This year, the Theology Institute is hosting its 40th annual conference titled “God and Mammon,” which is a reference to the biblical verse Matthew 6:24.

The conference will be held Oct. 26-27. It is meant to promote reflection and conversation about the relationship between faithfulness to God and economic life.

The scholars will engage one another and a broad audience in discussion. This year’s featured speakers will be Jim Wallis and Shane Claiborne.

Wallis is a best-selling author, public theologian, preacher, speaker, activist and international commentator on ethics and public life.

Claiborne is a member of “The Simple Way,” a community that was devastated by a fire and is seeking to rebuild itself through faith and a common goal to follow the teachings of Jesus.

This year’s conference will be of particular interest to many students as there will be many presentations discussing greed, globalization, sustainability, consumerism and responsible business practices.

In a global community that is so dependent on the ethical conduct of business ventures and the responsible consumption of resources, it is more important than ever to discuss the relationship between Christian ethics and economic decisions made by Christians.

The Theology Institute’s 40th annual conference is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Those interested can register online, as well as view a detailed schedule of the event, speaker biographies and further information about programs offered by the Theology Institute.

The Theology Institute was founded in 1967 as a forum for scholars to bring the Church into dialogue with the contemporary world.

Today, the Institute promotes interdisciplinary reflection and discussion on religious, cultural and political issues of importance to the Church.

Over the years, the Theology Institute has sponsored discussions on themes such as hope, the church, human experience and faith, ministry, ethics and more.

Through its annual conferences, lecture series and other events, the Theology Institute seeks to provide an open forum for discussion of issues deemed important to the Church in a rapidly changing world.

By fostering dialogue and providing answers to disputed issues, the Theology Institute hopes to promote further reflection on critical issues.