Strong Turnout Expected as People Look Forward to Returning to Live, In-person Gatherings



NEWS PROVIDED BY
Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton
July 8, 2021

MINNEAPOLIS, July 8, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- Seth Dillon, CEO of The Babylon Bee, will deliver the keynote address at the 40th Annual Chesterton Conference, to take place July 29-31 at the Sheraton Lisle Naperville Hotel. Dillon has featured prominently in national news for his work to preserve satire in the modern world and fight against cancel culture and online censorship.⁠ Dale Ahlquist, president and founder of the Society of G.K. Chesterton, will kick off the conference with a talk on why this great English writer and Christian apologist from the early 20th-century is more relevant today than ever. Interest in Chesterton has grown dramatically in recent years through the popular BBC television series based on his beloved Father Brown character.

The slate of conference speakers for the lively event also includes acclaimed author Joseph Pearce, whose works include a best-selling biography of Chesterton; Dawn Eden Goldstein, popular author and former rock music journalist; and Crystal L. Downing, Co-Director of Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College. Talks will focus on a wide range of subjects, dealing with everything from the writings of C. S. Lewis (of Chronicles of Narnia fame) to artificial intelligence, to one Archbishop's effort to found a Chesterton high school in post-ISIS Iraq.

Ahlquist expressed thanks to Chesterton Academy of The Holy Family in Lisle, IL, for hosting the international conference. The Academy is part of the Chesterton Schools Network, an association of more than 50 schools affiliated with the Society. "Education is a huge part of the work of our Society," said Ahlquist. "The Chesterton Schools Network is one way we accomplish this, but so are our annual conferences - tremendous opportunities for life-long learning."

He emphasized, however, that there is more to the conference than just learning. "It's going to be the best conference of the summer. Attendees get to laugh and socialize and meet new people who quickly seem like old friends. And we all need that in our lives, especially after the last year and a half."

Ahlquist and local organizers are pleased that gathering restrictions have been lifted in time for the conference, but also emphasized they are working with the hotel to follow local and national guidelines and ensure a safe and enjoyable time for all attendees. "We hope people will come and see what a great thing it is to gather again with others," said Ahlquist. "That's what Chesterton does best: brings people together."

More information can be found on the Society's website, at chesterton.org/conference.

About The Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton
The Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton is a worldwide lay apostolate headquartered in Minneapolis. Their mission is to evangelize through education and inspire people to live joyful, holy lives with G. K. Chesterton as their model of lay spirituality. To help carry out its mission, the Society sponsors organizations including member schools in the Chesterton Schools Network and the missionary organization Teach for Christ. Learn more at chesterton.org.

SOURCE Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton

CONTACT: Nancy Brown, 612-504-0632, media@chesterton.org