Crosswise Institute | Christ College | Concordia University Irvine
Crosswise Institute

Future Issues. Enduring Faith.

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Save the Date: 2019 Crosswise Summer Experience

June

23 - 28

Pre-Register Today

Crosswise Summer Experience

Who is Crosswise?

The Crosswise Institute of Concordia University Irvine endeavors to engage high school students in meaningful dialogue on contemporary cultural issues that challenge their worldview and that calls them from comfort to something risky, but rewarding.

Together, students are invited to develop their ideas, refine their thinking, and examine how the church community might respond to current and relevant topics as informed by Scripture. Ultimately, we want to bring these conversations to bear on the real lives of friends and neighbors as students go out with a thoughtful Christian perspective on current events, ethical concerns, and social trends.

Crosswise Summer Experience

2018 Theme: God and the Brain

How do we make sense of the relationships between our brains, our biology, and our beliefs? High school students, you are invited to join us for the Crosswise Institute Summer Experience. Through compelling teaching and engaging conversations, you will explore questions about God & the brain, science & faith, and the impact these ideas could have on your future. Through the lens of Scripture, we will explore together the role of the church in these present and future realities.

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2018 Crosswise Summer Experience Highlights

Crosswise Leadership

The Crosswise Institute at Concordia University Irvine is made possible by a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment. Our vision is to invite high school students to think critically and biblically about trending cultural topics. By participating with others in this way, they might expand their understanding of the world while growing in wisdom.

We believe in interesting conversations, deep questions, breaking bread, and hearty laughter. Crosswise seeks to inspire students to be the conversation-starters in their own neighborhoods, families, sports teams, and schools. In short, the Crosswise team hopes you will join the effort to think biblically about our culture’s most pressing issues.

Daniel Deen, PhD

Dr. Daniel Deen is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Concordia University, Irvine. He earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2015. His philosophical musings lean toward virtue epistemological perspectives in religious and scientific epistemology with a strong penchant for dialogue between science and religion, Christ and culture. In other words, he is committed to that philosophical ideal of promoting great conversations with an eye toward apologetics. When not philosophizing, he is often found surfing, exploring nature with his wife and three children, or getting into trouble with power tools.

  • Florida State University, PhD. 2011
  • California State University Long Beach, MA 2006
  • Concordia University, Irvine, BA 2001
Program Director

Preferred Super Power: Cyberpathy

"The ability to control software with your mind. The world will be in dire trouble from two post-apocalyptic sources: zombies and killer robots. When, not if, those two threats to humanity merge as zombiots nobody will be ready for what follows. In such an environment computer-programming skills to deprogram the zombiots will be key to survival. Thus, my desired superpower is the ability to program computers with my mind, aka cyberpathy. But wait! If biological zombies do not have minds, will zombiots not have a functioning CPU to run software?"

Day Job: Assistant Professor of Philosophy, specializing in the Philosophy of Science at Christ College

Rebecca Duport, MA

Rebecca became an Assistant Professor/Director to the DCE Program of Christ College after serving Lutheran Churches as Director of Christian Education throughout the country (Idaho, Kentucky, Arkansas, Florida) in life-span education roles working with Children, Youth, Family, Older Adults for 14 years. Her service to the body of Christ also includes speaking at youth gatherings, conferences and leading training events for Family Friendly Partner's Network (FFPN).

  • Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska, M.S. 2010
  • Concordia University, Irvine, California, B.A. 1998
Associate Director

Preferred Super Power: The Force

"I would like the power of the force. It would be awesome to be a Jedi, of course, and use my powers for the right cause: protection. I would not be swayed by the Dark Side."

Day Job: Assistant Professor & Director of the Director of Christian Education Program of Christ College

Joel Oesch, PhD

Joel Oesch, MDiv, holds a PhD from Concordia Seminary and is a graduate of Yale University. Dr. Oesch has served as the Director of the Graduate Programs in Theology for Christ College, Concordia since 2012. Prior to his tenure as a college professor, Oesch served as Director of Christian Education for 10 years. His research interests include embodied theology, the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and contemporary culture.

  • Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, PhD 2015
  • Yale University, New Haven, CT, M.Div. 2009
  • Concordia University, Irvine, CA, B.A. 1997
Executive Director

Preferred Super Power: Teleportation

"I would appreciate the power of teleportation. One, I can teleport to Dallas every Sunday afternoon to watch the Cowboys play. Two, I can finally fish the world's greatest trout streams without spending a dime on travel. Three, if I found myself in a sticky situation...I could get the heck out. I suppose you could do all these things by flying as well, but I have to wonder, wouldn't flying like Superman leave you with an incredibly sore neck?"

Day Job: Director of the Graduate Programs in Theology at Christ College, and Associate Professor of Theology

Jeff Mallinson, DPhil

Dr. Jeff Mallinson earned his doctorate from Oxford University, studying under Dr. Alister McGrath, where he focused his research on the topic of religious epistemology during the Reformation era. In addition to his broad academic interests, he enjoys riding beach cruisers with his family up and down Balboa Peninsula, in Newport Beach, CA, or riding his new era Triumph up Pacific Coast Highway from Newport Beach to Venice Beach. Mallinson loves all human beings, and avoids needless battles just as Kwai Chang Kaine of Kung Fu fame was taught to do. As he travels through this world of woe, he seeks to spread a rumor amongst fellow strangers that all manner of things shall be well.

  • DPhil Oxford University, England, 2000
Team Member

Preferred Super Power: Animal Telepathy

"The ability to control animals with telepathy to fight as an army against the coming robot apocalypse."

Day Job: Associate Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Concordia University, Irvine

Dana Burkey, DCE

Dana Burkey ​serves as the Director of Local Mission and High School Youth at Christ Lutheran Church and School in Costa Mesa, California,​ since the fall of 2014. She finds joy in leading the church and school into the neighborhoods of Costa Mesa through local partnerships​. Dana has a heart for all youth to know and live the gospel of Christ. She gets to shape the faith of youth as she leads the confirmation course and high school youth ministry.

Dana was certified as a Director of Christian Education after completing an internship at Trinity Cristo Rey Lutheran Church in Santa Ana, California. Following her internship, she served as a Graduate Assistant for Concordia Irvine’s Around-the-World Semester® program and traveled to over 10 countries in 5 months. From 2012 to 2014, Dana worked in the Global Programs Office at Concordia Irvine where she assisted and led in areas of study abroad, global mission and service-learning trips. Dana’s heart has been shaped by people from all over the world and now even more in Costa Mesa.

  • Concordia University Irvine, B.A. 2011
Team Member

Preferred Super Power: Time Travel

"The ability to move through time."

Day Job: Director of Local Mission & High School Youth at Christ Lutheran Church & School, Costa Mesa, CA

Meet The Full Team

How is God calling you to serve?

From its founding, Concordia University’s Christ College has equipped students to carry out the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. As you seek to discover your unique calling, Crosswise offers you an opportunity to explore your questions and collaborate with like-minded students.

Learn more about each of the Church Work Programs offered at Concordia University Irvine:

Want to know more about preparing for a vocation in church work at Concordia University Irvine? Please contact the Christ College Program Coordinator, Carrie Donohoe, at carrie.donohoe@cui.edu or (949) 214-3389.

Ways to Support

By Contributing Your Ideas

This innovative and exciting new think tank for high school students offers today’s youth an opportunity to lend their voice to contemporary issues and engage these ideas within their sphere of influence to shape culture. Select faculty and scholars will be invited to facilitate these conversations.

Contact Crosswise

By Continuing the Conversation

The carefully articulated, gospel-centered ideas that result from these gatherings will become available to students and their communities as resources for continuing the conversation. Read articles, watch video, and listen to audio of our recent gatherings.

By Giving

Invest in Concordia University Irvine’s Crosswise Institute today.

Crosswise offers high school students a unique opportunity to engage in learning spaces that emphasize inquiry, critical thinking, collaboration, and authentic, "real world" problem solving as they tackle culturally relevant topics. We believe these students are capable of sparking meaningful change in their communities.

Supported with a generous grant from:

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