The Puritans and their Impact

To shed light on the Puritans and their impact, and to foster informed discussion, the Meeter Center is organizing a two-day conference. All are welcome!

Just over four hundred years ago, in 1620, the Mayflower arrived on the shores of Cape Cod. Many of those on board had left England first for the Netherlands and then embarked on the transatlantic voyage because they felt they could not live within the theological and liturgical framework of the established Church of England. Within the next decades, these dissenters, known as the Pilgrims, were joined by other Puritans, establishing colonies along the northeastern seaboard of North America.

Many aspects of this migration have become part of the fabric of the story of the United States, yet this legacy is complex and deserving of further reflection. In plenary lectures and panel discussions, expert presenters will focus on the theological roots of Puritanism and on the history of Puritans' actions and legacies in North America, including their relations with Native American communities.

Speakers

Speakers include Margaret Bendroth (executive director (ret.) of the Congregational Library and Archives), Richard Muller (emeritus, Calvin Theological Seminary), Matthew Tuininga (Calvin Theological Seminary), Chad Van Dixhoorn (Westminster Theological Seminary Philadelphia), Abram Van Engen (Washington University in Saint Louis), and Adrian Weimer (Providence College).

Exhibit

Conference participants will also get a special tour of the Meeter Center's Puritan exhibit, with several rare books on loan from Puritan Reformed Seminary's extensive collection.

We hope you can join us!

Location details

Calvin Theological Seminary Auditorium

Location