ITSSM - Who We Are
The Rev. Canon Christoph Keller, Th.D.
Director
Dr. Keller holds a Doctor of Theology in Anglican Studies (2009) from General Theological Seminary, in New York City. His field was systematic theology, with a focus in theology and science. His dissertation is titled Darwin’s Science in Chalcedonian Imagination: Barth, Double Agency and Theistic Evolution.
Prior to his return to school in pursuit of this advanced degree, Dr. Keller served for sixteen years in parish ministry and as Canon Missioner of the Diocese of Arkansas, serving congregations in Pine Buff, Fort Smith, Van Buren, and Little Rock and sharing oversight for mission development throughout the diocese. He was the priest–developer and founding Vicar of St. Margaret’s, conducting the congregation’s first services in a bargain movie theater in 1991.
A 1977 graduate (B.A.) of Amherst College, and 1982 graduate (M. Div.) of the Episcopal Divinity School, he is an Episcopal Church Foundation Fellow and an honorary Canon of the Diocese of Arkansas. Dr. Keller currently serves on the General Theological Seminary Board of Trustees.
He and his wife, Julie, have been married for thirty-four years.
Click Here for Dr. Keller's Doctoral Dissertation
The Rev. Cindy Fribourgh
Administrator
Ms. Fribourgh received her Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies in 2006 from Loyola University, Chicago; her studies focused on the theology of social justice. She serves as deacon at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Little Rock, and was previously deacon at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church. She is Treasurer for the Asosciation for Episcopal Deacons.
Her current ministries include pastoral work as one-half of a therapy dog team with Arkansas Hospice. Ms. Fribourgh and her standard poodle also serve as reading tutors for children through a program of Therapy Dogs International.
Ms. Fribourgh has worked in communications for nearly thirty years – as a newspaper writer, editor and publisher; as a senior public relations account executive and team leader in the region’s largest advertising agency; and in work for St. Margaret’s and the Diocese of Arkansas.
She and Richard Schreiber have been married for twenty-three years.
Mission
Our hope is that the Institute will become a weighty theological presence in Little Rock, and a resource for the intellectual and spiritual vitality of the Episcopal Church. We see this "theological presence" as deeply classical, with a little bit of cutting edge. By "classical," we mean that we intend to draw on the great learning in the Christian tradition, for spiritual wisdom and intellectual acuity that often transcends the modern liberal-fundamentalist theological divide. The average Christian can learn a lot from Augustine, Aquinas, the Caroline Divines, and Barth.
By "cutting edge," we have in mind our programs in theology and science, which draw upon resources such as the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences in Berkeley, and the writings of philosophical theologians such as Nancey Murphy, John Polkinghorne, and Keith Ward.
In connection with the Arkansas House of Prayer (also located on the campus of St. Margaret's Church), another point of emphasis will be the Christian spiritual tradition, including studies in mystical theologians such as Julian of Norwich, John of the Cross, and Teresa of Avila. The Institute will offer evening lecture series, day-time programs for mothers and retirees, weekend conferences, retreats, and seminars. It will generate audio-visual, print, and web-productions.
A particular emphasis will be to offer programs that appeal to the scientific and academic community.
Click to download the ITSSM Five Year Strategic Plan
