PLNU has announced that poet and author Pádraig Ó Tuama will participate in the 2027 Writer's Symposium by the Sea under a revised format that creates space for thoughtful engagement with significant theological questions.
President Kerry Fulcher initially withdrew Ó Tuama's invitation after reviewing several of his writings and how he has discussed those portrayals in public interviews. Fulcher expressed concerns about portrayals of Jesus that he believes challenge foundational Christian convictions, particularly Christ's divine identity, sinlessness, and saving work. The symposium's original format did not provide an opportunity to address those concerns directly.
Following further conversations, Fulcher, symposium host Dean Nelson, and Ó Tuama agreed to a revised format that incorporates The Way of Faithful Tension and allows those theological concerns to be addressed directly. It is this substantive change in the format, not a change in PLNU's theological convictions, that made it possible for Fulcher to support Ó Tuama's participation.
Rooted in PLNU's Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, The Way of Faithful Tension is not limited to navigating disagreements among fellow Christians. It also guides how we engage those who may not share our faith or theological convictions. It calls us to approach difficult questions with humility, discernment, and love, seeking truth while remaining grounded in Scripture. Engaging different perspectives does not require endorsing them or compromising our convictions. The revised symposium offers an opportunity to demonstrate this approach while clearly articulating PLNU's Christian beliefs and where significant theological differences remain.
“Faithful Tensions reminds us that this is not the easy way. It is a holy way to seek truth, practice love, and follow Christ amid complexity,” Fulcher said. “My theological concerns have not changed, and I recognize that thoughtful people who care deeply about PLNU's Christian mission have reached different conclusions about these decisions. I respect those concerns. How we engage those who see things differently is itself an important part of our Christian witness. In a culture increasingly defined by polarization, we have an opportunity to demonstrate, both within the Church and to the broader world, what it means to hold firmly to our Christian convictions while engaging others with humility, respect, and love.”