This August, the Office of Faculty Development hosted its second set of 2025 faculty workshops. The featured speaker was Dr. Esther Meek, professor of philosophy emeritus at Geneva College and senior scholar at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology.
Redeemer University is rooted in the Reformed Christian tradition, which serves as the foundation for learning and teaching. Each year, Redeemer hosts two conferences that help faculty understand how to integrate faith in the classroom and in their scholarship.
Her covenantal framework offers wisdom that strengthens the way we teach and also deepens our own knowing of God; this, in turn, shapes how we serve our students.
Meek gave three lectures throughout the conference that explored her theories on epistemology—the study of knowledge—and artistry. Her research builds on the work of philosopher Dr. Michael Polyani and his theory of subsidiary-focal integration, which emphasizes the importance of tacit, experience-based knowledge in understanding and “indwelling” the whole. A key example, she explains, is riding a bike: “Once you become a bike rider, the world opens up as bike-path possibilities.” She then extends this idea with her original concept of covenant epistemology, arguing that the best knowledge paradigm is not focused on explicit information, but rather the “the interpersonal, conventionally constituted relationship” we have with God. She further argues, “Reality is person-like, so we need to invite the real.” She contends that knowing is about transformation—an act rather than simply an object. “You’re not fixating on, but you’re wearing. And when you’re wearing it, reality opens up,” she says.
“It was a tremendous privilege for our faculty to be enriched by Dr. Esther Meek’s insights into Reformed epistemology—how we know what we know,” says Daniel Gilman, interim faculty chaplain and sessional assistant professor of history. “Her covenantal framework offers wisdom that strengthens the way we teach and also deepens our own knowing of God; this, in turn, shapes how we serve our students. It was especially encouraging to hear colleagues from across disciplines respond with creativity to the ways her work can guide both our teaching and the formation we seek for our students to the glory of God.”
The schedule also included a chapel service with president Dr. David Zietsma, four research sharing sessions, two faculty reappointment sessions, a tenure paper session and a faculty-staff social. Director of teaching and learning Nicole Benbow also hosted a session for faculty on how to understand and apply data from student learning feedback surveys.
Meek’s hopeful presence left faculty members inspired to teach with grace, wonder and joy.
“Delight is the result of every sound Christian epistemology,” she says.