Fuller Seminary launches extensive and exclusive online collection of stories, theology resources, and diverse conversations
Fuller Theological Seminary, the world’s largest multidenominational seminary, today announces the launch of FULLER studio, an innovative and interactive e-resource sharing exclusive free content for the global Christian church and individuals in pursuit of deeply formed spiritual lives.
FULLER studio, as part of its debut, has been given an extraordinary opportunity to premiere an exclusive 20-minute film, Bono & Eugene Peterson: THE PSALMS, documenting the unique relationship between this lead singer from the band U2 and the renowned author of the Bible paraphrase The Message. The film, along with assorted extras, revolves around their common interest in the Psalms and is supported on the studio site by a wealth of reflections from Fuller’s world-class faculty. Says Bono of Peterson’s work, “I discovered The Message through the Psalms. In the dressing room before each show, we would read them as a band, then walk out into arenas and stadiums—the words igniting us, inspiring us.”
In association with Fourth Line Films, David Taylor, director of Fuller’s Brehm Texas (center for worship, theology, and the arts) and associate professor of theology and culture, delivers a beautiful conversation between Bono and Peterson as they reflect on their relationship. This added bonus to the public launch of FULLER studio is a perfect demonstration of the content ethos, aesthetic, and categories of Story, Theology, and Voice that FULLER studio will curate and offer for free.
This film, along with a wealth of other material including videos, podcasts, reflections, stories, images, embodies the goal of FULLER studio: to provide resources for individuals in pursuit of deeply formed spiritual lives. FULLER studio will house resources for individual, small group, and congregational use, drawing from its outstanding faculty and the award-winning FULLER magazine— as well as from a wider circle of voices around the country and the world.
Fuller Seminary President Mark Labberton shares his excitement about the launch of FULLER studio, believing it will “open doors of exploration, thought, discovery, and engagement for all kinds of people in all kinds of settings—both in and outside the church.”
FULLER studio users will have access to free previews and downloads of introductory chapters of newly released books; teasers and featurettes for new productions; film and book study guides; and original material such as a behind-the-scenes series called “In Ordinary Time” of the many kinds of leaders, scholars, artists, and others who are part of Fuller’s worldwide community. It will also draw upon rich existing material from its 70-year history that has, heretofore, been accessible only by students and faculty. This openness is possible because of a combination of new technology and global connectivity: “It is my experience that people eagerly respond to a robust conversation around spirituality, which is only enhanced by global conversation partners and contributors. FULLER studio opens the doors of our considerable resources, inviting into conversation a burst of new voices and perspectives,” says Lauralee Farrer, award-winning director and filmmaker who serves as the new project’s chief content and creative leader.
FULLER studio is one of Fuller’s most innovative ventures of the 21st century, leveraging its global brand as a deeply theological, interdenominational thought leader to extend its reach beyond graduate education to more fully serve the needs of the global church. This evolution of Fuller Seminary from traditional education to e-resource provider for spiritual formation is driven by a spirit of innovation central to Fuller’s ethos since its founding in 1947.
FULLER studio is accessible from any mobile device, and in years to come will employ new technologies and delivery systems and expand deeper into more geographies and partnerships to continue to resource churches, individuals, and anyone in pursuit of deeply formed spiritual lives.
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About Fuller Seminary: Fuller Seminary, the largest multidenominational seminary in the world, provides professional, graduate-level education through its schools of theology, psychology, and intercultural studies. With its main campus Pasadena, California, and several regional campuses and online programs, Fuller serves 4,000 students from 90 countries and 110 denominations, offering five programs fully in the Korean language and four in Spanish. The seminary’s 41,000 living alumni, the largest alumni base of any seminary, serve throughout the world as ministers, nonprofit and corporate leaders, therapists, counselors, teachers, and in many other vocations of service and leadership. Visit www.fuller.edu for more information.
