of Universalism in Tolkien's Legendarium Nick Polk is the author of 'Tolkien and Pop Culture,' released in the Fall of 2024, and currently serves as the Production Editor of Mallorn, the academic journal of The Tolkien Society. He is the creator of the Tolkien Pop! Substack, where he explores the connections between Tolkien and modern life. He is an English teacher and has written various articles on Tolkien, adaptation, pop culture, and theology.
Donald ShepsonLonging for HomeDon is a Professor of Bible and Ministry at Grove City College. He has taught at both undergraduate and graduate levels and has over 20 years of ministry as professor and priest. Don is also an Associate Priest and Campus Missioner at Grace Anglican Church and has served as the Canon of Clergy Care and Spiritual Formation in the Anglican Diocese of the South. He was ordained in 2007. Don studied at Wheaton College, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, and Biola University where he received a Ph.D. in Spiritual Formation. His dissertation investigated the influence of relationships upon college students’ spiritual formation. Don’s goal is to strengthen the church through teaching, leadership, and pastoral care, and to help people walk faithfully with the Lord.